French maritime group Sogestran has launched the ZULU 06, said to be France’s “first” hydrogen-powered river vessel, on the Seine in Paris.
Stretching 55 meters in length and with a cargo capacity of 400 tons, the ZULU 06 is designed by LMG Marin, a company specializing in ship designs. The vessel has a power generation system supplied by equipment provider ABB Marine & Ports and two 200 kW hydrogen fuel cells delivered by manufacturing company Ballard. Reportedly, 300 kg of compressed hydrogen enables seven days of operational autonomy.
Pascal Girardet, Chairman and CEO of the Sogestran Group, said: “While the hydrogen industry is still maturing, every innovation like the ZULU 06 accelerates its democratization, ultimately building a robust value chain. This vessel is a showcase of technical excellence and a testament to Sogestran’s commitment to sustainable and efficient mobility.”
Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the vessel’s godmother, commented: “The successful integration of fuel cells into the riverboat ZULU 06, soon to operate commercially in the heart of Paris, marks a significant technical and regulatory milestone. Building on the momentum of the FLAGSHIPS project, further applications in river and maritime transport will enhance air quality, reduce noise pollution, and drastically shrink the carbon footprint of waterborne transportation.”
François Durovray, Minister of Transport, French Republic, stated: “With the launch of the ZULU 06, we witness a major breakthrough for river transport and the energy transition in France. This vessel, the first of its kind powered by hydrogen in the country, embodies France’s commitment to sustainable, innovative, and decarbonized mobility. This project is a prime example of European cooperation and synergy between public and private stakeholders for green mobility that is both local and sustainable.”
To note, the ZULU 06 is developed through the EU-funded Flagships project. The Clean Hydrogen Partnership provided financial and technical backing for the program. The Flagships collective initiative unites eleven European partners, while the Clean Hydrogen Partnership includes the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research.
As disclosed, the Flagships project demonstrates zero-emission waterborne transport by deploying two commercially operated hydrogen vessels. Both vessels use compressed clean hydrogen as fuel and PEM fuel cell technologies.