Vinssen and MANA Engineering team up to develop a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit for an 800-TEU feeder, enhancing sustainability in Northern Europe.
South Korea's Vinssen and Dutch firm MANA Engineering have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit solution for an 800-TEU feeder in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea, reports Rotterdam's Offshore Energy.
The partners will begin with a technical feasibility study and seek approval in principle from Lloyd's Register to validate the concept and prepare for a pilot retrofit project.
Vinssen stated that the design maintains the vessel's main propulsion system while replacing hotel loads and auxiliary power with hydrogen fuel cells and battery storage. Hydrogen will be supplied via swappable modules, with an integrated control system enabling switching between fuel cells and diesel generators.
The system is expected to significantly reduce onboard CO2 emissions, aiding compliance with FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS regulations without relying on onshore power supply, while also improving the vessel's Carbon Intensity Indicator rating.
This collaboration combines MANA Engineering's access to the European market with Vinssen's expertise in fuel cells and batteries, aiming to assess commercial deployment in the short-sea shipping sector.
Chil-Han Lee, CEO of Vinssen, remarked, 'This agreement represents a practical step toward validating hydrogen retrofit solutions in line with classification requirements and advancing decarbonisation options for existing vessels in Europe.'
Dennis Lensing, managing director of MANA Engineering, noted that the partners would build a strong foundation for demonstration and retrofits in European markets.
