Europe’s transition to zero-emission short-sea shipping has reached an important new milestone. Samskip’s SeaShuttle – a hydrogen fuel cell container vessel that is powered by Ballard – has been selected as the new demonstrator for HyShip, a European innovation project focused on making liquid hydrogen a practical fuel for maritime transport.
Two SeaShuttle vessels will feature in the initiative, which is scheduled to begin operation between Rotterdam, Netherlands and Oslo, Norway in 2027. The vessels will transport containerized freight and help establish a green shipping corridor between the two countries. The first SeaShuttle is expected to leave the shipyard by the end of this year, receive its final hydrogen upgrades in Rotterdam, and enter service in the second quarter of 2027.
Backed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, HyShip is designed to address critical operational and system elements including fuel supply, onboard storage, port bunkering, vessel integration, and safety approval. Running through October 2028, the project also brings together shipowners, technology companies, researchers, classification expertise and infrastructure specialists to connect the liquid-hydrogen value chain.
HyShip will connect the vessels with the infrastructure needed to sustain regular operations, while consortium partner LH2 Shipping will support the development of safe and scalable onboard hydrogen systems and develop, build,
and operate the SeaShuttle’s port bunkering system.
The project also targets more than 3,000 hours of real-world operation during an 18-month commercial demonstration, generating practical data from sailing, port maneuvering, and bunkering to inform future vessel projects, approval pathways and investment decisions.
In total, 32 Ballard FCwave™ 200kW fuel cell engines will be integrated across the two SeaShuttle vessels into marine propulsion systems by eCap Marine, totalling 6.4MW – an agreement that was initially announced by Ballard and Samskip in July 2025.
The module leverages more than eight generations of product development and heavy-duty technology experience in demanding applications and climates. The fuel cell engine provides a flexible, industrial grade all-in-one hydrogen-powered solution that is low in total lifecycle cost and easily scalable to power and space requirements.
Upon commissioning, Samskip's SeaShuttles will be among the first decarbonized vessels of their kind using green hydrogen in the world, and each ship is expected to achieve around 25,000 tons of CO2 reduction per year, while retaining fuel flexibility to protect service reliability.
By bringing together commercial vessels, multi-megawatt fuel cell power, and a developing liquid-hydrogen ecosystem, the HyShip project is enabling zero-emission shipping to move beyond isolated demonstrations – and closer to significant, everyday freight operations across Europe.