The new design concept, ACD01 1000, a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel for transporting cargo features a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system. It is hoped the hydrogen-based engine system could be applied to other ship designs in the future.

H2 View understands, the AiP is based on RINA’s newly published Rules for Hydrogen Fuelled Ships and the RINA Guide for the Approval in Principle of Novel Technologies.

Aurelia has said the hydrogen-powered propulsion is not supported by internal combustion engines powered by petroleum-based conventional fuels, and the batteries integrated into the system will be used to storage energy to supply power for the ship’s hotel.

Ton Bos, Partner and co-founder of Aurelia, commented, “The world of zero emissions is a pioneering world open to new opportunities, which to some extent reminds me of the first operations in the heavy lift sector, where there was also no experience yet. In this sense, the cooperation with RINA is a strong signal that the maritime world is ready to work together for clean shipping.”

Patrizio Di Francesco, EMEA Special Projects Manager at RINA, said, “This cooperation gives us the opportunity to tune the recently published rules for Hydrogen, to focus on new technical challenges as well to verify the technology readiness level of the components and systems used for the storage, supply and bunkering of hydrogen. The commitment of the persons involved is high and this will bring realistic achievements.”

Raffaele Frontera, Founding Partner of Aurelia Green Concept Design, added, “This new design for a compressed hydrogen RoRo is part of a long-term cooperation between Aurelia and RINA in which we will develop liquefied hydrogen propulsion system that could be used for heavy lift, cruise and Ro-Pax vessels.

“This cooperation with RINA will ensure that the design of renewable ships becomes a reality and does not remain a distant dream. From Aurelia we are synergising with RINA to achieve this out of the box design concept, we think big, we think about the future, we think about safety and our planet.”