A liquid hydrogen ship between Norway and the Netherlands – as part of the LH2 maritime demonstration project, which is supported by the EU will be used.

Apparently, the 135m vessel from Samskip will run the freight corridor between Oslo and Rotterdam using a 3.2MW liquid hydrogen fuel cell system as part of the HyShip effort.

The HyShip project includes liquid hydrogen ship between Norway and the Netherlands and also has the start-up LH2 Shipping, which aims to establish practical as well as technical solutions in commercial shipping including fuel supply along with bunkering infrastructure.

This follows the move from Samskip earlier in 2026 so as to secure a green hydrogen supply from Norwegian Hydrogen for Seashuttle vessels, with the intention of operating between the ports by Q2 2027.

But the fuel source, Rjukan’s 25MW LH2 project, is not officially expected to come online up until 2028. Where the origin of hydrogen is unknown for any activity prior to this. Further projects funded by HyShip have yet to be made public, although the project was awarded close to €8m, or $9.15m, in monetary support from the EU Commission and is comprised of an alliance of 11 maritime players, which includes the likes of Maritime Cleantech and LMG Marin as well as DNV SE.

H2 View has been contacted for details concerning fuel sourcing and HyShip-funded demonstrations. According to the CEO of LH2 Shipping, Ivan Oestvik, this project brings together valuable knowledge to support the eventual rollout and wider acceptance of LH2 in the maritime sector.

LH2 has efficiency benefits over carriers like ammonia, which calls for a costly high-energy cracking method to emit pure hydrogen; however, it is opposed for its cost and complexity when it comes to transporting it across long distances.

Interestingly, the molecule possesses a very low boiling point of -253ºC and requires cryogenic storage to minimize possible boil-off losses.