SWITCH Maritime to build a hydrogen-powered RoPax vessel in the US

US-based zero-emission vessel developer SWITCH Maritime has announced its plans to develop a liquid hydrogen-fuelled RoPax (roll-on/roll-off passenger) in the US.

PHOTO: SWITCH Maritime’s hydrogen-fuelled RoPax vessel concept. SWITCH Maritime

The design will be based on the MF Hydra, a liquid hydrogen-powered RoPax ferry owned by Norwegian shipping company Norled, operating successfully in Norway since March 2023.

The RoPax vessel is expected to need refuelling only once a week, requiring 3,000 kilograms of liquid hydrogen from a single LH2 truck, and it operates without any shoreside electric charging infrastructure. Norled will collaborate with Norwegian marine engineering firms LH2 Shipping and LMG Marin to develop this vessel.

Hydrogen fuel offers high energy density, which supports greater range and power, making it well-suited for zero-emissions vessels. It also simplifies operations by eliminating the need for fixed charging infrastructure, allowing for flexible refuelling via truck-to-ship or ship-to-ship methods, according to SWITCH Maritime.

In May, SWITCH Maritime got the US Coast Guard approval for its hydrogen-powered small ferry, Sea Change, to operate in San Francisco Bay. It is also working on a hydrogen-powered catamaran for the SF Bay Ferry service.

By Tuhin Roy

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