H2 dry-bulk tanker team-up

The deal will see the vessels, designed by Dutch firm, Ankerbeer, up for hire on a zero-emission time charter agreement with Schulte & Bruns. The vessels will be classed by DNV and registered in the NIS register.

The Maris Fiducia Group operates a fleet of over 20 dry cargo and tanker vessels, and its Norwegian subsidiary Maris Fiducia Norway will operate the new hydrogen-powered fleet.

“Using hydrogen as fuel is a natural step in this development and the versatility of HAV Hydrogen’s ZEPOD, coupled with Norwegian Hydrogen’s hydrogen infrastructure, represents what is required to realise such ambitions,” said Markku Vedder, chief executive of the Maris Fiducia Group.

HAV Hydrogen has developed and obtained approval in principle from DNV for its Zero Emission Pod – ZEPOD – a deckhouse containing a complete hydrogen energy system for ships which can be used for main propulsion and auxiliary power.

“As a specialist supplier and integrator of maritime fuel cell solutions, there is obviously a limit to how much we can influence the maritime industry on our own,” said Kristian Osnes, managing director of HAV Hydrogen.

“By collaborating with a shipowner and a producer of green hydrogen, we enable a value chain approach that can tear down further barriers towards realisation of hydrogen as maritime fuel.”

Norwegian Hydrogen is building a number of hydrogen production sites throughout the Nordics and will operate a distribution network for green hydrogen.

“The cooperation with Maris Fiducia and their founder Markku Vedder, proves there are shipowners with the vision and capability to develop zero-emission shipping solutions,” said Jens Berge, chief executive of Norwegian Hydrogen.