ZULU Associates and Flanders Hydraulics investigate the energy efficiency of the zero-emission and autonomous inland vessel X-Barge

ZULU Associates and Flanders Hydraulics have signed an agreement to investigate and validate the energy efficiency of the X-Barge in confined and shallow waters. This study is necessary to optimize the hull shape of the X-Barge, especially in the European canals and rivers, and at low water levels, which helps to enable the transition of inland waterway barges to zero-emission. The less energy the barge needs per ton/km, the more competitive it is compared to fossil fuel powered barges.

About Zulu Associates

ZULU Associates is developing a fleet of zero-emission barges and vessels for inland and Short Sea Shipping that use a combination of alternative propulsion forms and autonomous operation to be economically competitive.

The X-Barge is a 85cm ECMT class IV inland vessel, designed for container and dry bulk shipping. It is developed to deal extremely efficiently with its energy resources and, by means of modular energy storage, and, by means of alternative sources of energy such as batteries and/or hydrogen. Besides, the vessel is designed to navigate autonomously, which is expected to result in economic margin necessary to compete with fossil fueled vessels using alternative energy sources.

Over Flanders Hydraulics

Flanders Hydraulics (FH) is a division of the department of mobility and public works of the Flemish Government and is a center of expertise for research and advice on hydraulic, nautical, sediment-related and hydrological topics for more than 90 years. The activities are spread over two sites: the main office in Antwerp and the Flanders Maritime Laboratory in Ostend. Through her commercial entity, EV Flanders Hydraulics, Flanders Hydraulics carries out commercial assignments for the private sector and foreign governments.

The instrumentation of FH comprises the most advanced tools for executing model tests including two towing tanks for ship maneuvering in shallow and confined water. FH also possesses numerical models such as navigation simulators and models predicting current velocities impacting the behavior of ships. Testing facilities and numerical models will be used in complement to each other to reinforce their strength and generate synergy. The researchers of Flanders Hydraulics are very experienced and combine field knowledge and practical knowledge with solid theoretical knowledge of physical processes and their modelling techniques.

The knowledge about nautical applications is consolidated in the Knowledge Centre for Manoeuvring in Shallow and Confined Water (with the UGent), for more info visit www.shallowwater.be.“

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