Lübeck, Sliedrecht, 19 November 2025 – The first fully emission-free cable excavator vessel is now operating in the Netherlands. It is powered entirely by TESVOLT OCEAN batteries, which are charged using hydrogen fuel cells. The vessel belongs to the hydraulic engineering company Van den Herik and has been recognised by the independent Green Award Foundation with the Green Award Gold for its outstanding contribution to sustainable innovation. The project successfully converted the high-energy-demand work vessel Prins 6 into the zero-emission vessel Prins ZEs, despite the initial absence of charging infrastructure – saving substantial amounts of CO₂ in the process.
Work vessel with high energy demand
As a working vessel, the Prins ZEs requires large amounts of energy and covers long distances every day. The installed Compass Core battery modules from the Kaptein series therefore provide a storage capacity of nearly 2 MWh. When fully discharged, they can be completely recharged within 12 hours using the fuel cell generator – after that, the Prins ZEs can operate and work electrically for an entire working day.
Charging speed and space efficiency were key
“We needed batteries that could charge large amounts of energy quickly and take up minimal space on board,” says Isolde Struijk, Managing Director of Van den Herik in Sliedrecht, near Rotterdam. “When the crane begins operation, it creates high load peaks, so it was equally important for the battery system to be exceptionally robust and maintain stable performance under stress.”
Strong and lightweight – ideal for retrofit applications
“We designed our battery modules to make retrofitting electric drives on vessels as simple as possible,” explains Michael Miebach, Key Account Manager at TESVOLT OCEAN. “Despite their low weight, the modules offer very high energy density: the nearly 2 MWh of total storage capacity requires only about 0,6 m × 3,6 metres of space with a total height of ca. 1,8 metres. We’re thrilled that the Prins ZEs is operating with our battery system. It’s a true flagship project proving that clean shipping is achievable even for vessels with demanding power requirements.”
The Compass Core battery system is also designed to be cooled by ambient air, simplifying installation and reducing maintenance costs.
Hydrogen mini power plant
Since there is currently no charging infrastructure along inland waterways, Van den Herik developed its own compact hydrogen fuel cell generator. Measuring only 3 × 2.6 × 2.5 metres, it can produce up to 3,600 kWh of electricity per day – enough to continuously power a residential neighbourhood of around 400 households when combined with a battery storage system. The generator is installed onshore, next to a trailer containing hydrogen tanks. Inside the fuel cell, hydrogen is converted into electricity, which is then transferred to the onboard batteries.
A pioneer in hydraulic engineering
The Dutch authority Rijkswaterstaat, responsible for the construction and maintenance of roads and waterways, praised the Prins ZEs as a pioneering project. Roger Mol, Head of Sustainability and Procurement at Rijkswaterstaat, commented: “Projects like the Prins ZEs show that decarbonisation in hydraulic engineering is possible when government and industry take shared responsibility.”
Rijkswaterstaat supports so-called “front-runner projects” (“koploperprojecten”) – initiatives that put new sustainable solutions into practice in collaboration with industry. The project was realised through close cooperation between Van den Herik, TESVOLT OCEAN, system integrator Verhoef Elektrotechniek, and shipyard Kooiman Marine Group.
About TESVOLT OCEAN
TESVOLT OCEAN, based in Lübeck, develops high-performance battery storage systems specifically designed for the demanding conditions at sea. Its Navigator, Compass Core, and Compass systems meet a range of requirements – from high-performance propulsion to retrofit electrification in vessels with limited installation space. With its innovative products and services, TESVOLT OCEAN sets new benchmarks for maritime energy solutions in Europe.
TESVOLT OCEAN is part of the TESVOLT Group. TESVOLT AG has specialised in commercial and industrial battery storage systems for more than ten years and has received multiple awards for innovation.
www.tesvolt-ocean.com
About Van den Herik
Van den Herik is a hydraulic engineering company based in Sliedrecht, near Rotterdam. The company’s founder, Jan van den Herik, played a key role in rebuilding quays and shorelines after the Second World War. Today, this family-run business, together with several sister companies in the Netherlands and abroad, offers a wide range of shoreline and waterway solutions. Van den Herik places particular emphasis on sustainability and continuously seeks innovative approaches to hydraulic engineering.
https://herik.nl/en/
by Cicero Design
German