Klaipeda commissions world's first green hydrogen-powered waste ship

The 42-metre vessel, operating with zero emissions, represents an investment of $16.2 million (£12 million), the port authority said.

IMAGE: The hydrogen-powered waste collector vessel Rasa at Klaipeda. Baltic Workboats/LinkedIn

The Port of Klaipėda has commissioned the world's first waste collection vessel to run on green hydrogen and electricity. The ship is built to collect ship-generated waste, bilge water and sludge from vessels calling at Klaipėda port.

The vessel was built through a Lithuanian-Estonian collaboration, with the hull and part of its equipment constructed at Western Baltic Shipyard within the port itself.

Its hydrogen fuel cells, storage tanks and software were designed and supplied by project partner Genevos.

Genevos CEO and Co-founder Rebecca Sharp said, "The vessel demonstrates that hydrogen power is ready to move beyond demonstration and into demanding maritime operations."

Earlier this month, Klaipeda commissioned its first green hydrogen production and refuelling facility, which can produce about 127 mt/year of green hydrogen.

The commissioning arrives as the wider shipping industry edges toward hydrogen adoption.

According to DNV's Alternative Fuels Insight data, currently there are five hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessels in operation globally, with one under testing and 20 on order, a pipeline that signals growing commercial confidence in the technology.

By Gautamee Hazarika

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