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Samskip orders hydrogen-powered shortsea boxships

Image: Samskip samskip-hydrogen-feeder.jpeg
Shortsea logistics company, Samskip, has ordered two short-sea container vessels designed to use green hydrogen as fuel. The ships will be amongst the world’s first zero-emission feeder vessels

The Rotterdam-based company is working with the Norwegian Government’s green funding programme targeting emissions-free short-sea transport and has ordered the two ships at India’s Cochin Shipyard. The vessels are thought to have been designed by Oslo-based Naval Dynamics AS with support from Enova, a source of funding for sustainable projects owned by Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment.

When operating in zero-emission mode, the vessels are expected each to save about 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Port calls will also take place using green power from shore where available.

Samskip Group CEO, Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, commented: “This endeavour is another of Samskip’s initiatives that is an important step towards reaching our sustainability targets outlined in our latest sustainability report. It reinforces our commitment to the Sustainability Science Based Target initiative and will support our goal of reaching net-zero by 2040 ... we are certain that this project will be a game changer. Samskip is delighted to have found such a partnership in Cochin Shipyard who shares the same ambitions to provide environmentally friendly transportation and we look forward to a successful cooperation.”

Shipyard chairman, Madhu Nair, said: “With this collaboration, Cochin Shipyard Limited has further strengthened its position among the global league of early movers in sustainable green future technology thereby ready to meet the futuristic market expectations.”

Samskip’s European services link customers in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Scandinavia, the UK, and the European mainland. The company also provides hi-tech cold storage facilities, warehousing, and inland transport possibilities across the supply chain.