Dutch students complete North Sea journey from Netherlands to Ramsgate with self-built hydrogen boat.
Dutch students from the TU Delft Hydro Motion Team arrived in Ramsgate last night (July 11) aboard their self-built hydrogen boat, becoming the first to cross from the Netherlands to England with a fully hydrogen-powered vessel.
The students departed from Breskens and made the nearly 169-kilometer journey across the North Sea on a single tank. With this project, the students aim to highlight hydrogen as a sustainable alternative for the maritime sector.
The crossing did not go exactly as planned. The students had already made an earlier attempt on July 9, but to their great disappointment, this had to be aborted due to the risk of thunderstorms and technical problems that occurred the day before.
Yesterday, the students made a new attempt. At 11am they set off for the UK. This attempt initially seemed unsuccessful as well because, during the first few kilometres of the crossing, a cooling pump broke down. The students then made a quick pitstop in the harbour of Zeebrugge, where they replaced the pump in record time. After this, the boat functioned properly again and the students successfully completed the journey.
In the evening, against all odds, the students arrived in Ramsgate, successfully finishing their journey over the North-Sea with their hydrogen-powered boat.
The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team has been building hydrogen-powered boats for some time. After a successful summer last year, where they became world champions at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, the students decided to take a different approach this year. Instead of the annual race, they organized their own challenge – being the first ever fully hydrogen-powered boat to cross the North Sea from the Netherlands to the UK.
By crossing the North Sea emission-free, they hope to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a sustainable alternative fuel and send a powerful message to ports, governments, and businesses about the possibilities of a green future.
Crossing the North Sea brought many additional challenges for the students, including safety, logistics, and jurisdiction. An internal team was formed to work full-time on the organisation of the crossing alongside the testing phase.
To ensure safety, protocols are drawn up, extra training sessions and preparations are taken on, and necessary safety products are purchased. Logistical planning was also a significant challenge this year, especially since the exact date of the crossing depended on the weather. The students designated the second week of July as their “weather window,” during which they chose one day with the right conditions for the crossing. Contact was made with numerous harbours, companies and agencies.
By crossing the North Sea, the Hydro Motion Team students have put emphasis on the seaworthiness and long-distance capability of their hydrogen boat. Seaworthiness was a new challenge for the team, which had previously focused on speed and maneuverability. This year, the focus was on robustness and reliability.
The hull was significantly higher and equipped with a sharp bow to better cut through the waves. Additionally, space was made for an extra tank, bringing the total amount of hydrogen on board to 25 kilograms. This allowed the students to complete the nearly 169 km crossing in one go without refueling.
Twenty-three students were involved in the crossing project. 6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts are supporting the group by providing accommodation.
READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central
Dutch students complete North Sea journey from Netherlands to Ramsgate with self-built hydrogen boat. source
