POTENTIAL FOR HYDROGEN POWER.
Glosten teamed up with Sandia National Laboratories, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and DNV to perform a study evaluating the technical, regulatory, and economic feasibility of a coastal research vessel fueled solely by liquid hydrogen and powered by fuel cells. The study also looked at the environmental benefits of hydrogen power and the logistics of refueling such a vessel at the expected points of call.
Once Scripps established performance objectives for the vessel and determined its ports of call, we developed a concept design, designated the “Zero-V,” that satisfied all our technical and performance goals. A trimaran hull form was selected to maximize needed deck area for storage of the liquid hydrogen, and an integrated fuel-cell electric plant provides both propulsion and ship service electrical power. The vessel is fitted with a retractable azimuthing bow thruster as well as stern thrusters in each outer hull and two fixed-pitch propellers which provide the dynamic positioning capability needed for station keeping in a seaway. We also designed the Zero-V for the comfort of scientists and crew and received feedback from the Scripps science team that the vessel succeeded in that regard.