Tom Barlow-BrownSWITCH Maritime has announced its plans to build the first liquid hydrogen (LH2) powered ferry in the United States, following the recent launch of its hydrogen-powered passenger vessel, Sea Change.
This new project, in collaboration with LH2 Shipping and LMG Marin, will involve constructing an 80-car, 300-passenger RoPax vehicle ferry based on a design that has operated successfully on liquid hydrogen in Norway.
The upcoming vessel, expected to operate at a service speed of 14 knots, will rely on LH2 stored in cryogenic tanks to supply power to its PEM fuel cells, which then produce electricity for its electric motors. Emissions will be limited to water vapor, which the company says offers ‘a zero-carbon alternative in the US maritime sector.’
Unlike Sea Change, which uses compressed gaseous hydrogen (GH2) storage, the RoPax ferry will employ cryogenic LH2 with the aim of enabling longer ranges and higher energy capacity.
The ferry is designed for weekly refuelling with around 3,000 kilograms of LH2 in order to eliminate the need for shoreside charging infrastructure, instead relying on mobile LH2 supply trucks to transfer fuel through a pressurised bunkering system. This infrastructure mirrors the operations of Norway’s MF Hydra, which has conducted LH2 refuelling roughly 50 times since its debut in March 2023.
Image: SWITCH
Rhys Berry
