The Norwegian state enterprise Enova has granted NOK150m (€15m) for developing two 500 TEUs of capacity, hydrogen-powered, remotely-controlled, and autonomous-ready container carriers.
Each vessel will feature a 3.2 MW hydrogen fuel cell, with diesel-electric propulsion as a backup.
The two SeaShuttles are slated for launch by 2025. They will connect Oslo and Rotterdam across what is said to be one of the Clydebank Declaration's Green Corridors (providing end-to-end emission-free logistics).
"For Samskip, sustainability is one of the fundamentals of doing business. The SeaShuttle project is a substantial step in Samskip's journey towards zero-emission logistics. Its combination of fuel, technology and operational best practice is expected to make emissions-free short sea shipping cost-competitive with existing solutions," Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, Group CEO, Samskip, commented.
Are Gråthen, Samskip Norway's CEO, added, "Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality. Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment. These ships are the first part of an exciting collaboration with Ocean Infinity."
Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO, Ocean Infinity, also underlined, "Ocean Infinity's enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonisation and transformation of maritime operations. The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity's overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations. We would like to thank Enova for their support for our vision which represents a firm endorsement of our ground-breaking approach and allows us to proceed at full speed in bringing this project to life."
In total, Enova currently supports setting up seven hydrogen and ammonia-powered vessels with NOK451.3m, apart from the SeaShuttles Thor Dahl's hydrogen fuel cell dry bulk carrier and Færder Tankers Norway's ammonia-powered two tankers and two car carriers.
Additionally, the enterprise backs the establishment of five production plants for renewable hydrogen along the Norwegian coast with NOK669m.
Photo: Samskip