MAN Cryo supplies fuel system for world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht

118.8-metre vessel is under construction

MAN Cryo has provided a groundbreaking fuel system for the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht, a 118.8-metre vessel under construction by Dutch yacht builder Feadship.

Known as Project 821, the superyacht will feature a state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system, marking a significant milestone in sustainable maritime technology.

The liquid-hydrogen gas supply system designed by MAN Cryo will play a crucial role in the vessel’s zero-emission operation. The system stores hydrogen in liquid form, which is then evaporated, heated, and converted into gaseous hydrogen. This gas is supplied to the yacht’s fuel cells, enabling propulsion without the emission of harmful pollutants.

As a division of MAN Energy Solutions, MAN Cryo specialises in engineering solutions for cryogenic equipment, including storage, distribution, and handling of gases.

Henrik Malm, Managing Director of MAN Energy Solutions Sweden, praised the collaboration with Feadship and noted the project’s significance in advancing sustainable maritime technologies.

“This notable project showcases MAN Energy Solutions’ leadership within the development of future-fuel systems for the maritime sector,” Malm said.

“In particular, MAN Cryo is setting new standards in sustainability and engineering with its system design and the innovative positioning of the vessel’s fuel tanks below deck.”

First time

Despite the long history of hydrogen fuel-cell technology, which has been commercially used for over six decades, the maritime sector has yet to adopt it widely. Project 821 will be the first to use this technology at such a large scale, offering both silent operation at anchor for up to a week and emission-free cruising at 10 knots, with pure water being the only byproduct.

The design of the hydrogen storage system presented several technical challenges due to the lack of existing design codes for maritime hydrogen applications.

Traditionally, type C LNG tanks are designed according to the IGF Code, which is not fully applicable to hydrogen. MAN Cryo worked closely with Lloyd’s Register, a maritime classification society, to develop a risk-assessment-based design approved for use.

This approval is significant because it marks the first time liquid-hydrogen tanks will be installed below deck on a superyacht—an industry first. This is only the second such approval for a marine liquid-hydrogen project worldwide.

The scope of MAN Cryo’s involvement in the project is extensive. The company has supplied a 92 cubic metre vacuum-insulated type C tank capable of storing liquid hydrogen at a chill -253°C.

The system also includes a tank connection space with necessary process equipment such as vaporisers, control valves, and safety valves. Additionally, MAN Cryo provided a bunker station that allows the yacht to be refuelled with liquid hydrogen from shore and control and automation systems.

Key innovation

One key innovation is the ‘tank prediction tool,’ which simulates tank pressure and filling levels to assist the crew in planning bunkering operations.

Sofia Liedholm, Project Manager at MAN Cryo, highlighted the complexity of the approval process and the cooperative efforts that made the project possible. “The alternative design-approval process proved challenging at times,” Liedholm said, “but thanks to good cooperation between MAN Cryo, Lloyd’s Register, and Feadship, we successfully resolved all issues.”

MAN Cryo’s reputation for pioneering cryogenic technology in the maritime sector is well-established. In 1999, the company supplied the world’s first LNG fuel-gas system for the Glutra ferry in Norway. In 2013, it also provided the first LNG bunker vessel, SeaGas, which operates in Stockholm.

More recently, the company has expanded its capabilities, securing contracts for methanol-fuel systems and receiving approval for an ammonia fuel-supply system from several classification societies.

With Project 821, MAN Cryo has once again demonstrated its leadership in developing sustainable fuel systems for the maritime industry, paving the way for future innovation in green shipping technologies. The successful integration of hydrogen fuel-cell technology into a luxury superyacht is a step toward a more sustainable future for the global yachting and maritime sectors.

Featured image: Project 821, the 118.8-metre superyacht, is under construction by Dutch yacht builder Feadship. Credit: MAN Cryo

Last Updated on 4 weeks by Arnold Pinto