The MF Hydra, the world’s first hydrogen ferry powered by liquid hydrogen and emitting zero emissions, has begun regular scheduled operation, marking a significant milestone for using clean energy in maritime transportation.
Developed by Norled, a Norwegian green ferry pioneer, the 82.4 x 17.00-meter vessel was designed by LMG Marin and built by Westcon Shipyard. The ferry has a car capacity of 80 units, a trailer capacity of 10, and a passenger capacity of 290 people. It operates on the Hjelmeland-Skipavik-Nesvik triangular route under the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) jurisdiction.
Germany’s Linde Engineering supplied the vessel’s onboard hydrogen systems, and Ballard FC Wave units power its fuel cells, while a Corvus Orca battery bank is also installed, said the press release.
Norled conducted system tests at the Hjelmeland quay earlier this year and then conducted sea trials in recent weeks before receiving final approvals from the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) to commence revenue operations. Obtaining regulatory approvals has been a significant challenge in addition to the technology development in getting the vessel into service.
“This is a historic day, both for Norled and for Norway as a leading shipping nation. Today we are witnessing the world’s first ship sailing on liquid hydrogen, says Heidi Wolden, CEO of Norled.
“This is fantastic! There are only two companies in the world that use liquid hydrogen as fuel, there is Norled on MF Hydra and then there is the space industry that uses it as fuel in launches. This says something about the technological leap that has now been implemented for the maritime industry. After much development and testing, we are now looking forward to welcoming passengers on board to travel emission-free between Hjelmeland and Nesvik, says Erlend Hovland, Technical Director at Norled.