Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) has launched the FPS Maas/H2 Barge 1 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The vessel is claimed to be the first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions inland container ship.
The 110m-long vessel – chartered by BCTN on behalf of Nike EMEA – is retrofitted with a hydrogen fuel cell system with an 825kW capacity, a 750V DC bus bar and an e-motor for propulsion. It also has a 504kWh lithium-ion battery pack to enable peak shaving, in addition to secondary and bridging power. The retrofit was carried out by Holland Shipyards.
Operating on a route between Rotterdam and BCTN’s inland terminal in Meerhout in Belgium, the FPS Maas/H2 Barge 1 will reportedly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,000 tons of CO2e per year.
“It’s my pleasure to present the very first A-Zero emission label to H2 Barge 1, as it is the first vessel to truly qualify as zero emission,” said Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure & Water Management in the Netherlands. “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.”
“This shipping project proves that moving cargo with zero emissions and zero impact is possible, and we hope it accelerates the industry to follow in Nike’s footsteps and move to zero,” explained Richard Klatten, CEO of Future Proof Shipping. “I would like to thank our dedicated FPS team, our founder Huib van de Grijspaarde for his unwavering belief in us and the project, and all our trusted partners for enabling us to see it through. This is a pivotal moment, not just for Future Proof Shipping but for the future of shipping.”
“Nike’s ultimate goal is to create a zero-carbon, zero-waste future,” added Eb Mukhtar, vice president of operations and logistics at Nike EMEA. “We’ve been on this journey for decades, and we’re setting even bolder goals for the future. The H2 Barge 1 is an important example of how we are investing in sustainable progress across logistics and transportation to protect the environment for future generations.”
Future Proof Shipping has plans to carry out hydrogen propulsion system retrofits on two additional container vessels. The first of these is already under construction with Holland Shipyards.