RINA awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to a unique concept vessel that would be an energy-harvesting ship, designed to produce green hydrogen as it sails the world and supply it to ships and other users. The approval was issued to Drift Energy, a UK-based start-up launched in 2021.
The company says it is following a roadmap towards building the world’s first net-positive vessel. Drift plans to launch its first ship during 2027, subsequently moving to series production. It reports already having a current orderbook of more than 30 vessels.
DRIFT’s energy harvesting ships would harness deep ocean wind to produce green energy at sea and deliver it worldwide. The vessels use hydrokinetic turbines under the hull to produce electricity, which is then converted via electrolysis into green hydrogen fuel and stored onboard for delivery to ports and other demand centers around the world. They would also incorporate a proprietary AI-enabled routing technology, which would enable the ships to locate and follow optimal weather patterns, achieving ultra-high load factors compared to other renewable energy sources.
Each vessel would have an onboard megawatt-class electrolyzer to produce and store gigawatts of green hydrogen. The hydrogen payload would be stored in standard 40-foot containers, ready to be lifted ashore. Alternatively, the hydrogen can be pumped ashore, and the vessel will also be able to directly bunker other vessels in port or at anchor. Future capability will also allow refueling at sea.
It is the first time that an AiP has been awarded for an energy-harvesting ship, and, through RINA’s risk?based Approval in Principle framework, it confirms that DRIFT’s novel design meets safety levels equivalent to established marine industry standards while enabling clean energy generation at sea.
