‍The FLAGSHIPS project will take zero-emission waterborne transport to an entirely new level by deploying two commercially operated hydrogen fuel cell vessels.

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Zulu 06

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The demo vessels include Zulu 06, a commercial cargo transport vessel which will be plying the river Seine in Paris. The vessel was officially launched in Paris in late 2024.

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Zulu 06 is owned by French inland shipowner Compagnie Fluvial de Transport, a subsidiary of the Sogestran Group. The revolutionary vessel will move goods on pallets and in containers between Gennevilliers and Bonneuil Sur Marne in Paris.

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The vessel operates on compressed hydrogen produced from electrolysis, enabling not only zero-emission operations, but also creating a solid base for more local zero-emission transport, both at sea and on land. The power generation system for Zulu 06 is supplied by ABB Marine & Ports, with two 200 kW PEM fuel cells from Ballard. LMG Marin is responsible for detailed design drawings.

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H2 Barge 2

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The second demo vessel is the H2 Barge 2, owned and operated by the Netherlands-based Future Proof Shipping (FPS). The 109,8-meter-long container cargo vessel was launched in February 2024 is designed for operations between Rotterdam (NL) and Duisburg (DE) on the river Rhine.

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While Zulu 06 is a new-build, the H2 Barge 2 is a retrofit. Formerly named Fenny 1, the vessel was built in 1993 and was recently acquired by FPS. The route on the Rhine between the Netherlands and Germany is 240 kilometer long, each way. The river has a significant flow, making it crucial to appropriately size and optimize the propulsion system.  

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H2 Barge 2 has a cargo capacity of 200 TEU after conversion and the zero-emission propulsion system includes PEM fuel cells, battery packs, an electric motor and hydrogen storage. The total amount of power installed is around 1,2 MW.

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Setting new standards for waterborne logistics

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The FLAGSHIPS project includes an 18-month demonstration period to collect data from the vessels during operation to validate the outcome of the demonstrations. The shipowners expect to maintain the ships in normal commercial operation after the demonstration period.

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The project will cooperate over a broad base to complete the required safety assessment and approval for the two vessels, by applying and further developing the existing regulations and codes.

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