Engineered Marine Systems completes design phase of Archipelago Yachts' Market-First Methanol Leisure Vessel
Engineered Marine Systems (EMS), designers of innovative marine systems, has completed its design phase to integrate a methanol propulsion systems for the groundbreaking project by Archipelago Yachts, the first of its kind to use methanol fuel in the leisure industry.
As an industry first, the project is breaking new ground in the understanding of systems requirements in a vessel of this size. It is hoped that it will help drive the future uptake of alternative fuels and sustainable propulsion technologies across the marine industry.
Ben Pym, Managing Director from EMS had this to say; "We firmly believe in the power of alternative propulsion systems to drive sustainable advancements in the marine industry. By combining our expertise in alternative fuels with Archipelago Yachts' visionary design, we have achieved a remarkable milestone in offering a greener and more enjoyable boating experience."
As systems partner, this project highlights EMS’s design capabilities and builds on the team’s experience in alternative propulsion systems. The project presented a unique set of systems requirements that needed to be overcome, namely safety, storage, equipment selection and weight implications of such a project, whilst using commercially available off-the-shelf components.
One of the key challenges of using methanol is its low flash point (only 12 degrees celsius) and the need for more volume compared with diesel. To mitigate the risks associated with a low flash point strict conditions are needed for the storage of methanol onboard, including the location and protection of the fuel tanks and ventilation. Additionally, one of the results of the project was the development of an innovative storage concept to distribute weight and save space.
The vessel is also one of the first to use a methanol-to-hydrogen fuel cell for electrical power generation. EMS worked with RIX Industries to refine and integrate their hydrogen generator system which resulted in a very space efficient solution. On demand methanol-to-hydrogen generation technologies bypass the significant design challenges of onboard hydrogen storage and the need for refuelling infrastructure.
Dr Stephen Weatherley, Founder and Managing Director of Archipelago said, “EMS have brought a real sense of engineering excellence to this project team. It’s been a real pleasure to work with such experienced marine engineers but also engineers who are willing to think beyond the status quo.”
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