Samskip’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Gambit: Charting the Course for Zero-Emission Shipping in 2025

Industry Adoption: Samskip’s Shift from Hydrogen Blueprint to Commercial Reality

Between 2021 and 2024, Samskip laid the strategic groundwork for its leadership in maritime decarbonization, establishing a dual-pronged approach centered on hydrogen fuel cells. The company initiated its landmark SeaShuttle project by contracting Cochin Shipyard to build two pioneering hydrogen-powered vessels and launched the HyEkoTank project to retrofit an existing LNG vessel, the *Samskip Kvitnos*, with TECO 2030’s fuel cell technology. This period was characterized by foundational partnerships with technology integrators like ABB and engine manufacturers like MAN Energy Solutions for backup power, signaling a comprehensive, de-risked plan. The strategy was ambitious, aiming to cut 25,000 tons of CO2 per vessel annually, but remained largely in the planning and early construction phase, with the first steel cut in March 2024.

The period from January 2025 to today marks a critical inflection point, transitioning from strategic planning to concrete procurement and technological deepening. The most significant development was the landmark purchase order for 6.4 MW of Ballard Power Systems’ FCwave™ fuel cell engines, one of the largest commercial orders in maritime history. This move from a general systems partner (ABB) to a specific, large-scale order with a fuel cell specialist like Ballard demonstrates a maturation of the project’s execution. Furthermore, the partnership with Sperry Marine to integrate autonomous-ready navigation systems reveals a more sophisticated strategy that pairs zero-emission propulsion with next-generation operational efficiency. This combination creates a new commercial opportunity, offering customers not just a green service but a technologically advanced one. However, this phase also brings the core threat into sharp focus: the acknowledged dependence on green hydrogen infrastructure, pragmatically addressed by the inclusion of diesel generators as a backup, a clear signal of the real-world challenges that persist despite technological progress.

Table: Samskip’s Strategic Investments in Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

Table: Samskip’s Key Fuel Cell and Technology Partnerships

Geography: Samskip’s Concentrated Green Corridor Strategy

Between 2021 and 2024, Samskip’s geographic strategy crystallized around a highly focused “green corridor” concept. The core of this plan was the maritime route connecting Oslo Fjord, Norway, with Rotterdam, Netherlands—two major European logistics hubs. This was reinforced by partnerships with Norwegian entities like TECO 2030 and government enterprise Enova, as well as the Next Wave project focused on Nordic green transport. While the technology partnerships were European-wide (ABB in Switzerland/Sweden, MAN in Germany), the operational geography was tightly defined. The decision to build the vessels at Cochin Shipyard in India introduced a key global manufacturing node, but the project’s commercial and environmental impact remained centered on Northern Europe, mitigating risk by concentrating infrastructure needs to a few key ports.

From 2025 onwards, this geographic focus has not expanded but has instead intensified, with all major developments reinforcing the Oslo-Rotterdam corridor. The order with Ballard Power Systems (Canada/Denmark) and integrator eCap Marine (Germany) continues the trend of sourcing technology from a global-but-European-centric ecosystem to serve this specific route. The explicit mention of hydrogen infrastructure availability at Rotterdam and Oslo as the project’s primary risk confirms that Samskip’s strategy is a concentrated bet on these specific locations. Instead of diversifying geographically, the company is doubling down, aiming to create a replicable, high-density model of zero-emission shipping. The primary geographic risk is not competition from other regions, but the failure of this chosen corridor to develop the necessary hydrogen bunkering facilities in time for the vessels’ 2027 delivery.

Technology Maturity: Samskip’s Journey from Concept to Commercial-Grade Integration

In the 2021-2024 period, Samskip’s engagement with hydrogen fuel cell technology was in the commercial validation and early implementation phase. The key actions were contractual and foundational: ordering the world’s first hydrogen-powered container newbuilds (SeaShuttle) and committing to a pioneering retrofit project (HyEkoTank). The technology itself—a 3.2 MW fuel cell system—was specified, but the phase was defined by securing system integrators like ABB and starting construction. The steel-cutting ceremony in March 2024 represented the technology’s transition from a design concept to a physical asset under construction. This period was about proving commercial intent and securing the partners to build what was still, in essence, a first-of-its-kind system.

