Feadship Yacht Project 821 Introduces Hydrogen Fuel Cells to Yachting

Five years in development, the Feadship yacht Project 821 is in the water. She is not only the Dutch builder’s first hydrogen fuel-cell yacht, but also the first private vessel using this emission-free way of generating electricity.

Although other hydrogen fuel-cell projects are under construction in the industry, this is the first launch. “The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht, without compromise,” according to Jamie Edmiston, chief executive of Edmiston and the owner’s representative. Specifically, the owner wanted to cruise harbor to harbor and run the hotel loads without emissions. The intended LOA, exceeding 328 feet (100 meters), opened the door to using hydrogen fuel cells.

Because of its goal to have “net zero” yachts by 2030, Feadship already had been researching alternatives to fossil fuels. Naturally, hydrogen fuel cells were among them, since the technology is already proven in cars and spacecraft. Notably, hydrogen’s byproduct is water vapor. Plus, hydrogen weighs a fraction of biofuels like HVO. However, nothing waterborne yet employed them, not even in the commercial sector. Similarly, no standards existed from classification societies, flag states, or the IMO. (The IMO, a.k.a. International Maritime Organization, establishes measures to prevent ship pollution, among other things.) Together with Lloyd’s Register, Feadship established guidelines and found a good partner in PowerCell Group. The company develops and produces hydrogen electric fuel stacks and systems for aviation, maritime and other sectors.

The system ultimately that came aboard the Feadship yacht Project 821 wasn’t without its challenges, though. Compressed liquid hydrogen needs to be kept at cryogenic (extremely low) temperature, that being -253°C, in double-walled tanks. Additionally, eight to 10 times more storage space is needed for hydrogen versus the energy equivalent in diesel fuel. The tanks, the 16 fuel cells, the switchboard connecting them to the D.C. grid, and the vent stacks for the water vapor added 13 feet (4 meters) to the original LOA. The Feadship yacht Project 821 therefore grew to just shy of 390 feet (119 meters).

Even with this massive LOA, the Feadship yacht Project 821 isn’t large enough to accommodate enough liquid hydrogen for an ocean crossing. So, the MTU gensets running the ABB azimuthing pods burn HVO, which emits 90 percent fewer emissions compared to fossil fuels. This makes her the second Feadship employing biofuel, with Obsidian being the first. Still, since the electricity for a superyacht’s hotel loads generates the largest carbon footprint, the fuel-cell system makes a dramatic difference. In fact, according to the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index, 70 to 78 percent of a yacht’s energy usage annually goes to air conditioning and other hotel loads. Feadship says Project 821 can enjoy a full week of either silence at anchor or emission-free cruising at 10 knots with the fuel cells. (See the “Fast Facts” sidebar below for even more details.)

The superyacht employs further environmentally friendly technology, too. For instance, a waste-heat recovery system heats the hot tub, steam room, aft-deck pool, towel bars and floors in guest baths, and the air throughout the decks. A “smart” power-management system reduces air conditioning or heating in unoccupied guest areas as well.

Speaking of guest areas, Project 821 has a lot of them. Eight guest staterooms are on the main deck, for instance. They convert to four super-size suites, too. Four additional guest staterooms bring the total bed count to 30. An atrium-style stairway along the megayacht’s port side let them access the five decks above the waterline. (Two decks, meanwhile, sit below the waterline.) They can instead use an elevator, which the stairs wrap around. To enjoy the views, full-height windows are at each entry/exit point, also with glass balustrades.

As to what they can enjoy aboard, several options wait. They can spend quiet time in the library on the main deck or watch movies on the tank deck, for example. Outside, two stairways cascade from the main deck to the swim platform, with more stairs down to the spa and beach club. Farther down from the beach club, guests can see fish and sea life through the window in the Nemo lounge. The main aft deck should be popular, though, since it has a 27-foot-long (8.2-meter-long) contraflow pool with a glass bottom. The bottom can raise, too. Also here for guests are a hot tub and multiple dining and relaxation spots.

Of course, the owner of the Feadship yacht Project 821 has a remarkable private space. Indeed, the owners’ deck sits 121 feet (37 meters) above the water. Essentially, it’s a penthouse apartment, with two bedrooms, two offices (both with a fireplace), a living room, a gym, and a pantry. Furthermore, the owner’s deck connects to three more entirely private deck areas below via a dedicated elevator and stairway. Bookshelves line the stairway, with subsequent deck areas offering dining (adjacent to a balcony), games, coffee, and more.

Throughout the decks, the Feadship yacht Project 821 treats visitors to a coastal décor. Materials like leather, rattan, limed oak, fumed and taupe eucalyptus, marble, and textured fabrics reflect neutral, light colors. RWD collaborated with the owner for these and design touches like similar door trims and hallway railings throughout, with materials lending the differences. As much as Charlie Baker, a director at RWD, enjoyed the relationship, he marvels at the yacht’s technological advances. “We hope it inspires other projects to think differently in the future,” he says.

Although she may change hands before delivery—she’s for sale via Edmiston—Project 821 holds yet another distinction. She’s the largest motoryacht launched in The Netherlands.

Edmiston edmiston.com

Feadship feadship.nl

RWD rwd.co.uk

Fast Facts About the Feadship Yacht Project 821

Her power supply comes from 2/900-kW MTU gensets, 3/2,500-kW MTU gensets, and 16/185-kW PowerCell hydrogen generators (fuel cells).
The research by Feadship and PowerCell Group to create this power solution is enabling two long-range Norwegian passenger and car ferries to employ the same system when they begin operations next year.
Project 821 stows just 543 kW-hours of energy, thanks to her fuel cells; no need for massive battery banks like the one aboard Feadship’s first diesel-electric superyacht Savannah, from 2015, whose bank held 1 mW of energy.
The fuel cells can employ methanol instead of hydrogen, which is easier to store, since it’s liquid in ambient conditions.
Besides accommodations for guests, cabins for 44 crewmembers and 2 staff members are aboard.
Project 821 has 14 deploying balconies, five huge shell doors, and seven significant opening platforms. They’re the most hull openings of any Feadship. Remarkably, the balconies are invisible when closed, sliding out from between the decks. They deploy with side railings or walls, and floors rising level with the connecting decks.
Despite being nearly the same size as the recently delivered Launchpad, Project 821 has 30 percent more volume.