Maris Fiducia Norway has entered into cooperation agreements with maritime technology company HAV Hydrogen and the hydrogen producer and distributor Norwegian Hydrogen with the objective of developing, building and operating hydrogen-powered dry-bulk vessels in Europe.
The vessels are designed by the Dutch ship designer Ankerbeer. Upon successful realization of the project, the vessels will go on hire through a zero-emission time charter agreement with Schulte & Bruns, establishing a commercial operation for vessels operating on hydrogen fuel, proving the feasibility of hydrogen technologies for shipping. The vessels shall be classed by DNV and registered in the NIS register.
"Maris Fiducia is dedicated to shaping the future of maritime transportation towards environmental sustainability and our chartering partners Schulte & Bruns share this vision. Using hydrogen as fuel is a natural step in this development and the versatility of HAV Hydrogen’s ZEPOD, coupled with Norwegian Hydrogen’s hydrogen infrastructure, represent what is required to realise such ambitions,” says Markku Vedder, CEO of the Maris Fiducia Group.
The group operates a fleet of over twenty dry cargo and tanker vessels, and its Norwegian subsidiary Maris Fiducia Norway AS shall operate the hydrogen-powered vessels. The group’s primary focus is environmentally friendly maritime transportation logistics for reputable customers. The company has decades of experience with the development of advanced ship design and solutions for sustainable shipping with a track-record of over 100 newbuilds.
HAV Hydrogen brings their specialist competence in the development of complete and scalable hydrogen-based energy systems to the partnership. The company has developed and obtained Approval in Principle from DNV for its Zero Emission Pod – ZEPOD® – a deckhouse containing a complete hydrogen energy system for ships. Installed power from a ZEPOD® can be used for main propulsion systems or for auxiliary power onboard a vessel. Subject to potential innovation funding, Maris Fiducia’s chosen shipyard will order ZEPODs from HAV Hydrogen for use on board the vessels.
“As a specialist supplier and integrator of maritime fuel cell solutions, there is obviously a limit to how much we can influence the maritime industry on our own. By collaborating with a shipowner and a producer of green hydrogen, we enable a value chain approach that can tear down further barriers towards realisation of hydrogen as maritime fuel,” says Kristian Osnes, managing director of HAV Hydrogen, which is part of Euronext Growth Oslo-listed HAV Group ASA.
Norwegian Hydrogen is building an array of hydrogen production sites throughout the Nordics and will operate a comprehensive distribution network for green hydrogen. This capability shall provide security of supply for Maris Fiducia and Schulte & Bruns.
“The cooperation with Maris Fiducia and their founder Markku Vedder, proves there are shipowners with the vision and capability to develop zero-emission shipping solutions. We look forward to the journey onwards together with Maris Fiducia, establishing corridors for sustainable shipping throughout Europe”, says Jens Berge, CEO of Norwegian Hydrogen.
For further information, please contact:
Quint Vedder, Head of Innovations & Projects, Maris Fiducia
Quint.vedder@maris-fiducia.com | +31 651 132 560
Kristian Osnes, Managing Director, HAV Hydrogen
Kristian.osnes@havhydrogen.no | +47 996 29 165
Marielle Furnes Mannseth, Group Brand & Sustainability Officer Norwegian Hydrogen AS
marielle@nh2.no | +47 93 40 21 40
Maris Fiducia, a family-owned company, was established in 2007 and aims to be an innovative leader and best-in-class supplier of environmentally friendly maritime transport solutions. Through its subsidiaries, the group operates a quality fleet of well-maintained tankers and dry cargo ships which are in daily operation. The group has a clear strategy towards environmentally friendly sea transport and logistics solutions for well-known customers, and transport of sustainable products to different industry sectors. The shipping company operates primarily in the North Sea basin, the Baltics and SECA areas (Sulphur Emission Control Area), but also has missions over longer distances and intercontinentally. In addition to Maris Fiducia Norway, the other group companies Grona Ship Management, South End Tanker Management (Wet Cargo) and Q-Shipping (Dry Cargo) support daily operations and the newbuilding programs.
Norwegian Hydrogen AS builds and operates a comprehensive network of production sites and distribution systems for green hydrogen throughout the Nordics, tailored to meet the future requirements for zero-emission energy in a wide range of mobility and industrial segments. The company is backed by several strong industrial owners with a significant footprint within the global hydrogen value chain, such as Fortescue, Mitsui & Co., Ltd, Flakk Group, Hexagon Purus and Norwegian hydropower company Tafjord. Norwegian Hydrogen’s head office is in Ålesund, Norway, and they also have offices in Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen and Stockholm. www.norwegianhydrogen.com
HAV Hydrogen delivers complete and scalable hydrogen systems for use on board large and small vessels, newbuilds and retrofitted. Based on our Norwegian heritage, experience, quality focus and innovative solutions, our insight provides our customers with a head start, increases their competitiveness, and enables them to realize the green shift towards a sustainable future at sea.