Pushing Boundaries: How ABB's Hydrogen Power is Revolutionizing Superyachts

A New Era of Sustainable Superyachting

In a truly exciting development for the maritime industry, ABB has successfully integrated a comprehensive package of cutting-edge technologies onto Feadship's stunning yacht, "Breakthrough."
This stunning 118.8-meter yacht, constructed by the prestigious Dutch luxury yacht builder Feadship, will be among the first ships in the world to feature multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.
The ship is an assertive expression of what luxury and sustainability combined can accomplish, setting a new standard for eco-friendly naval transport.

A Technological Masterpiece Integrated

ABB's extensive supply is an actual engineering masterpiece.
At its core is sophisticated Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform, in elegant synergy with two high-powered 3.2MW Azipod® electric propulsion units.
This synchronization is crucial, as it helps minimize noise and vibrations to offer passengers an extremely comfortable and serene ride.
The ship's energy consumption is optimized by ABB's Power and Energy Management System PEMS™, while dynamic positioning and joystick operation are seamlessly switched between by the ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control digital solution, minimizing complex docking operations considerably.
Completing this exceptional integration, ABB has also supplied leading-edge shipside shore connection technology and essential Remote Diagnostic Services.

The Future of Hydrogen Power

The centerpiece of this project is the revolutionary 3MW hydrogen fuel cell system.
This revolutionary system is capable of generating enough clean power to drive the yacht's entire hotel load and facilities with completely emission-free energy.
Furthermore, it can provide sufficient power for silent sailing for seven days when moored or enable emission-free sailing at a quiet 10 knots for port departure or sailing in secure marine zones.
This groundbreaking innovation beautifully demonstrates that passenger comfort and environmental safety are indeed compatible with each other, a fact echoed by Feadship Director and CEO Jan-Bart Verkuyl, who expressed his gratitude to ABB for its priceless technical expertise and team commitment.

Powering a Cleaner Maritime Future

For the broader shipping community, this order marks a revolutionary leap in the integration of marine fuel cells and propulsion systems.
As Riccardo Repetto, Global Vessel Type Responsible for Yachts at ABB Marine & Ports, explained, the Feadship Breakthrough project overwhelmingly shows the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a viable and highly attractive alternative to conventional power sources.
The achievement of this effort is expected to spur uptake of this technology in a wider range of vessel types and advance the entire maritime sector towards an environmentally friendly future.
It is a period of great pride for ABB, an enterprise with over 140 years of tradition and around 110,000 employees worldwide, and for its Process Automation business with its ~20,000 employees, in keeping maritime industries leaner and cleaner.