France’s First Hydrogen-Powered Inland Cargo Vessel Enters Service [Video]

The Sogestran Group has commissioned France’s first-ever hydrogen-powered river vessel, the Zulu 06. 

The 55-meter vessel, formally christened on the Seine in Paris on Tuesday, has a cargo capacity of 400 tons. It is designed to deliver small deck cargoes for customers in the urban environment of Paris. It was designed by LMG Marin with a power system supplied by ABB Marine & Ports, with two 200 kW hydrogen fuel cells delivered by Ballard. It carries 300 kilos of compressed hydrogen, which is enough for seven days of operation between refills. The system is the first of its kind in France, and the operator hopes to demonstrate a new, clean business model for transporting goods by water in a large city. 

“With the launch of the Zulu 06,we witness a major breakthrough for river transport and the energy transition in France,” said François Durovray, the French Minister of Transport, who attended the vessel’s inauguration. “This project is a …