A remarkable vessel sailed into the port of Amsterdam recently. She is called Energy Observer and the name says it all. The French vessel sails emission free and the stop in Amsterdam is part of a 6 years voyage in which the vessel visits 50 countries. The goal of the journey is to promote hydrogen as a (marine) fuel. The Port of Amsterdam and the Port of Rotterdam are already making plans to make hydrogen a part of their infrastructure.
Energy Observer is a hydrogen vessel, with zero greenhouse gas emissions or fine particles. This former race boat has been fully transformed, powered by electric propulsion thanks to a mix of renewable energies and a hydrogen production system that produces carbon-free hydrogen on board using seawater. “It is a magical feeling to skip the bunkering station and sail on,” says Jérôme Delafosse, expedition leader of the Energy Observer. “We believe that hydrogen is the future of energy. With our vessel we want to show the world that it is possible to make a journey of six years only using green energy.”