RIGA, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Latvia is developing its first coastal fishing vessel powered by electricity and hydrogen, public broadcaster LR1 reported Tuesday.
Andrejs Zvaigzne, a leading researcher at Riga Technical University (RTU), said that while green energy use in maritime transport remains limited, innovation is vital given the pollution and emissions from shipping.
The 3.38-million-euro (3.92-million-U.S.-dollar) project is a collaboration between RTU, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvian shipyard AtoZ, French firm Genevos -- which will supply a 40 kW hydrogen fuel cell system -- and the Tallinn Center of the Stockholm Environment Institute. The European Union (EU) is providing 2.8 million euros in funding.
The zero-emission vessel, under 12 meters long, will be designed for real coastal fishing conditions. Zvaigzne noted that while large freight ships are often blamed for marine pollution, coastal fishing vessels also play a role. "There are more than 70,000 coastal fishing vessels in the EU," he said. "If we act here, we can reduce coastal pollution." (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar) ■