In this project, Zero Emission Industries, Inc., designed, built, and demonstrated a hydrogen fuel cell harbor craft vessel. The project repowered a 27ft harbor craft vessel with a highperformance fuel cell power system, using compressed hydrogen as a fuel. Flexible gaseous hydrogen refueling solutions were developed to support the harbor craft demonstration in Northern and Southern California. Independent analysis of the vessel’s demonstration data was conducted by the University of California, Irvine.
Overall, the demonstration project proved the feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell technology in marine applications, specifically harbor craft. The vessel delivered performance characteristics comparable to internal combustion engine-powered vessels while offering key advantages in efficiency, maneuverability, noise reduction, and safety. While minor refinements in handling and data interface usability could enhance operator experience, the results indicate that fuel cell-powered vessels present a promising alternative to conventional marine propulsion systems. These findings support California’s clean energy and climate goals by validating a zero-emission pathway for commercial harbor craft.
