"WE HAVE GOT THE PROVEN TECHNOLOGY ...

22nd September 2022 | Electrification, Fuel Cell & Battery Development for Marine Vessels Forum

Mercure Hotels, Amsterdam, Netherlands

NAVTEK General Manager Mr. Ferhat Acuner states, “We passionately believe that only way to decarbonise our planet requires a holistic approach and state-of-the-art game changer vessel designs like ZEETUG30 designed by NAVTEK” during Electrification, Fuel Cell & Battery Development for Marine Vessels Forum organised by TBM Group on 22^nd September in Amsterdam.

The objective of the forum was to bring the world's leading waterborne transport technology developers and end users to present new disruptive technological developments, new zero emission vessels and the opportunity to network with leaders in the field of electrification, alternative fuels and H2 fuel cell development.

Mr Acuner noted that during the first 820 days of service, multi-award winning, Gisas Power ZEETUG30 completed 2,308 jobs with more than 3,338 motor running hours and accumulative charging of around 627.080 kWh. A remarkable 445 tonnes of CO2 and 1.27 tonne NOx avoided after 830 days. Furthermore, public health impacts of PM (Particulate Matter) pollution and significant marine noise pollution have also been avoided.

“Its operating performance and expenditure savings are beyond our expectations, being 50% cheaper on fuel than a tug using marine diesel fuel and oils, and maintenance and repair costs are 79% less, including maintained 99% battery State of health performance after almost 3 years” Mr Acuner said.

“Technologically and technically more efficient next generation three ZEETUGs, two of them 30 and one 45 Tonnes BP, are under construction and two of them will be delivered by the end of 2022 and third one in the first quarter of 2023. Furthermore, new zero emission and low emission designs such as H2 fuel cell battery hybrid HYDROTUG has recently been selected as a finalist in Innovation Competition “ZeroEmission@Berth” held by Maritime Cluster Northern Germany and several other cargo vessels are on our design board,” noted by Mr Acuner.

Following the high-level presentations of the world's leading waterborne transport technology developers and end users, the Forum concluded with a panel discussion participated by Mr Ferhat ACUNER from NAVTEK, Mr. Edward SCIBERRAS from DAMEN, Sebastian Klasterer TOFT from MAERSK-STILLSTORM, focusing on barriers slowing the transition to zero emission technologies.

However, among others, two major barriers have been underlined by the participants during the panel discussions on future electrification of marine vessels:  first, the higher investment costs (CAPEX) of new or refitted zero emission vessels and secondly, the vessels owners' habits and their fear to use relatively unknown advanced technologies.

Mr. Ferhat Acuner noted that the major barrier related to capital investment can be addressed by different tools such as climate investment funds, well organised carbon credit schemes and Green Shipping finance by banks and other international financing institutions, EU, and individual countries.  

"Changing the perception of the vessels owners is a relatively easier barrier compared to financial ones and can be addressed by providing bareboat chartering opportunities to test the vessels with a moneyback guaranty policy, " said Mr. Acuner.

Mr Acuner states that NAVTEK firmly believes decarbonisation in waterborne transport is a holistic process that requires close collaboration and partnership at all levels of the stakeholders in the sector.