South Korea’s VINSSEN, MANA Engineering plan 800 TEU feeder hydrogen retrofit

It will add hydrogen fuel cells and battery storage for auxiliary power.

VINSSEN and MANA Engineering have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a hydrogen fuel cell–based retrofit solution for an 800 TEU feeder container vessel operating in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea.

The partnership will begin with a technical feasibility study and efforts to obtain Approval in Principle (AIP) from Lloyd's Register, which will validate the concept and support a potential pilot retrofit project.

The proposed design will keep the vessel’s main propulsion system whilst replacing hotel loads and auxiliary power with a hybrid system using hydrogen fuel cells and battery energy storage.

Hydrogen will be supplied through swappable storage modules, and an integrated control system will allow switching between fuel cells and existing diesel generators to reduce operational disruption and technical risk.

The system aims to cut onboard CO₂ emissions and help the vessel comply with FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS requirements without relying on onshore power supply.

It is also expected to improve the vessel’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating.

Under the agreement, MANA Engineering will provide European engineering expertise and market access, whilst VINSSEN will supply its fuel cell and battery system technologies.

Both companies will assess commercial deployment opportunities in the European short-sea shipping sector.