Zemships: zero emission on the Alster

Senator Axel Gedaschko: "Climate protection has to be implemented across the board. Thats why we are now investing in maritime fuel cell technology after introducing fuel cell powered buses in the HOCHBAHN: a prototype of a completely pollution-free inland passenger ship with zero emissions is due to come into service on the Alster in 2008. "

Fuel cell technology in service

Zemships (Zero EmissionShips) is an EU-supported project. Its objective is to develop and operate a fuel-cell powered Alster excursion ship as well as a hydrogen fuelling station. Projects such as Zemships can provide important findings for the future expansion of applications for fuel cell technology.

The first fuel-cell powered passenger ship

A fuel cell system adapted to the needs of a ship will be tested on board an Alster excursion ship in Hamburg over a period of two years beginning in summer 2008. The first ship of this type will run as a passenger ship on regular services in order to collect data for further development of the fuel cell technology. The prototype is planned to prove under realistic conditions in passenger transport that the fuel cell drive for ships is already technically feasible today and that it can deliver zero emission solutions for ecologically sensitive inland waters and in ports. An efficiency level of 50 per cent is expected under normal operating conditions with the fuel cell system, about twice that of the diesel-electric propulsion system currently used in the ships.

An operative challenge

The fuel cell powered ship will run on the normal tourist routes on the Alster lake and the River Elbe in the area of the Port of Hamburg i.e. not only as a ferry on an enclosed body of inland water: the specification also includes operation under the conditions to be expected on a waterway with a connection to the sea and subject to tidal influences.

Zero emissions and low noise

The zero emission, low-noise drive of the Zemship is a crucial aspect, since the Alster lake lies right in the middle of the Hamburg city centre and is an ecologically sensitive area. The objective here is to develop concepts for a drive which does not pollute the environment and to do without fossil fuels.