Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has made a significant milestone in India’s maritime industry by delivering its first passenger vessel powered primarily by hydrogen fuel cells. The catamaran ferry, named FCV Pilot-01, is currently operating commercially on the Ganges River in Varanasi. Owned by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), this vessel was constructed at CSL’s Kochi facility as part of a pilot program for National Waterway 1.
FCV Pilot-01 has been classified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and is officially registered at Kodungallur in Kerala. The vessel’s classification notation includes + IWL, ZONE 2, FERRY for its hull, while the machinery notation indicates + IY, FC (Main) – Hydrogen, BATTERY PROP, highlighting the innovative use of hydrogen fuel cells as the main power source, complemented by battery propulsion.
Measuring 24.8 meters (81.4 feet) in overall length, with a length between perpendiculars of 24.1 meters (79.1 feet), the ferry boasts a moulded beam of 6.4 meters (21 feet) and a depth of 1.7 meters (5.6 feet). Its maximum draught is just 0.835 meters (2.74 feet), ensuring efficient navigation in shallow waters.
The vessel’s gross and net tonnage stands at 70, with a lightship weight of 39.12 tonnes. It has a displacement of 43.22 tonnes and a deadweight capacity of 4.1 tonnes, making it an efficient choice for passenger transport on India’s waterways.
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