Following its launch back in spring 2024, the 119m (390ft) Feadship Project 821, claimed as the world's first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht, has now begun sea trials in the Netherlands, near IJmuiden, Amsterdam.
Construction on the groundbreaking project — which also marks Feadship's largest superyacht ever — began in 2019, with design by RWD and the owner represented by Edmiston. Superyacht Project 821 utilizes green hydrogen to operate the yacht's hotel load and amenities with emission-free power, as hydrogen is an incredibly efficient and clean fuel, with only electricity and water/steam as a by-product when processed in a fuel cell.
To ensure Project 821 functions as intended, Feadship had to find a safe and practical way to store compressed liquid hydrogen at -253°C below deck on a superyacht, as storing liquid hydrogen onboard requires a double-walled cryogenic storage tank. Although one cubic meter of liquid hydrogen weighs only 70kg compared to about 800kg for an equivalent amount of non-fossil diesel (HVO or e-diesel), hydrogen storage takes up significantly more space — eight to ten times more than diesel.
As a result, the installation of the required cryogenic fuel tank, 16 compact fuel cells, switchboard connections, and vent stacks added 4m (13ft) to the superyacht's length. These fuel cells can also use methanol, offering flexible fuel options. While Project 821 can't carry enough hydrogen for long voyages, the fuel cell technology greatly reduces carbon emissions by powering the yacht's hotel load, which is a significant part of its energy use.
Project 821 stores just 543kWh of energy – compared to Feadship’s first diesel-electric hybrid, the 83.5m SAVANNAH which stores 1MW of electrical energy. This amount of energy storage, however, enables Project 821 to operate completely silently at anchor for up to a week and cruise emission-free. Moreover, its waste heat recovery system efficiently heats onboard amenities, while smart AC systems help cut energy use in unoccupied areas.
For power and propulsion, the Feadship superyacht is equipped with two 900kW MTU generators, three 2,500kW MTU generators, and 16 185kW PowerCell H2 generators, enabling a range of 6,500nm at 14 knots.
In addition to its environmental benefits, Project 821 is also the largest motor yacht ever launched in the Netherlands, surpassing the 118m superyacht LAUNCHPAD for flagship status. Although the two yachts have nearly identical lengths, Project 821 boasts 30% more volume, delivering 7,247 GT over LAUNCHPAD's 5,528 GT.
Upon her completion, Project 821 will sit comfortably at #28 in the YachtBuyer YB100 — a true measure of the world's largest yachts — between Lurssen superyacht GOLDEN ODYSSEY and Freire Shipyard's yacht RENAISSANCE.
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