Norway has just achieved a milestone with the launch of the world's first liquid hydrogen-powered ferry, allowing it to sail with zero emissions. This is a major breakthrough for the green hydrogen production industry, which has several future projects for the Campo de Gibraltar.
Norled, one of Norway's largest ferry and express boat operators, has launched the MF Hydra for the route between Hjelmeland and Nesvik, a 10-minute crossing. Since the beginning of the year, the company has been testing the system at the first of these ports and in recent weeks, sea trials, after which they received final approvals from the Norwegian Maritime Authority and Det Norske Veritas.
The ship is 82.4 meters long and can carry 300 passengers and 80 vehicles. It can travel at a speed of nine knots thanks to two 200 kW fuel cells and two 40 kW generators that power the Shottel propellers. It is a modular system that can be installed on existing ships, where it can be equipped as a single propulsion system or added to form a hybrid architecture.
The launch of this ferry, the first of a series of four, is a revolution for the maritime and green hydrogen production sectors. For the former, this is due to the future CO2 emission control system that the European Commission intends to gradually apply, initially between 2023 and 2026, to vessels with more than 5,000 gross tonnage. For the latter, the use of green hydrogen, which several companies aspire to produce in the Bay of Algeciras, would encompass more fields."