Bureau Veritas Will Present Hybrid Retrofitting Study Developed Within RESHIP at TRA 2026

Bureau Veritas (BV) will present a research paper titled “Evaluating the Potential of Hybrid Ship Retrofitting Combining Tubercle-Assisted Propellers, Fuel Cells, and Liquid Inorganic H₂ Carrier Storage” at TRA 2026, on 18-21 May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary (https://traconference.eu). The work investigates an innovative hybrid propulsion concept for retrofitting OS Energy’s Fortuna Crane.

The study explores the combined use of Tubercle-Assisted Propellers (TAP), PEM fuel cells powered by the liquid inorganic hydrogen carrier Hydrosil, and battery systems as a pathway to reduce the vessel’s environmental impact. Using BV’s SEECAT tool, several fuel cell and battery configurations were evaluated across three operational profiles. While fuel cells alone could theoretically meet the full power demand, batteries proved essential for efficient operation at low loads.

Naval architecture assessments confirmed that the system can be integrated onboard without exceeding space or weight limits. Among the tested options, intermediate fuel cell sizing emerged as the most balanced solution in terms of volume, weight, and cost.

Overall, the study highlights the strong potential of combining tubercle-assisted propellers, fuel cells using Hydrosil, and battery storage to support cleaner and more efficient maritime operations, marking an important step forward for retrofit-oriented decarbonization strategies.