World’s First Hydrogen Powered Vessel

Loran, a shipping company from Norway, will develop the world’s first hydrogen powered vessel. This green and innovative longline fishing vessel will reduce fossil fuel use by more than 40%. Consequently, this will allow the vessel get ready for future zero-emission operations. Moreover, the project has received a noticeable fund of NOK 92.5 million from Enova. The Norse government enterprise Enova is an agency of the Ministry of Climate and the Environment.

Hybrid Design

The vessel will be around 70 m in length and will be at sea for 4-6 weeks consecutive. Thus, the hydrogen powered vessel will need more energy sources to cover its power requirements.
Particularly, the basic power supply concepts incorporated in the design of the vessel is:

• Container-based storage of hydrogen
• Two 185kW fuel cells
• One 2000kWh battery
• Conventional diesel engines

Zero-Emissions & Energy Efficiency

Skipsteknisk has designed the hydrogen powered vessel with the main factors from the environmental aspect to be:

• Energy efficiency
• Heat recovery
• Potential zero-emission energy carrier when using hydrogen

Additionally, the project has received support to develop a flexible design in relation to future zero-emission operations. To clarify, the supporter, Innovation Norway is a state-owned company and a national development bank.

Nevertheless, the project contributes to cost reduction, not least for fishing vessels that can reuse the flexible design. This is demanding to develop and has a high cost for this first project.

Views from each side

“By being the first out with hydrogen, we hope that the new Loran will be one of the vessels that form the basis for a green shift in fishing. If we are to build a future-oriented and modern boat today, we would like to ensure that the newbuilding represents the most modern, efficient and environmentally friendly technology that can be obtained…Line fishing is the most gentle fishing for both fish and the seabed, and with hydrogen as the energy carrier, we can also become the most environmentally friendly fishing vessel in today’s fleet. We hope then that we can help raise the price and status of this great product which is of the highest quality”

Ståle Otto Dyb, General Manager Loran

“The Norwegian government wants to halve emissions from shipping by 2030. For ships moving over longer distances, hydrogen stands out as an important energy carrier. It is therefore gratifying that forward-looking players such as Loran are investing in emission reductions through innovative solutions for the aquaculture industry. This is how they put Norway on the map as the first in the world with an ocean-going fishing boat on hydrogen”

Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Climate and Environment

Above all, Enova requires that this project will demonstrate the use of hydrogen in an ocean-going fishing vessel.

“Even though the project will not give zero emissions, Enova still considers it a first important step on the road, to demonstrate the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in vessels”

Nils Kristian Nakstad, CEO of Enova

Source: Enova