two men in front of a hydrogen powered RIB

Fabrum and King Watercraft, both based in Christchurch, New Zealand, have collaborated on the design and build of a zero-emission hydrogen-powered RIB. The H2Ocean rigid inflatable begins sea trials this month (January 2025).

Equipped to carry up to 12 people, the RIB can be utilised for many different activities. It carries 18kg of 350 bar hydrogen gas, supplied to a fuel cell, which in turn maintains charging to a battery bank that is used to power the two electric stern legs.

“Electrics are the most common and easy concept for people to understand, which is why it sits on most people‘s view at the moment,” Christopher Boyle, Fabrum’s executive chair, tells MIN. “But the reality is for distance, electric can’t do it. It has two downsides: the weight of the batteries and the time it takes to recharge them. If you go to hydrogen, especially liquid, you have lighter storage systems and more energy stored on board. So hence, ferries can do longer trips, and you can do a much faster refill as it’s similar to refilling with diesel as a liquid.”

Fabrum believes that hydrogen’s adaptability to different sectors and capability to meet the diverse energy needs of industries with varying power and operational requirements means it has the potential to be a cornerstone of the future energy landscape.

“It’s exciting to be enabling another world-leading zero-emissions hydrogen project with our high-performance hydrogen-powered RIB boat,” says Boyle. “In collaboration with King Watercraft, we are bringing our expertise in hydrogen propulsion systems to this project, which showcases how hydrogen can support a new future pathway for the marine industry to decarbonise. This initiative has added significance as our companies are based in Christchurch, fast becoming known as the Hydrogen City of New Zealand.”

Will King, founder and MD of King Watercraft, says his company has been focused on producing bespoke RIBS for over ten years. “What makes us unique is our ability to push design boundaries to stand out from the crowd, always striving to be one step ahead,” says King. “With a focus on being at the forefront of sustainable propulsion, the shared values of King Watercraft and Fabrum brought this idea to life and together, this project offers a lighter footprint for the marine industry here and around the world.”

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