H2PORTS Project: First Refuelling of Hydrogen Tug Master Carried Out Successfully in Valencia

With the aim of pursuing green solutions for last-mile marine and first-mile land operations, the Grimaldi Group, together with its subsidiary Valencia Terminal Europa (VTE), has begun testing the hydrogen-powered Tug Master at the Port of Valencia as part of the European H2PORTS project.

On 1 October, the first refuelling of the vehicle – a tractor for handling roll-on/roll-off cargo – was successfully carried out using a mobile hydrogen refuelling station provided by the Centro Nacional del Hidrógeno (CNH2 – Spain’s National Hydrogen Centre). Tests continued throughout the week, with constant monitoring of the pressure and temperature parameters of critical components to ensure the safety of both the personnel and equipment involved.

Throughout October, the Tug Master was used and tested by Valencia Terminal Europa employees during daily unloading and loading of roll-on/roll-off cargo on the Grimaldi Group’s new “Eco” vessels. Operational use of the Tug Master will continue in the coming months until the project’s completion, scheduled for December 2025. If the positive results from this initial testing phase are confirmed subsequently, the Grimaldi Group will consider converting more vehicles in its fleet to hydrogen.

The primary goal of H2PORTS is to provide efficient solutions that facilitate a swift transition from a fossil fuel-based industry to one with low or zero carbon emissions. The project, with an investment of 4 million euros, is funded by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a European public-private partnership aimed at promoting hydrogen as a low-emission alternative. In addition to the Grimaldi Group and Valencia Terminal Europa, other participants include the Fundación Valenciaport (project coordinator), the National Hydrogen Centre, and private companies Atena, Ballard Power Systems Europe and Carburos Metálicos. Through these project actions, the Grimaldi Group continues its search for cleaner fuels for port use, thus contributing to the decarbonization of transport-related activities.