By Dean Murray via SWNS
The world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht, rumored commissioned by Bill Gates, has been officially launched and immediately put up for sale.
Project 821, linked with the Microsoft founder by industry news sites, is a 119-meter superyacht able to run on green hydrogen.
Dutch shipbuilder Feadship say the launch of the vessel on 4 May at their Amsterdam shipyard sees the yachting world “forever changed”.
The firm are not confirming billionaire Gate’s relationship with the yacht or why it is now up for sale, but rumors suggest it is being offered for around €600m (£515m).
Unlike traditional yachts that rely on diesel engines or other fossil fuel-based propulsion systems, hydrogen fuel-cell yachts use hydrogen as their primary fuel source.
Announcing the launch, Feadship Director Jan-Bart Verkuyl says: “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director / CEO Royal Van Lent Shipyard.
The company add that the size of the yacht made it a good candidate to explore pure green hydrogen as the fuel-cell source.
They say: “For those captivated by cutting-edge innovations, this yacht presents an opportunity for potential acquisition as it showcases the pinnacle of modern technological advancements.”
Feadship revealed that one of the biggest hurdles was developing a reasonable way to store compressed liquid hydrogen below deck at -253°C aboard a luxury yacht.
They say: “But investing in the required technology is necessary to make the transition away from fossil fuel, and hydrogen is one of the most efficient and cleanest options. When hydrogen is processed in a fuel cell, the only by-products are electricity and water in the form of steam.”
A Feadship spokesperson says: “Feadship does not share any information about owners and prices, whether it is a 19-meter yacht from the 1960s or a 119-meter yacht from the 21st century.”
