Ballard Power Systems has announced one of its largest marine sector deals to date—a 6.4 MW fuel cell engine order from eCap Marine. The German engineering firm will integrate 32 of Ballard’s FCwave™ 200kW fuel cell modules into two hydrogen-powered SeaShuttle vessels operated by Samskip, a leading European multimodal logistics provider.
This major order, which continues Ballard’s partnership with eCap Marine that began in 2021, marks a significant step toward decarbonizing short-sea shipping routes between Norway and the Netherlands. Delivery of the fuel cell engines will take place between 2025 and 2026.
“We’re proud to expand our partnership with eCap Marine and Samskip with one of the largest marine fuel cell engine orders in history,” said Marty Neese, CEO of Ballard Power Systems. “Deploying our FCwave™ modules on these Samskip vessels validates the commercial viability of hydrogen fuel cells in maritime operations.”
The SeaShuttles are currently under construction at Cochin Shipyard in India. Once operational, the vessels are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 25,000 tonnes per year—making them among the first hydrogen-powered container ships of their kind globally.
Lars Ravens, Managing Director of eCap Marine, emphasized the significance of the project: “Our continued collaboration with Ballard is central to our mission to decarbonize marine transport. This latest order reflects our shared focus on operational reliability and sustainability for long-haul shipping.”
The FCwave™ is the world’s first fuel cell module type-approved for marine use by DNV, Lloyd’s Register, and ABS. It is designed to deliver scalable, zero-emission power for various vessel types, offering a low total cost of ownership and compliance with international maritime safety standards.
Samskip’s investment is also supported by ENOVA, Norway’s state-run green funding body. The partnership showcases how public-private collaboration is helping accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies in the shipping industry.
This deployment adds momentum to Ballard’s broader strategy of advancing hydrogen-powered transport across land and sea, reinforcing its leadership in zero-emission energy solutions.
