Glasgow embraces hydrogen

As the Glasgow-hosted COP26 comes to a close, GCC has upgraded its 14t Water Witch surface dredger St Mungo with the EcoPro catalytic hydrogen system, designed to immediately reduce the vessel’s engine pollution without any invasive modifications being required.

Jackie Caddick, director at Water Witch, said: “The EcoPro will allow us to directly reduce the diesel particulates, NOx and CO2 emissions of our larger vessels and offers an affordable and approved solution for both new builds and existing Water Witch boats.”

Hydrogen-on-demand

Developed by Ecomotus and installed on St Mungo this month, the RINA type approved EcoPro supplies a controlled quantity of pure hydrogen-on-demand to give a more complete fuel burn during combustion and is neatly installed next to the vessel’s main Perkins Sabre 6-cylinder 185hp 160kwh diesel engine.

Hydrogen is produced from EcoPro’s electronic system whilst the engine is running and automatically ceases when the engine is switched off.

This system reduces diesel particulates, NOx, and CO2 emissions by improving the quality of the combustion process, and by extending the efficiency of the engine, reducing the amount of fuel being consumed. Emissions are reduced by up to 85%.

Normally moored outside the COP26 venue, St Mungo has worked on the River Clyde for the past 19 years to removing debris and pollution.