Bureau Veritas has joined forces with Gelibolu Shipyard, eCap Marine, and Norwegian shipowner Møre Sjø AS to bring hydrogen-powered cargo vessels to life. The partnership marks a new step toward zero-emission coastal shipping in Norway and beyond.
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore is helping chart a new course for cleaner shipping through its latest partnership with Gelibolu Shipyard and eCap Marine. The three parties have signed a contract to build and classify two hydrogen-powered general cargo vessels, with an option for two more, for Norway’s Møre Sjø AS.
The vessels will be the first hydrogen-propelled general cargo ships in Bureau Veritas class, signaling a major shift toward low-emission maritime transport. Each ship will measure 88.7 meters in length and 14.2 meters in breadth, with a maximum draft of six meters and a gross tonnage of around 3,750. Designed to carry heavy and dry bulk cargoes under the Norwegian flag, the vessels will combine a high-pressure hydrogen power system with batteries and electric propulsion.
The hydrogen system, being developed by eCap Marine, will undergo an Alternative Design Approval process before installation and commissioning. Once completed, the ships will be eligible for Bureau Veritas’ HYDROGENFUEL notation, confirming compliance with stringent safety and performance standards.
Beyond hydrogen, the vessels will be equipped for future digital and environmental demands. They are expected to receive class notations for Cyber Resilience, Unrestricted Navigation, AUT-UMS, In-Water Survey, and OPS (On-shore Power System) capability, allowing them to connect to shore power while in port.
“This project marks an important step in advancing hydrogen as an alternative fuel for general cargo shipping,” said Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities at Bureau Veritas. “By working together with Gelibolu Shipyard, eCap Marine and Møre Sjø AS, we are helping to ensure the safe and reliable deployment of new technologies, combining efficiency with readiness for future fuels.”
For Møre Sjø, the initiative aligns with its ambition to make zero-emission shipping commercially viable. “Our ambition is to build Norway’s leading zero-emission shipping company for coastal freight a profitable, scalable and disruptive company with a clear green profile as its competitive advantage,” said Torstein Holsvik, Managing Director of Møre Sjø.
With hydrogen propulsion entering cargo shipping, the project offers a glimpse of how traditional maritime operations can adapt to meet the challenges of a decarbonized future.
