The SAFeCRAFT project is committed to accelerating the safe and practical integration of Sustainable Alternative Fuels (SAFs) in the maritime sector. Through a combination of integration, validation, and real-world demonstration of SAF technologies on oceangoing vessels, the project aims to overcome key barriers related to safety, technological readiness, and economic feasibility.
A flagship achievement of SAFeCRAFT will be the retrofit of a hydrogen-fueled generator set (H₂ GenSet) onboard a 180,000 DWT Capesize Bulk Carrier. This demonstrator will utilize gaseous hydrogen to provide auxiliary and propulsion power, showcasing a tangible step forward in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the sustainability of large-scale maritime operations.
Led by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Task 3.4 is a cornerstone of SAFECRAFT project’s technical work. It aims to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of SAFs powertrain solutions across a wide range of commercial vessels, ensuring alignment with the FuelEU Maritime 2040 targets.
This task brings together key insights and conceptual ship designs developed in Tasks 3.1 (led by METACON), Task 3.2 (led by NTUA) and Task 3.3 (led by Technical University of Dresden), which explored the application of ammonia, hydrogen, and Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC), respectively. By integrating this technical foundation with the QFD analysis from Task 2.4 (led by NTUA), Task 3.4 enables a holistic and comparative assessment of these innovative propulsion solutions.
At its core, the task involves an initial screening of 180 fuel-powertrain-ship type combinations. Four distinct ship types were selected as representative use cases for the desktop-level studies (Containership, RoPax, Cruise, Bunkering Tanker). Each of these vessels was assessed using all four SAFs, leading to three main powertrain architectures: large-scale fuel cells combined with marine batteries, Hydrogen-fed internal combustion main engines, Hydrogen-fed generator with shaft motor (PTI) operating in parallel with conventional engines.
To manage the complexity of this broad analysis, an initial screening phase was conducted using key performance metrics such as:
– Safety
– Space and installation feasibility
– Environmental impact in line with FuelEU targets
– Suitability across vessel types, ranges, and cargo requirements
– Practicality of bunkering and operational procedures
This process narrowed the field from 180 to 6 high-potential scenarios, which will now undergo in-depth assessment using process modelling tools. These refined case studies will support WP4 (led by HYDRUS), where detailed engineering studies will be carried out. Notably, a second level of broader screening will be developed later in the task to support WP5, offering a more relaxed but comprehensive set of scenarios. The second screening will offer valuable input to WP5, where the University of Patras is developing a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) platform. This will ensure the decision-making platform reflects the full spectrum of technical, operational, and regulatory considerations.
With its completion planned for end of 2025, Task 3.4 is expected to generate robust, data-driven outcomes that will provide useful outcomes both to the project consortium and the industry stakeholders about the SAF powertrain pathways toward a greener maritime future.
