Vinssen launches first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship in South Korea
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by Admin
South Korean maritime decarbonisation technology provider Vinssen on Friday (26 December) announced it held a launching ceremony for hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship Hydro Zenith at its headquarters in the Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do.
The company said Hydro Zenith is Korea’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship designed and built according to the ‘Provisional Standards for Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Ships’ established by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in 2023.
These standards regulate the design, facility configuration, and inspection procedures of hydrogen fuel cell-powered ships, enabling the construction, certification, and operation of hydrogen ships within the existing ship safety regulations.
Vinssen said Hydro Zenith demonstrated that the design and operation of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered ship is possible within the current system.
The ship is equipped with a propulsion system that combines two 100kW hydrogen fuel cells and four 92kWh lithium-ion batteries.
Vinssen’s self-developed 100kW fuel cell system installed on Hydro Zenith has obtained certification from the Korea Maritime Safety Authority (KOMSA) and NTQ from the Korean Register (KR), and is designed in a modular configuration to accommodate a variety of vessel types and output requirements, from small vessels to medium and large passenger ships and merchant ships.
The company plans to use this launching ceremony as an opportunity to accumulate operational data in real-world waters through onshore and offshore trials, while continuously enhancing operational technology based on its existing expertise.
Vinssen CEO Lee Chil-hwan, said: “Hydro Zenith is a case study in applying commercialised hydrogen fuel cell propulsion technology to actual vessels. Going forward, we will continue to enhance performance and operability based on the data accumulated through real-world operations, contributing to the expansion of eco-friendly marine mobility.”
Photo credit: Vinssen
Published: 31 December, 2025
