The Exeter Port Authority has trialled a hydrogen-electric workboat designed and manufactured by Ecomar Propulsion.
The boat, MV Dirac, was launched into Exmouth Harbour and is currently in the final stages of fitting out, with the Ecomar team installing the last items on the power system whilst it is afloat.
Based on a NATO Combat Ready Boat, it’s powered by two 250kW Ecomoar Kairos motors and holds 180kWh of lithium-ion batteries which are supported by a hydrogen fuel cell, which reportedly extends the vessel’s range “considerably.”
H2 View understands that the hydrogen is supplied in hand-portable BCO Genie bottles that are stored onboard and can be easily replaced whenever.
“The beauty of the hydrogen refuelling is that the port doesn’t need to install expensive equipment,” explained Grahame Forshaw, Exeter Port Authority’s Harbour Master. “We can carry the bottles to the boat and they weigh about the same as a regular barbeque bottle.”
Over the next few months, the Ecomar team will continue to upgrade and modify the vessel’s systems as it enters regular port service. By the time that work is complete, Ecomar has said the vessel will be able to cope with work carried out by combustion-powered boats.
Exeter University’s Centre for Clean Future Mobility will work alongside the Port and Ecomar to gather data from the vessel as it enters an extended period of trials.
Once fully commissioned, it will operate along the River Exe. Eugene Bari, Ecomar Propulsion CEO, said, “Change requires a two-way dialogue, we want to provide answers where we can and also to see what we can learn to make things better for everyone.”
Forshaw added, “The Exe is an excellent proving ground for this type of work due to the many different and varied tidal and weather conditions that we operate in so Dirac will certainly be working hard and proving the concept of clean energy propulsion for the time she is with us.”
