The vessel is designed to be installed with a multimegawatt fuel-cell system for full propulsion. The ship will be constructed based on Umoe Mandal’s crew transfer vessel (CTV) surface effect ship technology and with the air-cushion catamaran design, it will offer a low imprint on the surrounding environment, even in challenging and vulnerable ocean conditions. CTVs are often used during the construction, maintenance and operation of offshore wind farms.
This specific passenger vessel will have a service speed of 35 knots, a range of 160 nautical miles and carry 275 passengers.
The vessel design aims at being a first-of-its-kind, zero-emissions, high-speed passenger vessel sailing along the coast without emitting anything but warm air and water and Umoe Mandal anticipates the vessel design to raise considerable interest from the maritime industry.
Once the vessel design and hydrogen propulsion plant has received the approval in principle, TECO 2030 and Umoe Mandal, together with suppliers will continue the process of reaching final approval.
“It is a major accomplishment for us to announce our developed partnership with Umoe Mandal and submit all documentation to Norwegian Maritime Authority for approval in principle on a ship designed for the future of zero-emissions maritime transport. I am excited to continue to build on this design platform as we move forward together with our strong partner Umoe Mandal,” says TECO Group chief executive Tore Enger.
“This achievement demonstrates the industry’s readiness to embrace commercial and public tenders for passenger vessels powered by hydrogen, thereby contributing to efforts to reduce and eliminate pollution in the maritime industry,” Mr Enger concludes.
