The Sogestran Group has unveiled the ZULU 06, the first hydrogen river vessel on the Seine in the French capital.
Minister of Transport François Durovray, who attended the launch, said: “With the launch of the ZULU 06, we are witnessing a major breakthrough for river transport and the energy transition in France.
“This ship, the first of its kind, powered by hydrogen [this] country, embodies France’s commitment to sustainable, innovative and low-carbon mobility. This project is a good example of European cooperation and synergy between public and private stakeholders for green mobility that is both local and sustainable,” he said.
The ZULU 06 is 55 meters long and has a loading capacity of 400 tonnes and is designed for river logistics.
The ship’s power generation system, designed by LMG Marin, is supplied by ABB Marine & Ports, with two 200 kW hydrogen fuel cells from Ballard.
Sogestran Group Chairman and CEO Pascal Girardet added: “While the hydrogen industry is still maturing, every innovation like ZULU 06 accelerates its democratization, ultimately building a robust value chain. This vessel is an example of technical excellence and a testament to Sogestran’s commitment to sustainable and efficient mobility.”
With 300 kg of compressed hydrogen, the ZULU 06 could operate for seven days without refueling, which its designers said “set a new standard for efficient and sustainable distribution in urban areas.”
Despite being the first hydrogen riverboat in France, it is far from a breakthrough for the market. Several ships have been operating for years in busy tourist locations such as the Three Gorges in China, or busy industrial areas such as the port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Although the industrial use of hydrogen is under discussion, that debate is not new.
The development of the ZULU 06 was a product of the EU-funded FLAGSHIPS project, which has dedicated six years to pioneering zero-emission maritime transport.
The FLAGSHIPS initiative brings together eleven European partners and underlines the importance of cooperation in achieving decarbonization goals. The Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s financial and technical support for the project highlights the EU’s instrumental role in promoting hydrogen technologies.
Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, said: “The successful integration of fuel cells into the ZULU 06 riverboat, which will soon operate commercially in the heart of Paris, marks an important technical and regulatory milestone.
“Building on the momentum of the FLAGSHIPS project, further applications in river and maritime transport will improve air quality, reduce noise pollution and dramatically reduce the environmental footprint of water transport.”
