The ships are ready. Now the shore must catch up

Three days in Bergen delivered a clear verdict: fuel cells, batteries and hybrid systems already work at sea. The next task lies ashore, in grids, fuel supply, contracts and skills. From 21 to 23 October, Riviera’s Maritime Hybrid, Electric and Hydrogen Fuel Cells Conference brought owners, ports, yards, funders and suppliers together. They mapped the situation, turned obstacles into a to-do list, showed the actions under way and fixed the milestones that will decide who leads.

Encouraging outlook

SINTEF senior business developer, Dr Kyrre Sundseth, declared “fuel-cell technology is ready”. Maritime Battery Forum managing director, Syb ten Cate Hoedemaker, counted 2,100 battery-powered ships, with energy density almost doubled by volume in five years as prices roughly halved.

The biggest opportunity lies ashore. Hurtigruten’s chief operating officer, Gerry Larsson-Fedde, can plug in at three of 34 coastal ports. The company’s Sea Zero design would use 44% less energy but needs charging in nine. Port of Oslo energy advisor Mikkel Mika’s remedy: “Start with operations, not the technology.” Oslo expects to charge 100 MWh container ships from 2027. Fuel is the second test. eFuel Alliance executive consultant, Matthías Ólafsson, said only 6% of announced e-fuel capacity outside ammonia has reached a final investment decision, up from 2% four years ago.

Designs on the future

Hanwha Power celebrated ABS approval in principle for a 1,700 TEU battery-electric container ship. Bibby Marine expects its electric offshore vessel to cut operating costs by over 70% with windfarm charging. From November, the NOx Fund pays NOK 900 per kilogram of NOx cut. The proof is at sea. SWITCH Maritime director of commercial and government affairs, Seamus Nolan, reported 95% uptime for the hydrogen ferry Sea Change this year, and Tidal Transit chief executive, Leo Hambro, saw his electric crew transfer vessel certified mid-conference.

The timeline is tight. IMO meets again in December. Baleària’s electric catamarans should link Tarifa and Tangier next summer. Tidal Transit’s hybrid vessels follow from 2028 and Bibby Marine’s proposed offshore charging from January 2030.

People will set the pace

DAB Vloot managing director, Tim Van Dijck, urged owners to “let specialists do their job”, and Corvus Energy commercial director, Halvard Hauso, summed up the week: it is not the driver that wins the race, but the team.

Delegates left with usable benchmarks. In live polls, 71% named a long-term charterer or cargo owner as the best way to cut fleet-decision risk. Two-thirds have yet to budget for a battery replacement. The Maritime Battery Forum welcomed its 90th member during the week, and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center grew its strategic partners from 17 to 20. Topic Group offered its technology to peers. Wednesday’s drinks reception and Hurtigruten’s tour of the hybrid MS Nordlys turned conversations into contacts. Sponsors Corvus Energy, DNV, Hanwha Power, PowerCell Group, The Switch and 4M Controls made it possible, with Invest in Vestland, the Maritime Battery Forum and Maritime CleanTech in support.

Attendance delivered context

Delegates heard Mr Hambro admit that a 32-amp shipyard supply took two weeks to charge his vessel. They heard Mr Van Dijck price his electric ferry premium at €862,000 and explain why it is worth paying. They questioned the people building this market and voted on its direction live. Absentees missed the context behind the numbers and the conversations turning timelines into contracts. The bottom line: industry is moving from demonstration to deployment.

For information on next year’s event and to ensure your team is in the room when the shore catches up please email indrit.kruja@rivieramm.com