Concept Risk Analysis of a Full-electric Passenger Catamaran Ferry Equipped with Hydrogen-fuelled Pem Fuel Cell and Battery Systems

The work considers a zero-emission high-speed catamaran ferry equipped with a hybrid powertrain, based on a full-electric propulsion system, and its preliminary risk analysis. Globally, there is major attention on full-electric vessels to comply with the IMO regulations related to ship emissions and energy efficiency improvement, and the assessment of possible risks due to the installation of green technologies. This study aims to analyze the risk assessment for the implementation of an onboard fuel cell power generating system integrated with the propulsion plant and the energy storage to evaluate its arrangements with particular attention to the preliminary identification of hazardous areas. The passenger craft is 30 m in length and 10 m wide, and it is intended to operate on the Amalfi coast, carrying 220 passengers at a cruise speed of 20 knots. The power system consists of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system, with a nominal power of 1600 kWe, a battery pack with a capacity of 400 kWh, a 750-kW electric motor, and their relative balance of the plant (BoP) subsystems. The PEM is fuelled by pure hydrogen stored in type IV cylinder vessels at 700 bars.