First hydrogen-powered CTV for German offshore wind market sets sail

FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics (FWOL) has deployed the first hydrogen-powered dual-fuel crew transfer vessel (CTV) in Germany for the German transmission system operator (TSO) 50Hertz.

The Hydrocat 55 is a CTV equipped with the dual-fuel hydrogen technology of CMB.TECH, one of FWOL’s shareholders. Delivered in 2023, the vessel is built the same way as the Hydrocat 48, which was launched as the first hydrogen-powered CTV in 2022 for operations in Belgium.

At 25 meters long, the Hydrocat 55 accommodates 24 passengers and 2-3 crew members. The ship has a tank capacity of 207 kilograms of hydrogen in 27 cylinders.

By using hydrogen, the Hydrocat 55 can reduce diesel consumption and CO2 emissions, said FWOL.

The engine is manufactured by MAN Engines for dual-fuel use and retrofitted by CMB.TECH with a hydrogen injection system.

In collaboration with the Dutch joint venture partner Windcat, five more CTVs of this type are under construction. Work is ongoing to further optimize the ship’s technology and reduce CO2 emission even more in the future, said FWOL.

A trial period is set to start in January 2024 and will run for a year with regular use of green hydrogen.

“Looking to the future, FWOL is committed making a significant contribution to the decarbonization of offshore logistics and supporting a green production of renewable energy with the Hydrocat 55 and the further vessels of this type,” said Tim Kunstmann of FWOL.

FWOL and 50Hertz have been working together for over ten years. Two other vessels from the fleet are currently operating for the Berlin-based company, according to FWOL.