Hydrogen – Klaipėda Port Launches Zero-Emission Tanker Rasa
Klaipėda, Lithuania’s main seaport on the Baltic Sea, has christened the tanker Rasa, a 42-metre vessel designed to collect waste from ships without emitting carbon dioxide during operation.
The vessel is powered by green hydrogen and electricity. According to the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority, it is the first tanker of its type in the world built for port environmental services. Its job will be practical rather than symbolic: taking in waste, garbage, bilge water and sludge from vessels arriving at the port.
This article was prepared by the infoerdve.lt editorial team based on Klaipėda port information published by BNS and technical details provided by project participants.
A working port vessel with no direct carbon emissions
Rasa is built to receive operational waste generated by other ships, including bilge water, sludge and garbage. Such work is a routine part of port operations, because vessels calling at Klaipėda must hand over certain waste streams to specialised services.
The main difference is the tanker’s energy system. It uses hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and electric motors, meaning it does not emit combustion products while working. Based on the information provided, the vessel releases only water vapour during operation.
For residents of Klaipėda, this matters because port activity is part of daily urban life. The port affects the city through traffic, noise, air quality and broader environmental pressure. One vessel cannot solve all pollution issues, but it moves part of the port’s everyday service work toward a lower-emission model.
The main difference is the tanker’s energy system. It uses hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and electric motors, meaning it does not emit combustion products while working. Based on the information provided, the vessel releases only water vapour during operation.
For residents of Klaipėda, this matters because port activity is part of daily urban life. The port affects the city through traffic, noise, air quality and broader environmental pressure. One vessel cannot solve all pollution issues, but it moves part of the port’s everyday service work toward a lower-emission model.
Margus Vanaselja, chief executive of Baltic Workboats, said Rasa is the first tanker built by the company. He also said it includes the company’s largest electrical and battery systems integration project to date and its first hydrogen power plant installation.
Green hydrogen moves into daily port operations
The hydrogen system for the vessel, including the fuel cells, tanks and software, was designed and supplied by Genevos SAS. Rebecca Sharp, the company’s chief executive and co-founder, said Rasa shows hydrogen energy moving from demonstration projects into complex maritime operations.
The vessel will use green hydrogen produced at Klaipėda port. This connects the tanker to the port’s wider energy strategy: Lithuania’s first hydrogen production and refuelling station was recently opened there.
Transport Minister Juras Taminskas said at the christening ceremony that Klaipėda was not only naming a ship, but also marking a new stage in transport. He said Lithuania was not only following global transport trends through the project, but helping to shape them.
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Hydrogen – Klaipėda Port Launches Zero-Emission Tanker Rasa, source
