Tharsis Ship Management has received financial backing from the EU Innovation Fund to develop its eSeaRiverBarge project, which aims to deploy two zero-emission container vessels operating between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The project centres on purpose-built ships equipped with swappable battery containers supplied by Zero Emission Services. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with both vessels expected to enter service by 2029. Project leaders described the ships as “two first-of-a-kind zero-emission sea-river container vessels,” designed with dedicated storage areas in the bow and stern for up to 16 interchangeable ISO “energy containers.”
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These modular containers are designed to support multiple energy carriers, including batteries, hydrogen, and ammonia, while two onboard biofuel generators will serve as backup power systems. In normal operations, the vessels will rely on battery propulsion using Zero Emission Services’ ZESpacks, which are deployed through an Energy- and Charging-as-a-Service (ECaaS) model.
The battery systems will be connected using Megawatt Charging System (MCS) technology, enabling high-capacity energy transfer. The swappable design allows for rapid battery exchanges at dedicated charging stations, supporting continuous zero-emission operations along inland and coastal routes between the Netherlands and the UK.
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The vessels will feature open deck configurations capable of carrying both 30- and 45-foot containers, with a total capacity of up to 378 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), a standard metric in maritime logistics. According to project developers, the initiative represents the first zero-emission container liner service designed specifically for sea-river transport, enabling direct connections between seaports and inland terminals.
While the shipbuilder has not yet been disclosed, Tharsis confirmed that construction will take place within the European Union. The project is supported by a €21 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund, which focuses on advancing low-carbon technologies.
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“This EU funding is a major milestone. It allows us to build, deploy, and operate these vessels, proving how innovative technologies like swappable energy containers and hybrid propulsion can decarbonise coastal and inland shipping in full commercial operations,” said Jan Albert Bosma of Tharsis Ship Management.
