Victorien Erussard, president and founder of Energy Observer, will officially unveil the liquid hydrogen-powered vessel on February 10 at the One Ocean Summit in Brest. Its developer promises that the vessel will be able to change the entire scenario of the naval industry
After having created an autonomous laboratory vessel with the first complete hydrogen chain, capable of producing its own hydrogen with its wide range of renewable energies, Energy Observer takes the next big step by launching the most representative ship project in the shipping industry, launching the Energy Observer 2, a multipurpose cargo ship powered by liquid hydrogen, a technological feat that allows zero-emission navigation, offering very high transport capacities and great autonomy.
Read also
Observer 2 – the ship powered by liquid hydrogen capable of changing the shipping industry
Maritime transport is responsible for approximately 3% of CO2 emissions annually on a global scale. The objective of Energy Observer and its partners is to present zero-emission oriented prototype solutions for the maritime transport of goods.
The technologies are now out of the development stage, with liquid hydrogen storage efficiently mastered, the deployment of liquefactors across the world, and the latest generations of mass-produced fuel cells seem imminent. The hydrogen-powered ship is now tackling the latest technological challenges, such as integrating large tanks or managing cryogenic temperatures, courtesy of unfailing support from its historical and technology partners.
At the forefront of the project is Air Liquide, the world leader in hydrogen for the industry for over 50 years. Air Liquide masters the production, storage, distribution and safety of liquid hydrogen and thus brings its technical experience, knowledge and capacity for innovation.
State-of-the-art technology
Energy Observer 2 | Image Credits: – Kadeg Boucher / JB Epron Design 
Energy Observer 2 | Image Credits: – Kadeg Boucher / JB Epron Design 
Energy Observer 2 | Image Credits: – Kadeg Boucher / JB Epron Design
Energy Observer and its strategic partner, the CMA CGM Group, gathered the commercial and operational parameters for this new generation of freighters. The CMA CGM Group, world leader in maritime transport and logistics, and Energy Observer, thus confirm their pioneering commitment to the energy transition of maritime transport.
EODev, the industrial subsidiary of Energy Observer which designed the first certified hydrogen boat and which develops affordable and marinized systems, is a world-class specialist in the integration of fuel cells in demanding environments.
Naval architecture office LMG Marin, a pioneer in carbonless propulsion and the development of the world's first liquid hydrogen ferry (Hydra), is the design office responsible for this innovative project. Ayro, the company created by Marc Van Peteghem to conceptualize auxiliary propulsion systems for large ships, and for which the Energy Observer was the first operational test object, will equip the ship with its Oceanwings®.
Another key partner in the project is Bureau Veritas, a key player in the evolution of maritime regulations and innovation, which has followed Energy Observer since the launch of its first hydrogen-powered vessel.
Technical specifications of the vessel powered by liquid hydrogen
Last but not least, the French Maritime Cluster and the T2EM Institute are working with academic, scientific and industrial partners to create the Institute for the Ecoenergetic Transition of the Maritime Sector (T2EM), whose objective is to transform and implement the national structuring program “Zero Emission Ship & Port” to achieve the targets of decarbonization, reduction of emissions and respect for the sector’s biodiversity.
The Energy Observer 2 is the Institute's flagship, the first full-scale demonstrator to power the entire industry. This new future ship is being developed by the best experts and industrialists from around the world brought together by Energy Observer.
Its specifications were established in accordance with the urgent need to renew fleets of multipurpose cargo ships of around 5.000 dwt. Used on intracontinental and coastal routes, they represent an alternative to road transport and can call at modest ports without major logistical requirements.
The main features of Energy Observer 2 are as follows:
- Length: 120 meters
- Width: 22 meters
- Draft: 5,5 meters
- The surface of the wings: 1450 m²
- Dead weight: 5.000 tons
- Containers: 240 TEU (twenty feet equivalent)
- Ro-ro bridge: 480 linear meters (trucks, vehicles and containers)
- Interpolated deck height: 6,5 meters
- Access ramp: 15 meters wide
- Commercial speed: 12 knots or Electric propulsion: 4 MW
- Fuel cell power (RexH2 EODev): 2,5 MW
- Liquid hydrogen tanks (LH2): 70 tons (1000 m3)
- Range: up to 4.000 nautical miles
