HAV’s hydrogen-based energy system, developed in the FreeCo2ast project, is believed to be retrofitted to one of Havila Kystruten’s coastal cruise ships.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority issued a statement of preliminary assessment which confirmed that HAV’s alterative design is feasible and complies with International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines, concluding that the project is ready to advance to the final design stage.

This approval will also allow HAV Hydrogen to offer its product to the global maritime market.

Kristian Osnes, Project Manager at FreeCo2ast and Managing Director at HAV Hydrogen, said, “Hydrogen can be the key to achieve zero-emission shipping. This regulatory approval takes us an important step towards commercialising our hydrogen solutions and realising the zero-emission ambition.

“The learnings from this comprehensive approval process are highly important for HAV Hydrogen’s competence in designing hydrogen system solutions.”

The FreeCo2ast project is supported by the Norwegian Research Council, Innovation Norway, and Enova. The fuel cell manufacturer Powercell AB and tank system supplier Linde Engineering GmbH have also contributed to the project.

Osnes concluded, “We are now in a position where we can offer shipowners the necessary competence in selecting hydrogen system solutions and guide them through their approval processes, as well as delivering the marine zero-emission systems.”