Samskip, TECO 2030, BLOM Maritime get ENOVA grant to retrofit ship with fuel cells, hydrogen fuel

Norway-based cleantech company TECO 2030, compatriot engineering company BLOM Maritime and Dutch logistics company Samskip have received a grant for a pre-project aiming to retrofit Samskip’s vessel Kvitnos with TECO 2030 fuel cells and hydrogen fuel.

This innovative project aims to significantly reduce emissions from the LNG-fueled vessel, which currently operates on a weekly multipurpose service from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and along most of the Norwegian coastline to Hammerfest.

By switching to zero-emission hydrogen technology, the partners join in their goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the project is to prepare for an investment decision to retrofit Kvitnos. The project also aims to facilitate long-term hydrogen fuel supply contracts due to the vessel’s fixed route.

Blom Maritime will support naval architects, piping engineers and structural engineers to produce the documentation needed to obtain preliminary approval of the fuel cell and hydrogen solution.

Samskip has already one hydrogen-powered container vessel under construction in the SeaShuttle project. The vessel, part of a two-ship order Samskip placed at India’s Cochin Shipyard Limited in March 2023, secured €22.5 million in funding within the Eurazeo Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure (ESMI) fund. This new retrofit project with Kvitnos may become Samskip’s second hydrogen project.

The Dutch company is committed to becoming net zero by 2040. This project is said to represent an opportunity to reduce, or even eliminate, all emissions from one of Samskip’s existing vessels.

“With the delivery of our LNG propelled multipurpose vessels back in 2015, Samskip already offered one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cargo ships, which eliminated SOx emissions while drastically reducing NOx and CO2 emissions,” Are Grathen, Samskip Regional Director Norway and Sweden, commented.

“We will continue our endeavor to enable full zero emission propulsion which in turn will further pave the way for our H2-propelled new-builds coming out next year and bring us closer to our net-zero targets for 2040.”

“Samskip embraces every opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions either through using biofuels, CO2 capture-systems, shore-power, innovative newbuilding vessels , and now also into retro-fits solutions. Using the power take in device (PTI) driving the propellor with green energy, allowing our existing vessels to sail and maneuver emission-free in the Norwegian Fjords and other coastal areas,“ Erik Hofmeester, Samskip Head of Fleet Management, said.

“This grant shows our capability to help our clients secure public funding for smaller pre-studies, this means they can focus on progress towards their ultimate goals of zero emission shipping. Our fuel cell technology is a great match for retrofitting the existing fleet to operate with environment friendly propulsion along the coast,” Tore Enger, Group CEO, TECO 2030, added.