SeaShuttle project joins European initiative to accelerate the development of hydrogen infrastructure for zero-emission shipping
15 July 2026 – Samskip is taking another significant step towards the future of sustainable maritime transport by bringing its pioneering SeaShuttle project into the European HyShip initiative, strengthening collaboration to accelerate the development of liquid hydrogen infrastructure and support the commercial deployment of zero-emission shipping.
The collaboration connects Samskip’s two hydrogen-powered SeaShuttle vessels, currently under construction for operation between Rotterdam and Oslo, with a consortium of leading European maritime, energy, research and regulatory partners working to develop the technologies, infrastructure and operational standards needed to scale hydrogen-powered shipping across Europe.
Unlike many demonstration projects, the Samskip SeaShuttles have always been designed with commercial operation in mind. Once introduced into service in 2027, the vessels will transport containerized freight between Rotterdam and Oslo using liquid hydrogen as energy source, creating one of Europe’s first green shipping corridors. Each vessel is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes annually when operating in zero-emission mode, while demonstrating that sustainable shipping can become a practical reality for customers and supply chains.
“Our SeaShuttles have always been about proving that hydrogen-powered shipping can work in everyday commercial operations, not just as a concept. By joining HyShip, we’re taking an important step beyond the vessel itself. Together with our partners, we’re helping develop the liquid hydrogen supply chain, bunkering infrastructure and operational knowledge needed to make hydrogen-powered shipping scalable across Europe.” Jeroen Hollebrands, Head of Newbuilding & Projects, Samskip
The HyShip project addresses one of the industry’s most important challenges: creating an end-to-end hydrogen ecosystem that connects fuel production, port infrastructure and vessel operations. This integrated approach is essential to making hydrogen-powered shipping commercially viable on a larger scale.
The Samskip SeaShuttles form an important part of Samskip’s broader sustainability strategy, which combines one of Europe’s most energy-efficient multimodal logistics networks with continued investment in alternative fuels and zero-emission technologies. Hydrogen-powered shipping represents a key milestone in delivering Samskip’s ambitions while helping customers reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains.
About Samskip
Samskip is a European multimodal logistics and global freight forwarding company offering reliable services connecting destinations across Europe, the UK and Morocco, both door-to-door (including collection) and quay-to-quay, using a wide range of owned vessels, containers, trucks and trailers and worldwide logistics services through Samskip Logistics. Samskip integrates more sustainable transport solutions across all modes and consistently invests in alternative fuels and low-emission technologies. Samskip has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2040, targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SeaShuttle project, two liquid hydrogen-powered container vessels serving the Rotterdam-Oslo corridor, represents their flagship step in delivering on these commitments.
About HyShip
HyShip is a European research and demonstration project funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program, coordinated by Maritime Cleantech with an overall budget of approximately €11 million. The project brings together partners from across the maritime, energy, engineering and research sectors to demonstrate the feasibility of liquid hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for short-sea shipping. A central element of HyShip is the development of the liquid hydrogen bunkering infrastructure needed to fuel the SeaShuttle vessels in commercial operation, combining onboard LH2 storage and fuel cell propulsion with the quayside supply chain required to make it work in practice. Alongside bunkering, the consortium is developing safety standards, risk frameworks and regulatory pathways to support the broader adoption of hydrogen across European shortsea shipping.
