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Hydrogen fuel cells trialled on harbour vessels
Developments in fuel cells and gas-powered internal combustion engines are enabling hydrogen-battery hybrid service vessels to operate in ports
Hydrogen is being tested on vessels as a green fuel alongside batteries, to enable harbour craft to provide zero-emissions services in ports.
The gas with just one proton and one electron reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce an electric current that can boost power from onboard energy storage systems, or hydrogen can be combusted in dual-fuel engines or generators.
In the UK, Forth Ports has been trialling the use of hydrogen fuel cells along with batteries on a service vessel in Scotland.
Dirac has Kairos electric motors and inboard propellers, batteries and fuel cells fed from two 500-g compressed hydrogen bottles to provide a power boost or extend the operating range of the vessel, for when the batteries need charging, all integrated by Ecomar Propulsion.
Dirac has been undergoing extended trials and demonstration tours within UK waterways, including in Exmouth, Devon, Southampton and in the Port of Leith, Scotland, where Forth Ports has trialled production of green hydrogen from wastewater.
Riviera went on board while Dirac was running on its battieries at the Seawork exhibition in Southampton in June 2026.
“Our trial boat uses batteries first and has the hydrogen fuel cells for extended harbour operations,” said Ecomar chief executive, Eugene Bari, who added that hybrid propulsion integrating batteries and hydrogen fuel cells would be viable on vessels up to 100 m in overall length.
This will be tested on Ecomar’s next project, providing integrated propulsion involving batteries and hydrogen fuel cells on a 150-m passenger vessel.
In Singapore, technology developers are seeking to test hydrogen fuel cells on harbour craft to cut emissions. ST Engineering is spearheading a project to test the viability of hydrogen fuel cells on a tugboat.
It intends to acquire a small newbuild tugboat that can be fitted with a hydrogen fuel-cell package as a trial, said ST Engineering team leader, Junwei Fan.
He said the trial could include producing hydrogen on a quayside using a containerised electrolyser and multiple fuel cells on the tug to drive two electric thrusters. Mr Fan said delivery of the completed vessel could be in 2028 or 2029, ready for testing and sea trials.
Also in Singapore, Marinteknik Shipbuilders has partnered with ABS, SeaTech Solutions International and Vinssen to develop harbour craft powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The first phase of this project will involve feasibility and commercial viability studies, developing and evaluating vessel concept designs, risk assessments and techno-economic analysis.
Depending on the outcomes from phase one, a second phase could include construction of a vessel by Marinteknik to a SeaTech design and ABS class, and sea trials. If one is built, Vinssen would supply the fuel cells and integrated power management system.
Hydrogen-powered tugboats
In Japan, the Port of Yokohama is home to the nation’s first hydrogen dual-fuel tug, 38-m Ten-OH.
It was built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding under Nippon Foundation’s zero-emissions ships project and features two BEH2ydro 12-cylinder hydrogen dual-fuel engines supplied by JPNH2ydro, a joint venture between Tsuneishi Group and Belgium’s CMB.TECH.
Around 250 kg of hydrogen can be stored in high-pressure tanks, and each engine generates 3,280 kW of power.
In Belgium, Port of Antwerp-Bruges has hosted CMB.TECH’s Hydrotug, with twin dual-fuel BEH2ydro hydrogen combustion engines, since 2024, as the world’s first hydrogen-fuelled tugboat.
In China, Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyards built the nation’s first hydrogen-electric tugboat, Qing Dian Tuo 1, for Qingdao Port, with hybrid propulsion featuring a 7,838-kWh capacity, liquid-cooled lithium battery system, two 100-kW hydrogen fuel cells and a backup generator.
These combine to drive two azimuth thrusters that generate 82 tonnes of bollard pull, and offer a top speed of 14 knots.
Riviera will host TUGTECHNOLOGY ‘27 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 19-20 May 2027. Use this link for more information and to register.
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