Belgian shipowner CMB Group is looking to adopt alternative clean fuel in the future as a way to deal with IMO regulations on sulphur emission and plans to introduce the world’s first hydrogen-powered bulk carrier as early as 2023, the company’s CEO Alexander Saverys said in an interview with Japanese media Kaiji Press.
Saverys believes the installation of scrubbers is not an way for the maritime industry and the company would rather invest in innovative technologies that will contribute more to environmental protection.
CMB has already completed a test operation of a hydrogen-powered small passenger boat and has created a new unit called CNB Technologies, which is now in the process of developing a larger hydrogen-fueled engine suitable for smaller size bulkers.
“We plan to put the world’s first hydrogen-powered bulker to practical use in 2023-2025,” Saverys said in the interview.
CMB Group’s shipping operations consist of dry bulk operator Bocimar, chemical tanker operator Bochem, product tanker operator Botank and containership operator Delphis. The company’s bulk division operates a fleet of 56 bulkers.
Last year, CMB also revealed plans to equip a CMB containership with a hydrogen-powered auxiliary engine.
