Feadship receives Lloyd's AiP on multi-fuel system design

Mattes Kruize (left) receives the ApI from Lloyd's Engel-Jan de Boer (right) © Feadship

During the UnIQ on Tour tech-talk on 28 September, Feadship received a second Approval-in-Principle (AiP) by Lloyd's Register on their compact multi-fuel system design. This design is the result of long lasting R&D and industry cooperation, and underpins a milestone on Feadship's energy transition roadmap. It is the starting point for several Feadship new-build projects under development.

The main challenge was to identify all aspects associated with the containment and handling of low-flashpoint fuels and to engineer a fuel system that is both compact, remaining resilient for various fuels and foremost secures safety. The system design is engineered with the philosophy in mind, that the next generation of yachts has to be flexible to adept to the changing shipping fuel production and supply chain. Driven by shipping's most predominant sectors and emission taxation regimes, vast investments are made into the construction of over already more than 120 large merchant ships and the required fuel production and supply chain. The fuel of choice across the global seagoing shipping board is 'methanol', leaving only the question "how to adapt to this transition the next decade(s)?".

The path towards net-zero yacht operations is paved

Feadship's multi-fuel design lives up to this challenge and will provide the possibility to operate on these new fuels while maintaining compatibility with current (non-)fossil fuels to allow for global operation and range. While being capable to store methanol as a fuel, further expansion of methanol based fuel cells is unlocked. It has a great potential to significantly improve the energy conversion efficiencies and completely omit the emission of pollutants.

Mattes Kruize, Director Projects Feadship / Royal Van Lent Shipyard, said: "For Feadship this is a significant step that coninues on the path that we have chartered out. To confirm the safe and also viable design principles that fit the use and design of a superyacht de-risks the projects that we are starting."

Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Segment Director, Lloyd's Register commented: "LR is proud to award Feadship Approval-in-Principle for their methanol fuel system. This system has the potential to revolutionize the yacht industry by offering a sustainable and clean alternative to traditional fuels. Our AiP provides confidence to yacht owners and operators that the system meets the necessary safety and performance requirements. As a trusted advisor to our clients, LR is at the forefront of the transition towards clean energy sources., providing technical expertise and guidance to shipowners, operators, and technology developers."