Richard Klatten (FPS): Nike has taken brave step to zero emissions (source: FPS)
Future Proof Shipping unveils the revolutionary technology powering its inland container barge, and explains why the cargo owner is important in reaching zero emissions
In what it says is “becoming a standard” for the inland vessel industry, Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has launched its second hydrogen-powered inland cargo vessel.
And the company’s chief executive Richard Klatten emphasised the importance of the cargo owners’ role in developing zero-emissions vessels. “It’s a matter of cargo owners stepping in. They should have ambition like Nike, which has taken brave step to zero emissions. We want to move this forward and cargo owners should say ‘for a small premium I want to improve my ship footprint’.”
The container inland barge sector is ripe for sustainability options, but the major challenge to overcome is cost. “If you look at sustainability, you must work with vessels that are already in the market – there are 5,000 inland vessels from port of Rotterdam alone. Most of those vessels are privately owned, and a lot of capex is needed.”
But he explains FPS’s solution is scalable and more investors within this arena are expected.
He adds, “The market is quite conservative regarding willingness to pay for solutions. We have shown this can be done technically and it is proven to be safe and efficient, so we are looking for cargo owners to step up to the plate and realise this is the only way forward for zero emissions.”
He acknowledges that while hydrogen is more expensive than usual fuels, in the next few years the prices of capex and technology will drop, while fossil fuel prices may rise.
Hydrogen fuel cell and battery-powered FPS Waal was officially named H2 Barge 2 at the launch at Holland Shipyard Group’s Werkendem facility, just outside Rotterdam on 8 February 2024.
H2 Barge 2 joined sister inland vessel Maas, which was rechristened H2 Barge 1 after conversion to hydrogen propulsion in a retrofitting programme that began in 2021 and was completed in 2023. H2 Barge 1 is chartered by BCTN on behalf of Nike EMEA and was delivered in May 2023.
At the FPS /H2 Barge 2 launch event, Mr Klatten told guests, “We have established something new in the shipping world. This is our first Flagships project and second vessel, and hydrogen is becoming a standard in the industry already, especially in the inland vessel industry. We were the crazy ones who did it. We have established something no one thought possible five years ago.”
He tells CS&PT in an interview afterwards, “We try to be technically agnostic and constantly aim to find the best solutions for the vessels we are working with.”
He explains the safety measures for the second barge match the first barge. PEM fuel cells are also used, the difference being this time Ballard provided the fuel cells. For the first vessel, it was Nedstack.
Explaining why Ballard’s system was chosen, he says, “Because of the advanced system they have built, and it is a maritime approved system that we can use. It is a complete system that can be installed in the vessel without being assembled by a third party.”
There is one cupboard per fuel cell stack, which are prefabricated before being installed in the vessel.
The vessel has a mix of batteries and fuel cells. The batteries are used for peak shaving and for safety. “The vessel is triple redundant - if one part of the system fails, another part can take over. If all the fuel cells failed, batteries could bring the vessels to shore,” says Mr Klatten.
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