The Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Veer Group, to advance the development of the Veer Group’s zero-emission green hydrogen container ships. This is expected to put Antigua and Barbuda in a leading position in sustainable shipping.
Veer designs ships to be zero-emission. Two cargo ships commissioned in 2024, for example, were designed with an “innovative hull”, DynaRig sails and green hydrogen fuel cells. The company, headquartered in the Bahamas, said it received approval from the American Bureau of Shipping and has secured conditional financing of €50 million to facilitate the construction.
As part of the MoU, the port will provide space to produce, store, and deliver clean fuels for bunkering, plus provide shore power so vessels can plug in at berth.
“If Antigua and Barbuda becomes the known refueling station for green hydrogen, this can become either a trans-shipment hub or a refueling hub, especially for cruise vessels and large yachts,” said Darwin Telemaque, Port Authority Manager. “Shore power is another critical factor… vessels and major cruise lines or shipping companies that are mandated to reduce their carbon emissions will almost have no choice but to come here. And that’s a massive opportunity.”
