Hydrogen dual-fuel straddle carrier unveiled in Antwerp

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s largest ports, now features what is said to be the world’s first hydrogen dual-fuel straddle carrier.

Launched by Antwerp Terminal Services (ATS), a joint venture between MSC PSA Europe Terminal (MPET) and PSA Antwerp, the machine uses the engine developed by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB)’s clean technology division CMB.TECH.

Following a two-year design and development phase, the straddle carrier running on a mix of hydrogen and diesel fuel will be tested in live operations at PSAA’s Noordzee Terminal. The dual-fuel technology will replace 70% of diesel consumption with hydrogen, with the eventual goal of 100% hydrogen injection.

The tests are part of the MPET & PSAA “Green Straddle Carrier Program”, in which the terminal operators are evaluating four major technological pathways to reduce these vehicles’ carbon emissions in their actual working environments, including hydrogen, biofuel, hybrid battery/diesel and full electrification.