The new project on compressed hydrogen-fuelled RO-RO moves ahead

Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design, a start-up focusing on zero emission shipping has revealed a new design for the RO-RO that will use 100% hydrogen energy. Approval in principle has been issued by the Italian class society RINA at SMM in Hamburg, a busy shipping show where the industry has been given plenty of glimpses of its green future. The model also helps the heavy-lift, ro-pax, and cruise ships to accept pure hydrogen power.

The new design concept is the ACD01 1000, a ro-ro vessel for moving cargo, with electric force or propulsion using highly compressed hydrogen as fuel and would generate no environmentally harmful emissions. The design would support the operation of the vessel both at the port as well as at sea.

The hybrid propulsion is supported by battery and fuel cell power modules. Ton Bos, partner and co-founder of Aurelia said that the world is accepting zero emissions and will open up new venues, which reminds him of the first operation in the heavy lift sector with no prior experience in it. And now the cooperation with RINA is a strong signal that the maritime world is moving ahead and working together for clean shipping.

The company views it as a pioneering design that can be applied to other segments of shipping. The hull is designed to ensure excellent hydrodynamic and maximum propeller efficiency while the overall vessel complies and goes well beyond the limits set by EEDI Phase 3 according to MEPC. In addition, the ballast water treatment plant is in accordance with the latest amendments of the International Ballast Water Management Convention.

“This new design for a compressed hydrogen ro-ro is part of a long-term cooperation between Aurelia and RINA in which we will develop a liquefied hydrogen propulsion system that could be used for heavy lift, cruise, and Ro-Pax vessels,” said Raffaele Frontera, founding partner of Aurelia Green Concept Design.

RINA noted that they are also using the experience developed in this partnership to fine-tune its recently published rules for hydrogen. They are focusing on the challenges as well as verifying the technology readiness and the systems used for the storage, supply, and bunkering of hydrogen.