Hydrogen Container Ships to Power Oslo-Rotterdam Green Shipping Corridor

Two liquid hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ships under construction in India will join the EU-backed HyShip project to create a green shipping corridor between Oslo and Rotterdam. Being built for Samskip at Cochin Shipyard for 2027 delivery, each vessel will carry 363 forty-foot equivalent unit containers and feature 3.2 MW of hydrogen fuel cells. Each ship is expected to cut CO2 emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes annually when operating in zero-emission mode, establishing one of Europe's first green shipping corridors.

 

The SeaShuttle Vessels

 

Samskip is constructing two advanced container vessels for the project. The Rotterdam-headquartered company is building two SeaShuttle container ships at Cochin Shipyard in India. Both vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2027. Each ship will have capacity for 363 forty-foot equivalent unit containers. This sizing positions them for short sea container operations across northern Europe.

The vessels feature a sophisticated hybrid power configuration. Each ship will be equipped with 3.2 megawatts of hydrogen fuel cells. These are arranged in a hybrid power system with diesel generator backup for longer endurance. Propulsion will be supplied by azimuth thrusters for manoeuvrability. This combination balances zero-emission capability with operational flexibility on longer routes.

 

The Challenge of Liquid Hydrogen

 

Liquid hydrogen presents notable technical demands as a marine fuel. The fuel liquefies at minus 253 degrees Celsius, an extremely low temperature. This requires each ship to have specialised cryogenic onboard storage systems. Managing fuel at such temperatures adds complexity to vessel design and operation. These requirements represent a significant engineering challenge for the sector.

Despite these challenges, hydrogen offers substantial environmental benefits. When used with fuel cells, hydrogen produces electricity and only water vapour as a byproduct. This eliminates harmful emissions from the vessel during operation. The absence of exhaust pollutants makes the technology attractive for coastal and port areas. This clean output underpins the appeal of hydrogen for zero-emission shipping.

 

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The HyShip Project

 

Samskip's involvement adds commercial weight to the HyShip initiative. The EU-backed project supports the development of fuel supply and port infrastructure for hydrogen-powered ships. Samskip's participation means HyShip now has a commercial project linked to its initiative. This connects vessel technology directly to the broader infrastructure effort. It moves the project from concept toward practical implementation.

The initiative brings together several elements of the hydrogen value chain. Company leadership described SeaShuttle as demonstrating that zero-emission shipping can become a practical reality. Through HyShip, the project connects vessel technology, hydrogen supply and port infrastructure. This occurs within a real operating environment rather than a test setting. The aim is to establish foundations for wider adoption of hydrogen shipping across Europe.

 

The Oslo-Rotterdam Corridor

 

The vessels will operate on a defined northern European route. Plans call for the ships to begin transporting containerised freight between Rotterdam and Oslo from 2027. An initial demonstrator will connect the two cities next year. This route would create one of Europe's first green shipping corridors. The corridor concept links two major ports through zero-emission vessel operations.

The environmental impact of the corridor is expected to be significant. Each vessel is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes annually. This assumes the ships operate in zero-emission mode on the route. The reduction demonstrates the scale of savings available through hydrogen propulsion. It also shows that sustainable shipping can serve real customers and supply chains.

 

Partners and Expertise

 

Norway's LH2 Shipping brings specialised hydrogen experience to the project. The company has joined HyShip with expertise in liquid hydrogen maritime solutions. It has operated the hydrogen-powered ferry MF Hydra since 2023. LH2 Shipping will support Samskip in developing safe, scalable onboard hydrogen systems. It will also engineer, build and operate the port bunkering system for the SeaShuttle vessels.

The consortium extends across a broad range of maritime stakeholders. Company leadership described the revised project as a definite step toward applying liquid hydrogen in short sea shipping. It builds on existing technology experience while generating operational insight for future rollout. Other partners in the EU Horizon-backed consortium include Maritime CleanTech, LMG Marin France and DNV. The group also features academic and industry participants such as ETH Zurich, the University of Strathclyde and Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding.