First PEM FC-powered barge launched in Rotterdam

On 25 May, Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) officially launched the first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions inland container ship, H2 Barge 1, at a ceremony held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The 110m x 11.45m inland containership, H2 Barge 1, is chartered by BCTN on behalf of Nike EMEA. The vessel, expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,000 tonnes of CO2e per year, will sail between Rotterdam and BCTN’s inland terminal in Meerhout several times a week.

The Motorship has previously written about the H2 Barge 1 (formerly known as the Maas) conversion project, which was conducted at Holland Shipyards Group. Air Liquide signed a green hydrogen supply contract to supply H2 Barge 1 in late 2021.

Launch ceremony 

At the official launch ceremony, the Netherlands’  Minister of Infrastructure & Water Management, Mark Harbers, presented FPS Founder, Huib van de Grijspaarde, with a special A-Zero (A0) emission label awarded only to zero-emission vessels.

During the presentation of the label, Minister Mark Harbers said, “It’s my pleasure to present the very first A-Zero emission label to H2 Barge1, as it is the first vessel to truly qualify as zero emission. An achievement worth applauding. I hope this achievement by Future Proof Shipping will persuade other shipowners to make the transition to emission free transport too, and that many more A-Zero emission labels will be handed out in the future.”

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Air Liquide, BCTN Network of Inland Terminals, Holland Shipyards Group, Koedood Marine Group, Kooiman Marine Group, Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology, Rabobank, and Nike.