Samskip has integrated its flagship SeaShuttle container project into the EU-backed HyShip initiative to test liquid hydrogen technology in commercial short-sea shipping. By linking its two fuel-cell vessels under construction with a broad consortium, the collaboration aims to build a fully integrated, quayside-to-onboard hydrogen bunkering ecosystem on the key Rotterdam-Oslo trade route.
Rotterdam | July 15, 2026 – In a major bid to resolve the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma of zero-emission marine fuels, European multimodal logistics giant Samskip has integrated its flagship SeaShuttle project into the EU-funded HyShip initiative.
The strategic move officially designates Samskip’s two under-construction, liquid hydrogen-powered container vessels as the primary commercial demonstrators for the HyShip consortium. Rather than running isolated pilot trials, the collaboration aims to build a fully realized, end-to-end liquid hydrogen (LH2) bunkering and supply chain ecosystem along one of Northern Europe’s busiest short-sea trade lanes.
- Vessels on Order: Two zero-emission, 3.2 MW hydrogen fuel cell container ships under construction at Cochin Shipyard.
- Planned Delivery: Scheduled for late 2026, with the vessels undergoing final fuel system outfitting in Rotterdam to become fully operational by Q2 2027.
- Primary Route: Running between Rotterdam (Matrans Terminal) and Oslo to establish a dedicated North Sea green shipping corridor.
- LH2 Fuel Supplier: Green liquid hydrogen to be sourced and supplied directly by Norwegian Hydrogen from its Rjukan production plant.
Solving the Bunkering Bottleneck
For bunkering operators and marine fuel suppliers, the primary hurdle for hydrogen has never been the onboard fuel cells themselves, it is the cryogenic storage, shoreside logistics, and bunkering safety standards. Liquid hydrogen must be kept at a frigid -253C, requiring highly specialized vacuum-insulated piping, transfer systems, and strict boil-off gas management.
By aligning the SeaShuttle project with HyShip, Samskip is bridging the gap between vessel design and fuel delivery infrastructure. Specialist partner LH2 Shipping has joined the consortium specifically to oversee the design, construction, and deployment of the quayside bunkering installations in both Rotterdam and Oslo, alongside developing the vessels’ onboard fuel storage systems.
The End-to-End Fuel Supply Chain
The project establishes a highly coordinated value chain that connects production directly to the vessel’s manifold:
- Production: Green liquid hydrogen will be sourced from Norwegian Hydrogen’s dedicated plant in Rjukan, Norway, which recently secured substantial EU funding to scale up production.
- Distribution: Cryogenic trailers will transport the fuel to port terminals.
- Bunkering: Custom-built shoreside bunkering stations will transfer the liquid hydrogen to the vessels’ specialized onboard fuel tanks.
Project Timeline and Technical Framework
The SeaShuttle vessels are currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard in India. Once the hulls are delivered in late 2026, the vessels will transit to Rotterdam to undergo final outfitting and installation of their hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems.
| Metric / Parameter | Project Specifications & Targets |
| Vessel Propulsion | Hydrogen Fuel Cells (Multi-Megawatt scale) |
| Primary Fuel Type | Liquid Green Hydrogen (LH2) |
| Expected Operational Start | Q2 2027 |
| Annual CO2 Reduction | 25,000 tonnes per vessel (in zero-emission mode) |
| Samskip Fleet Target | 50% greenhouse gas reduction by 2030; Net-Zero by 2040 (SBTi validated) |
Establishing Regulatory Pathways for Alternative Fuels
Beyond steel and pipes, a significant portion of the HyShip initiative’s €11 million budget, funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 framework, is dedicated to clearing the regulatory hurdles of hydrogen bunkering.
The consortium, which includes classification society DNV, engineering firm LMG Marin France, and academic institutions like ETH Zürich, is working directly with port authorities to draft:
- Standardized safety and risk assessment frameworks for cryogenic marine fuels.
- Harmonized bunkering safety zones in major hubs like the Port of Rotterdam.
- Regulatory pathways to streamline the permitting process for future hydrogen-powered short-sea vessels.
“The market needs projects that reduce uncertainty, align partners, and make future investment decisions easier,” said Tore Boge, Head of EU Projects at Maritime CleanTech. “This collaboration is strategically important because it helps build confidence in liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel for shipping.”
For the bunker market, the Oslo-Rotterdam “Green Corridor” will serve as the ultimate proving ground. If Samskip and the HyShip partners can successfully streamline the cryogenic bunkering process in commercial operations by 2027, it will provide a repeatable blueprint for scaling hydrogen infrastructure across the rest of mainland Europe.
About Samskip
Samskip is a European multimodal logistics and global freight forwarding company offering reliable services that connect destinations across Europe, the UK, and Morocco. Operating both door-to-door (including collection) and quay-to-quay, Samskip utilizes a wide range of its own vessels, containers, trucks, and trailers, while delivering global logistics services through Samskip Logistics.
The company integrates highly sustainable transport solutions across all modes, consistently investing in alternative fuels and low-emission technologies. Samskip has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, targets formally validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Serving as a flagship step in delivering on these commitments is the SeaShuttle project, which consists of two liquid hydrogen-powered container vessels serving the Rotterdam-Oslo corridor.
About HyShip
HyShip is a European research and demonstration project funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. Coordinated by Maritime CleanTech, the initiative operates with an overall budget of approximately €11 million.
The project unites partners from across the maritime, energy, engineering, and research sectors to demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility of liquid hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for short-sea shipping. A central element of HyShip is developing the liquid hydrogen bunkering infrastructure required to fuel the SeaShuttle vessels during commercial operation. This work combines onboard liquid hydrogen storage and fuel cell propulsion with the robust quayside supply chain needed to make operations practical. Alongside bunkering engineering, the consortium is developing safety standards, risk frameworks, and regulatory pathways to support the broader adoption of hydrogen across European short-sea shipping.
Source: Samskip