LH2 Shipping is continuing to lead the way for eliminating CO₂ emissions at sea, having received additional support from Enova for the construction of liquid hydrogen (LH₂) powered bulk carriers, number three and four. World’s first two LH₂ bulk carriers, also by LH2 Shipping, received soft funding from Enova earlier this year. This major grant, totalling more than half a billion NOK for the four ships, marks a strong signal for national and global maritime decarbonisation in this segment of the maritime industry where emissions can be achieved at scale. The two companies team up on the NordBulk Project to strengthen their long term, ambitious, decarbonisation agenda.

Strand Shipping Bergen— part of Vertom Group BV — is playing an active role in Vertom’s ambitious decarbonisation agenda, combining local market presence with Vertom’s modern vessel programme and long-term customer partnerships, driving efficient coastal logistics while prioritising rapid emissions reductions.

“Strand Shipping Bergen AS is fortunate to be part of the forward-thinking Vertom Group BV, and this project represents a new chapter in the pursuit of an environmentally sustainable future in shipping, as well as a significant step toward achieving zero emissions. We look forward to continuing our collaboration on this project together with LH2 Shipping”, states Joergen Brandt, Managing Director of Strand Shipping Bergen.

Vertom operates a modern fleet of over 100 vessels, ranging from around 1,500 to 12,000 DWT, across short-sea and multipurpose trades. Strand Shipping Bergen, as part of the Strand Shipping Bergen Norway/Vertom cooperation, has access to the full Vertom fleet (117 vessels in total across the combined group).

“Strand Shipping Bergen with Vertom support is a significant player in short sea shipping, and our combined maritime experience and shared ambitions to develop and offer future-oriented shipping solutions enable us to take important steps to build and operate climate-friendly transport alternatives. Liquid hydrogen is a proven technology aboard M/F Hydra, which is being built upon in the transition to zero emissions in the bulk carrier sector, and we are pleased to collaborate with a leading company like Strand Shipping Bergen,” says CEO of LH2 Shipping, Dr. Ivan Oestvik.

The ENOVA award to the NordBulk Project is part of the support program “Hydrogen in vessels”. “We are very pleased with this award and would like to thank Enova for the support so far from the pre-project phase and now into the construction phase for the first four ships in this segment. This enables us to accelerate the development of emission-free vessels in operation, whilst also ensuring ship operators and cargo owners staying ahead of increasingly strict emissions”, says Oestvik.

Zero-emission shipping
LH2 Shipping has been developing ship concepts for many years and is now stepping up its activities and is currently developing a wide range of zero-emission ship concepts. This creates both a market for LH₂ production and shows that zero-emission maritime transport is both possible and profitable in the long term. These projects are groundbreaking and will accelerate the transition to carbon-free maritime transport – without compromising good operations or safety, while the ships offer range at
sea.

Shortsea shipping has extended experience in the combination of fuel cells and batteries, where the two technologies are working together in hybrid systems where different routes and ship types provides different system combinations. Some routes can be operated 100% on batteries whereas hydrogen driven fuel cells are added where range and charging issues are dominant.

Taking leadership, advancing proven technology
Investment in zero-emission ship development and operations demonstrates a clear commitment by Strand Shipping Bergen and LH2 Shipping to take decarbonisation leadership and setting a global example for the green transition at sea.

With foreseen charges for CO₂ emissions, the EU ETS, Fuel EU Maritime and upcoming, yet delayed, IMO scheme, the cost gap between fossil fuels and alternative fuels is minimised. The business case of zero-emission vessels, and their operations, is expected to improve significantly, especially after 2030 when the CO₂ emission fees are further increased.
Source: LH2 Shipping