The EU-funded HyShip project, which is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and aimed at accelerating the use of liquid hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for shipping, is to use Samskip’s SeaShuttle container ship initiative to provide a real-world demonstrator, marking an important step towards making zero-emission short sea shipping a commercial reality.
The SeaShuttle project, with two vessels currently under construction, will be commercially employed on the freight route between Oslo and Rotterdam. By integrating onboard hydrogen storage systems with quayside bunkering systems, the project tackles one of the key challenges in scaling hydrogen-powered shipping: connecting fuel supply and port infrastructure with vessel operations. This brings zero-emission freight transport one step closer to commercial deployment.
SeaShuttle’s role in HyShip is to demonstrate how innovation can move from concept to commercial use. By joining forces, the two initiatives will build bunkering infrastructure to serve the SeaShuttle, helping to establish a green corridor between Oslo and Rotterdam.
Jeroen Hollebrands, Samskip Head of Newbuilding and Projects, said: “SeaShuttle was created to demonstrate that zero-emission shipping can move beyond ambition and become a practical reality. Through HyShip, we have an opportunity to connect vessel technology, hydrogen supply, and port infrastructure in a real operating environment, helping to establish the foundations needed for the wider adoption of hydrogen-powered shipping across Europe.”
LH2 Shipping is becoming involved in the project, bringing experience in liquid hydrogen maritime solutions. The company will support Samskip in the development of safe, scalable onboard hydrogen systems, as well as being responsible for developing, building, and operating the port bunkering system for the SeaShuttle.
Ivan Oestvik, CEO and Owner, LH2 Shipping, added: “The revised HyShip project marks a definite step towards applying liquid hydrogen in short sea shipping, building on existing technology experience whilst generating the solutions and operational insight needed to support future rollout and broader adoption across the sector.”
The consortium includes Maritime CleanTech, LMG Marin France, sus.lab at ETH Zurich, DNV SE, Persee, NCSR Demokritos, University of Strathclyde, Wilh Wilhelmsen Holding, Diana Shipping Services, and Nav-Tech. Together, the partners bring expertise from across the hydrogen, maritime, research, and regulatory value chain to accelerate the development of practical, scalable solutions for liquid hydrogen shipping.
Tore Boge, Head of EU Projects, Maritime Cleantech, said: “The market needs projects that reduce uncertainty, align partners, and make future investment decisions easier. This collaboration is strategically important because it helps build confidence in liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel for shipping.”
Image: Samskip’s SeaShuttle H2-fuelled container ship (source: HyShip)
