On March 31, Norled announced that the Norwegian Maritime Authority has granted operational permission for the MF Hydra, the world’s first hydrogen-powered ferry.
MF Hydra ferry departs. (Photo: Norled)
The Norwegian company Norled has been testing the system on the MF Hydra since the beginning of the year. “After many stages of development and testing, we are now very excited to welcome passengers on this emission-free journey between Hjelmeland and Nesvik,” said Erlend Hovland, the Chief Technology Officer of Norled.
The MF Hydra will operate in Norway on the triangular route connecting Hjelmeland, Skipavik, and Nesvik. The ferry is 82.4 meters long, launched in 2021, and can carry up to 300 passengers and 80 vehicles. It can travel at a speed of 16.7 km/h, thanks to two 200 kW fuel cell modules, two 440 kW generators, and two Schottel propulsion motors.
The ferry features an 80m3 hydrogen tank, allowing it to reduce annual carbon emissions by up to 95%. Norled has worked with several international partners to achieve this significant milestone. The onboard hydrogen systems are provided by Linde Engineering from Germany, while the fuel cells that use hydrogen to generate power are developed by the Danish company Ballard. The outfitting and finalization of the vessel have been handled by Norwegian companies SEAM and Westcon, with SEAM also responsible for automating the hydrogen system.
“Our collaboration—businesses and government alike—to promote the development of new technologies will give Norway a competitive edge and could lay the foundation for new jobs, while making work in the maritime industry more exciting,” stated Knut Arild Hareide, the Director-General of the Transport and Maritime Division of the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
Currently, only Norled and the aerospace industry are using liquid hydrogen as fuel. Therefore, the operation of the MF Hydra marks a significant technological advance for the maritime sector, according to Norled.
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