Norled's MF Hydra has become the world's first vessel to sail on liquid hydrogen.

• Since the turn of the year, Norled has been carrying out system tests at the quay in Hjelmeland.
• And following sea trials, the firm received final approval from the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) to begin welcoming passengers on board for a zero-emission journey between Hjelmeland and Nesvik.

Project partners: The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) played a key role in the project, as it made liquid hydrogen a requirement in its initial tender specification, thus effectively forcing through the development of the technology.

• Norled acted as project lead; Germany's Linde Engineering supplied the hydrogen systems; Danish firm Ballard developed the fuel cells that produce electricity from hydrogen; Westcon was responsible for equipping and completing the vessel together with system integrator Seam; and Seam also supplied the automation scope for the hydrogen system.
• Meanwhile, Corvus Energy supplied the batteries for the MF Hydra and the vessel has been approved by the Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

What they said: It is not the first time that the NPRA has contributed towards technological development in the maritime industry. Eleven years ago, it issued a tender which resulted in the MF Ampere - the world's first electrical ferry with propeller drive.

• Discussing the government agency's history, Anders Sæternes of NPRA Ferry Management remarked: "We have a tradition of using our role as a major purchaser to accelerate development towards the goals set for the transport sector. It is important for us to use our purchasing power for transition."
• "By putting the world's first hydrogen ferry into operation, we now take yet another substantial leap towards the goal of zero emissions," Sæternes added.
• Erlend Hovland, CTO of Norled, noted: "There are only two parties in the world that use liquid hydrogen as a fuel. These are Norled with the MF Hydra, and then the space industry using it as fuel for launches. This says something about the giant technology leap now taken for the maritime industry."
• Ada Jakobsen, CEO of Maritime CleanTech, stated: "By putting the world's first hydrogen ferry into operation on a Norwegian ferry connection, we are once again showing how purchasing power and good public-private partnerships can be used to develop new and groundbreaking technology."
• "When Norled once again dares to go first, it will be much easier for others to follow in the wake of the MF Hydra," Jakobsen added.