Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems will supply 6.4 megawatts (MW) of green hydrogen fuel cell engines to eCap Marine to power two Samskip SeaShuttle vessels traveling between Norway and the Netherlands. The company said it is one of the largest marine fuel cell engine orders in history.
The two zero-emission short-sea container vessels are currently being built at Cochin Shipyard in Kochi, India. Once commissioned, the company said the SeaShuttles will be among the first decarbonized vessels of their kind using green hydrogen fuel cells in the world, and each ship is expected to achieve around 25,000 tons of CO2 reduction per year.
eCap engineers and integrates environmentally-friendly power generation solutions for green marine propulsion systems or flexible onshore power supply. Samskip is a European multi-modal operator specializing in short sea, rail, road, and barge services.
Thirty-two FCwave 200kW green hydrogen fuel cell engines will be integrated into green marine propulsion systems and will be completed between 2025 and 2026.
“We’re proud to expand our partnership with eCap Marine and Samskip with one of the largest marine fuel cell engine orders in history,” said Marty Neese CEO, Ballard. “Deploying our FCwave modules on these two Samskip vessels provides a critical validation point for the use of proton-exchange membrane fuel cell propulsion for maritime applications.”
“Our continued collaboration with Ballard is central to our mission to decarbonize marine transport,” said Lars RavensManaging Director, eCap Marine. “This latest order exemplifies our shared commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship. Together, we are delivering a clean propulsion solution that meets the rigorous demands of long-haul marine operations.”
The FCwave is designed to provide zero-emission power to a broad range of marine vessels and stationary applications. Ballard said its solution is the world’s first type-approved fuel cell module for marine-specific applications – accredited by DNV, Lloyd’s Register, and ABS – ensuring compliance with international maritime safety and design standards.
