Windcat has delivered the first hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel (CTV) in its new MK5 series, purpose-built for offshore wind farm operations.
Equipped with a dual-fuel hydrogen combustion engine co-developed by Cmb.Tech and Man, the 27-metre Hydrocat 60 joins Windcat’s MK5 series. It is the company’s third hydrogen-powered CTV delivered since 2022.
The Hydrocat 60’s integrated Cmb hydrogen system can reportedly store up to 458kg of compressed hydrogen.
In an online statement, the Dutch provider said, “The MK5 design addresses the evolving needs of the offshore wind industry by delivering high-performance vessels that significantly enhance crew comfort and operational efficiency.”
Windcat added that the dual-fuel system makes the vessel “a pragmatic choice for immediate CO2 emissions reduction.” To ensure all MK5 vessels are “future-proof,” they will be fitted with the dual-fuel hydrogen engine as standard.
Cmb.Tech has claimed that using hydrogen combusted alongside diesel in its engines can reduce emissions by 60-90%.
Last year, the company launched a hydrogen dual-fuel commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from Damen Shipyard. In total, Windcat ordered six CSOVs last August, and plan to launch a further five more hydrogen-powered vessels.
Willem van der Wel, Managing Director of Windcat, believes hydrogen-powered marine operations are building momentum.
He said, “With more hydrogen-ready vessels already in the water and under construction, we continue to answer to the increasing demand for clean high-performance CTVs.”
While dual-fuel operations provide significant emissions benefits, the low energy density of alternative fuels can pose storage challenges for marine operators – often necessitating high-pressure tanks or cryogenic systems to accommodate sufficient onboard volume.
Sailing on fuels new and old: CMB.TECH’s dual-fuel hydrogen tech
Originating as the cleantech division of the Belgian maritime group Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), CMB.TECH has a legacy of over 130 years. In 2015, the subsidiary was tasked with exploring how to future-proof fleets with low-emission technology.
Fast forward almost a decade and CMB.TECH has become renowned across not only maritime but various heavy-duty mobility applications for its hydrogen dual-fuel internal combustion engine (ICE) technology.
Sitting with a construction order of more than 50 ships that will be powered by hydrogen or ammonia, Roy Campe, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at CMB.TECH, told H2 View that he believes the low-carbon technology could deliver more emissions savings than zero-emission solutions.
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