Sogestran launches France’s first hydrogen-powered inland vessel

In France, the Sogestran Group christened the ZULU 06, a 55-meter hydrogen-powered inland vessel developed over six years as part of the European Flagships project to address urban logistics challenges with zero-emission technology.

Powered by two 200 kW fuel cells using 300 kilograms of green hydrogen stored at 300 bars, the ZULU 06 can carry 400 tons of goods up to 500 kilometers on a single charge. Designed with a twin-island configuration that optimizes space and efficiency, the vessel also features scrubbers to comply with International Maritime Organization sulfur emission standards.

The project received financial and technical support from ADEME, the Île-de-France Region, and Voies Navigables de France under the Modernization and Innovation Support Plan. It aligns with France’s national hydrogen strategy to decarbonize transportation and position hydrogen as a cornerstone of sustainable logistics.

“The ZULU 06 demonstrates the feasibility of hydrogen propulsion for inland waterways,” stated Sogestran. As a first-of-its-kind innovation in France, the vessel sets the stage for scaling zero-emission technologies in freight transport across Europe.

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