Fuel cells ordered for research vessel retrofit

Swedish fuel cell technology firm PowerCell has partnered up with the owners of the vessel, O S Energy and Bangor University, under the ’Transship II’ project, which is a consortium of UK companies involved in maritime technology.

It is supported by the UK government through its Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, Round 3.

PowerCell CEO Richard Berkling says the systems have the same footprint as conventional equipment and can be seamlessly integrated into existing vessel designs.

The retrofit is scheduled to be completed by early 2025 and demonstrated in March. 

The Prince Madog, co-owned by Bangor University, is set to become a trailblazer in green maritime technology through this pioneering £5.5 million initiative. The retrofit is expected to reduce the vessel’s emissions by up to 60%, aligning with global efforts to minimise the environmental impact of the shipping industry.

The survey vessel is named after a Welsh sailor who, legend has it, set sail from Wales in a westerly direction in 1170 and reached America.