Feadship’s 119-metre M/Y Breakthrough has become the first superyacht to receive a supply of liquid hydrogen – a huge leap forward in zero-emission propulsion in superyacht design.
Built with a fully integrated hydrogen fuel cell system, Breakthrough is more than a project in sustainability; it’s a demonstration of what the future of onboard power might be. Taking on liquid hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures (-253°C) in the Netherlands, it took careful coordination across logistics, safety and regulatory regimes.
What Powers Breakthrough?
At the yacht’s core is a cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell system, next-generation design. The cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water vapour and heat being the only by-products.
This clean energy powers the yacht’s “hotel loads” (lighting, air conditioning, etc.) and other systems onboard quietly and emissions-free. Equipped with high-tech lithium-ion batteries and an intelligent energy management system, Breakthrough can even run silently at anchor, diesel generators not necessary.
How Do You Store Liquid Hydrogen on a Yacht?
Storing liquid hydrogen safely demands difficult engineering. Liquid hydrogen needs extremely well-insulated, vacuum-jacketed tanks with integral safety precautions against pressure accumulation or escape.
Feadship collaborated with specialists and classification societies to create a marine-quality storage system – quite possibly establishing a new benchmark in the field.
More Than Just Green
M/Y Breakthrough not only complies with future emission standards, she’s built to set the pace. Modular fuel cells and intelligent power sharing, innovative materials and protection systems, she is a sophisticated showcase for what can be achieved in hybrid energy technology.
Her successful bunkering with hydrogen in the Netherlands is a breakthrough – evidence that the age of hydrogen-fueled yachting has officially started.
Superyacht Technology Show: June 2025
