In Ghent, BeHydro certifies a 100% hydrogen boat engine

In Ghent, Belgium, BeHydro has just had Lloyd’s Register certify a boat engine running exclusively on hydrogen. Presented as a world first, this certification covers a propulsion system intended for tugboats, pilot boats and service vessels.

The engine does not rely on a hydrogen fuel cell powering an electric motor. BeHydro chose internal combustion, based on the principle of a gasoline or diesel engine, with a design adapted to hydrogen: a broad flammability range, rapid temperature increase and risks of pre-ignition. Depending on the version, it will deliver between 1200 and 3580 horsepower.

The Belgian company was launched in 2020 by Anglo Belgian Corporation and CMB.TECH. It had first certified a dual-fuel engine in 2023, capable of running on diesel as well as hydrogen. This technology is already used in two tugboats: the Hydrotug 1, which operates in the waters of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges with 415 Kg of hydrogen, and a vessel built in Japan that stores 250 kg of hydrogen and carries two V12 engines producing 4400 horsepower.

In practical terms, this certification covers a hydrogen propulsion system intended for service boats, with the potential to reduce their CO2 emissions. The benefits initially concern these vessels rather than cargo ships or large units: storage remains a major obstacle, because hydrogen is very low-density under normal atmospheric conditions. It must be cooled to -254°C, compressed to more than 350 bar or stored as ammonia—three options that still present technical challenges.

The technology is therefore certified, but its scope of application remains limited. The maritime sector accounts for 3% of the planet’s CO2 emissions, and BeHydro is offering an option for some of its applications: service vessels, where the power requirements and storage constraints may still be compatible with hydrogen carried on board.