The Antonie will be a new built inland navigation barge operated by Lenten Scheepvaart which will be transporting salt between the Port of Rotterdam and Groningen Seaports and therefore connects two of the Netherlands largest hydrogen sources via inland waterways. The charter will be issued by Nouryon – whom will also be the hydrogen supplier – and contracted by the NPRC Cooperation. The fuel cell power system will be supplied by the Koedood Marine Group - Nedstack product partnership for inland navigation and establishes a standard for future hydrogen electric inland navigation propulsion systems. This initiative is supported by a grant issued by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Public works under the umbrella of its Green Deal.
-Mr. Kees de Vries – Project Director on behalf of NPRC
Green Deal on Maritime and Inland Shipping and Ports
In its strategy published on 7 December 2017, the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine (CCR) adopted the vision of zero emissions from inland navigation vessels by 2050. The ministers of the member states of the CCR affirmed this vision in the Mannheim Declaration signed on 17 October 2018. They also agreed to work towards a 35% reduction in emissions both of greenhouse gases and of environmental pollutants from inland navigation by 2035, relative to 2015. In the declaration the ministers pointed to the need for new financial instruments to achieve these environmental objectives and entrusted the CCR with the task of leading this development. The Dutch Green Deal on Maritime and Inland Shipping and Ports shows how the Netherlands intends to implement the Mannheim Declaration. Furthermore, the Netherlands is Europe’s largest supplier of marine fuel which constitutes an incentive and an opportunity to show leadership in becoming a leader in the production, supply and use of hydrogen as a maritime fuel.
-Mr. William van Niekerk – President of the NWBA Dutch Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
The Nedstack Maritime Commitment
Being a market leader in the mission critical and high-power PEM fuel cell domain, Nedstack signature technology has always matched seamlessly with the requirements administered in the maritime domain. With a view towards delivering fuel cell power systems fit for 5 year dry-dock periods, Nedstack was the second fuel cell manufacturer globally to achieve class approval on a maritime fuel cell power system for passenger vessels. In 2018 Nedstack commenced the First Element Marine (FELMAR) program to marinize and industrialize its high-power, long-life portfolio of PEM fuel cell power systems to seamlessly fit the requirements of the maritime domain. Together with its consortium partners, a platform of fuel cell power systems – compliant with maritime class rules and shipowner needs – has been developed, tested and tuned and is now ready for wider market adoption. The Antonie marks an important milestone in the journey of delivering the promise of long-range zero-emission shipping.
Access the Green Deal here: https://www.greendeals.nl/sites/default/files/2019-11/GD230%20Green%20Deal%20on%20Maritime%20and%20Inland%20shipping%20and%20Ports.pdf