First steel cut for ‘world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered ferry

Norwegian transport company Torghatten Nord has celebrated the beginning of the construction of what are said to be the world’s largest hydrogen-powered ferries.

The first steel cutting for the first of two 117-meter-long hydrogen-powered ferries with a capacity of 120 cars was held on August 29 at Cemre Shipyard in Türkiye.

Hulls and pre-outfitting for the two ferries will be constructed at Cemre Shipyard before final delivery to Norwegian shipyard Myklebust Verft which was selected to build these vessels earlier this year.

Scheduled for delivery in 2026, the newbuilds are expected to be ‘the world’s largest’ hydrogen-powered ships and will be bunkered with hydrogen produced in Bodø, Norway.

The ferries are designed by The Norwegian Ship Design Company to operate in the challenging waters of the Vestfjordstrekninga fjord in the Arctic Circle.

MAN Cryo, a subsidiary of German equipment provider MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), will provide the detailed design for bunkering systems, hydrogen piping, and vent masts for the newbuild vessels.

According to Torghatten Nord, the vessels will operate on green hydrogen at least 85% of the time at an average speed of 17 knots.

A hydrogen storage unit onboard the vessels will feed gas to the fuel cells, creating electricity to propel the vessels and power their auxiliary systems, reducing CO2 emissions on the route by around 26,500 tons each year.

The alternative fuel newbuilds with biodiesel backup, bring together LR as the class society, owner Torghatten Nord, The Norwegian Ship Design Company, Myklebust Verft shipyard, systems integrator SEAM, and hydrogen supplier GreenH.