Hydrogen vessels chart a cleaner future for short sea

The Hamburg-based engineering firm has secured two key contracts for hydrogen-based propulsion systems from Samskip and Møre Sjø, helping to advance short sea shipping with zero-emission solutions.

“These projects are a significant milestone for eCap Marine and the maritime energy transition,” said Lars Ravens, managing director at eCap Marine.

“Our integrated hydrogen systems are now at the core of two groundbreaking vessels.”

Hydrogen expertise

The contracts for both vessels was secured at this year’s Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo.

Global logistics provider Samskip selected eCap Marine to equip its new SeaShuttle short-sea container vessels, currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard in India, with 3.2 MW PEM hydrogen fuel cells.

These will be the world’s first container ships to operate on green hydrogen, marking a major development in sustainable shipping. Delivery is expected in 2027.

Meanwhile, Norwegian shipowner Møre Sjø has contracted eCap Marine to supply onboard hydrogen power for two 85-metre emission-free bulk carriers being built in Türkiye. Each will feature 1.7 MW fuel cells and a 2-tonne hydrogen tank system for clean coastal operations.

eCap Marine said it is one of the few maritime suppliers offering complete hydrogen integration for operators.