Vinssen Co., Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dutch engineering firm Mana Engineering to jointly 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 initially centre on a detailed technical feasibility study and the pursuit of approval in principle (AIP) from Lloyd’s Register, which is intended to validate the retrofit concept and provide a framework for a potential pilot project.

Under the proposed design, the vessel’s existing main propulsion system will be retained, while hotel loads and auxiliary power will be replaced with a hybrid arrangement combining hydrogen fuel cells and battery energy storage. Hydrogen will be supplied via swappable storage modules, with an integrated control system enabling smooth transitions between the fuel cells and existing diesel generators to limit operational disruption.

The companies said the solution is aimed at cutting onboard CO₂ emissions while supporting compliance with FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The retrofit is also expected to improve the vessel’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating, without relying on onshore power supply (OPS).

Mana Engineering will provide European engineering expertise and regional market access, while Vinssen will contribute its proprietary fuel cell and battery system technologies. Both parties will assess opportunities for commercial deployment across the European short-sea shipping market.

Chil-Han Lee, CEO of Vinssen, commented: “This agreement represents a practical step toward validating hydrogen retrofit solutions in line with classification requirements and advancing decarbonisation options for existing vessels in Europe.”

Dennis Lensing, managing director of Mana Engineering, added: “We look forward to cooperating with our Korean partners during this risk assessment and concept phase, and beyond. Together, we will build a strong foundation for potential demonstration and retrofits of this concept in the European market.”

Vinssen develops proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) solutions for maritime applications, focusing on clean propulsion and integrated zero-emission systems for shipping.