Hydro Motion Team TU Delft crosses North Sea
The Hague, 12 July 2024
It worked! Late last night, TU Delft’s Hydro Motion Team arrived in Ramsgate with their self-built and hydrogen-powered boat. A great achievement that we as Campus@Sea are also very proud of.
During the last two weeks of June, the team was able to test the boat extensively in the North Sea Living Lab. Thanks to the support and cooperation of Campus@Sea, W. van der Zwan & Zn and the Harbour Master of the Municipality of The Hague, the tests crucial for the crossing could take place on the North Sea.
The Hydro Motion Team
The Hydro Motion Team is a group of driven students from TU Delft who are working for one academic year to develop a fully hydrogen-powered boat. This innovative project combines renewable energy and advanced engineering to provide a more sustainable alternative for the maritime sector. Their goal is to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source and pave the way for sustainable shipping solutions.
In 2021, TU Delft’s first Hydro Motion Team competed in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, initiated by the Yacht Club de Monaco, is a competition focusing on energy innovation in the maritime sector. In 2023, that year’s Hydro Motion team became world champions with their foiling hydrogen boat. This year’s team therefore wanted to take on another challenge and decided to build a boat that would allow them to cross the North Sea, a feat that had never been accomplished before.
The Hydro Motion Team spent countless hours researching, designing and building their hydrogen boat. They collaborated with industry experts and used the latest technologies to create a vessel that is not only efficient, but also environmentally friendly. Using renewable energy and cutting-edge technology, the team aims to revolutionise the marine industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.
North Sea testing ground
Proeftuin op de Noordzee is a 10 x 10 nautical mile test area off the coast of Scheveningen. As part of Campus@Sea, it provides a unique environment where innovative maritime technologies can be tested under realistic conditions.
This test area was invaluable for the Hydro Motion Team, as it allowed them to evaluate and optimise the performance and reliability of their hydrogen boat before making the crossing to the UK.
The Crossing
The Hydro Motion Team had decided to set sail during the period from 1 to 14 July, depending on the right weather conditions. Due to unfavourable weather conditions, with excessive waves, they used the first week for additional testing and optimisations.
The team finally sailed out on 11 July. In one day, they made the crossing from Breskens to Ramsgate, arriving safely at 23:45.
With this successful crossing to the UK, the Hydro Motion Team 2024 is making history! It is the first fully hydrogen-powered boat to achieve this feat.
Testing maritime innovations on the North Sea
We as Campus@Sea are immensely proud to have been able to contribute to this result. Do you have a maritime innovation you would like to test in the North Sea? Contact us, we will be happy to facilitate you with testing in the North Sea Living Lab.
