Lithuanian yard lays keel of hydrogen-powered workboat

Western Baltija Shipbuilding of Lithuania has laid the keel of a new hybrid hydrogen-electric workboat ordered by the country’s Klaipėda State Seaport Authority (KSSA). The vessel will be used primarily for the transport of collected waste from ships.

According to current regulations, all ships arriving at or departing from the Port of Klaipėda are required to dispose of all ship-generated waste at a port reception facility. The KSSA has therefore been entrusted to provide a waste collection service. In order to further increase the quality of its service for waste collection from ships, the port authority has decided to use modern and environment-friendly equipment. Algis Latakas, Director General of the KSSA, said the new vessel will also clean other ships entering the port by collecting waste from them without leaving an environmental footprint.

The 42-metre-long vessel will be able to collect 400 cubic metres of liquid waste. It will be equipped with two electric motors powered by batteries with a total capacity of 2,000 kWh and a hydrogen fuel cell system. Depending on operations, the vessel will be able to operate within the Port of Klaipėda for up to 36 hours on a single full charge of the batteries.

The hull, the superstructure, and the wheelhouse will be constructed at Western Baltija Shipbuilding’s facilities at the Port of Klaipėda. Estonian boatbuilder Baltic Workboats will be responsible for the installation of the main and auxiliary machinery as well as the harmonisation and testing of all ship systems. The hydrogen fuel cell system will also be installed in Estonia.