The period from 2025 to today signals a significant leap in technology maturity, moving from a commissioned project to the procurement of commercial, off-the-shelf, marine-certified systems at scale. The 6.4 MW order for 32 of Ballard’s DNV-certified FCwave™ engines is a powerful validation point. This is no longer a developmental system; it is a purchase of a standardized, industry-approved product. The technology’s maturity is further underscored by the integration of another advanced system: Sperry Marine’s autonomous-ready IBS. This demonstrates that the core hydrogen propulsion technology is now considered stable enough to be combined with other cutting-edge systems for future-proofing. The inclusion of diesel generators as a pragmatic backup also reflects a mature understanding of the technology’s current ecosystem limitations, moving the project from a pure demonstration to a commercially realistic deployment. The delivery of these systems in 2025-2026 will mark the final step before full operational testing in 2027.

Table: SWOT Analysis of Samskip’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Strategy (2021-2025)

Forward-Looking Insights and Summary

The most recent data from 2025 signals that Samskip’s hydrogen strategy has entered a decisive execution phase. The shift from broad partnership announcements to a definitive, large-scale purchase order with Ballard Power Systems indicates that the technological and financial groundwork is firm. The key signal for the year ahead is this transition from planning to doing; market actors should now watch for progress on the hardware side. The delivery of the 32 FCwave™ engines to integrator eCap Marine throughout 2025 and 2026 will be the next critical milestone to monitor, as it is a direct precursor to vessel outfitting.

Looking forward, the narrative is no longer about Samskip’s ambition but about its ability to navigate the final hurdles to operational reality. The integration of autonomous-ready technology from Sperry Marine is a forward-looking signal that Samskip is building a platform for the future, not just a one-off green ship. However, the entire project’s success now hinges on the maturation of the green hydrogen supply chain at its key ports. Therefore, the most important signals for investors and competitors to track will be announcements of hydrogen production projects and bunkering infrastructure development in and around Rotterdam and Oslo. Samskip has placed its bet; the market must now watch whether the ecosystem required to support that bet materializes ahead of the vessels’ 2027 launch. Samskip is not just a customer of this emerging market—it has become its most important catalyst and a real-world stress test for its viability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Samskip’s SeaShuttle project?
The SeaShuttle project is Samskip’s initiative to build two new container ships powered primarily by hydrogen fuel cells. These vessels, constructed by Cochin Shipyard, are designed to operate on the maritime route between Oslo, Norway, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, aiming to cut approximately 25,000 tons of CO2 per vessel annually.

What is the main challenge for this project, and how is Samskip managing the risk?
The biggest challenge is the dependence on the availability of green hydrogen fuel at the key ports of Oslo and Rotterdam. To mitigate this risk and ensure operational reliability, the new vessels are also being equipped with diesel-electric generators from MAN Energy Solutions as a backup power source.

Which company is supplying the core fuel cell technology?
Samskip has placed a landmark purchase order for 6.4 MW of FCwave™ fuel cell engines from Ballard Power Systems. This definitive order provides the core zero-emission power technology for the two newbuild vessels.

When are the new hydrogen-powered vessels expected to be operational?
The fuel cell systems from Ballard are scheduled for delivery throughout 2025 and 2026. The vessels themselves are expected to be delivered and begin service in 2027, operating on the Oslo-Rotterdam green corridor.

Is Samskip only focused on building new hydrogen ships?
No, Samskip has a dual-pronged strategy. In addition to the two newbuild SeaShuttle vessels, the company is also part of the HyEkoTank project. This initiative involves retrofitting an existing LNG-powered vessel, the *Samskip Kvitnos*, with hydrogen fuel cell technology from TECO 2030.