As part of a consortium, Lürssen has received millions in EU funding for the development of a hydrogen-powered ferry for the Adriatic.
The costs for the project, called Zero-Emission Adriatic Ship (ZEAS), are estimated at €18.9 million. According to the funding decision, the EU will cover €13.5 million of this from its “Horizon” program for research and innovation. [ds_preview]
The Lürssen Design Center in Rijeka, Croatia, is playing a leading role in this project. A total of 14 companies and institutions are involved in the initiative, which aims to develop a sustainable, climate-neutral fuel system.
The plan includes the installation of a hydrogen filling station on land and the development of a digital twin system that monitors the ship’s propulsion system and simplifies its operation and maintenance.
Lürssen leads alliance of 14 partners
The project partners include the Croatian state ferry company Jadrolinija, the University of Rijeka, the investment management company Gitone Kvarner, the Technical University of Chemnitz, the Slovenian IT company ZenLab and the Norwegian clean-tech company TECO 2030, which specializes in the development of emission-free technologies for maritime and heavy industry.
The project involves the installation of a hydrogen fuel cell system designed for both yachts and passenger ships. The compact FCM400 system has one of the smallest footprints in terms of power output per unit volume, potentially freeing up space for additional on-board amenities while reducing carbon emissions.
At Lürssen ‘s Design Center Kvarner in Rijeke, Croatia, around 80 employees work on the development of ship designs and new technologies. The company moved into new offices just two years ago.
