Attendees at the launching ceremony for the nation's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel on Dec. 18 pose for a group photo at Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province. (Facebook page of Yeongam-gun Gov. Woo Seung Hee)

By Charles Audouin

The nation's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered vessel has been unveiled at Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province.

The county government on Dec. 18 said it hosted the launching ceremony for the Hydro Zenith at the headquarters of domestic eco-friendly shipbuilder Vinssen at Daebul Industrial Complex in Yeongam-gun.

The vessel uses a propulsion system using hydrogen fuel cells jointly developed by the county and Jeollanam-do Province. Yeongam-gun said the Hydro Zenith received an inspection and certificate from the Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority and is a viable alternative to transition into green ships in maritime tourism and leisure.

Built with an aluminum hull and measuring 17.4 m long and weighing 32 tons, the Hydro Zenith has two 100-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cells and four lithium-ion batteries of 92 kilowatt hours each for no carbon, low noise and high efficiency operation.

"The launch of the Hydro Zenith is a crucial turning point for our county to lead the eco-friendly maritime industry and hydrogen economy," Yeongam-gun Gov. Woo Seung Hee said. "We will work with shipbuilders, the government and Jeollanam-do to develop eco-friendly shipbuilding as a new growth engine for the region."

caudouin@korea.kr