Published on 25th September 2025
Kinell, the FÉTIS group’s brand dedicated to decarbonisation, and Green Navy (Vallair group) have formalised an exclusive, long-term industrial partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of electro-hydrogen propulsion solutions in maritime transport.
Signed in Lorient in the presence of the leaders of both groups, this agreement marks a milestone for the French and European maritime hydrogen sector.
A structuring industrial partnership for H₂ catamarans
This partnership focuses on the development, integration and certification of H₂-ready and electro-hydrogen systems for catamarans up to 25 metres in length, for passenger, freight or mixed transport applications. The work undertaken covers the entire development process for the energy architecture:
- Engineering design
- Equipment selection and integration,
- Regulatory support and certification,
- Installation, commissioning and maintenance.
‘This is an extremely important step given the commercial opportunities we are working on. It means an expanded and strengthened partnership in the long term.’
Charles Cardi, Chief Executive Officer of Green Navy.
Complementary expertise at the service of maritime hydrogen
Green Navy draws on recognised expertise in naval design and aluminium catamaran architecture, developed since 2019. This approach allows requirements related to the safe storage of hydrogen and the optimisation of the power chain to be integrated from the design phase.
For its part, Kinell is now recognised as one of France’s most advanced players in the integration of marine hydrogen systems, particularly following the Approval in Principle (AiP) issued by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for an under-deck hydrogen storage system.
This complementarity enables complex projects to be tackled with a comprehensive approach, from energy architecture to operational management.
Towards a new generation of electro-hydrogen vessels
Together, Kinell and Green Navy are deploying a new design methodology for vessels. These can be designed from the outset to integrate advanced electrical architectures and accommodate a plug-and-play a hydrogen range extender.
This approach makes it possible to support the energy transition in line with usage patterns, public investment and industrial maturity.
A dynamic reinforced by hydrogen demonstrations
At BrittanHy Day 2026, a hydrogen ecosystem event in the French coastal town of Lorient, Kinell also conducted a hydrogen refueling demonstration using K-Challenge’s Hydrogen Support Vessel (HSV), incorporating a mobile station supplied by Argo-Anleg GmbH.
This operation contributed to the collective reflection on the safety, feasibility and acceptability of hydrogen in port and maritime environments.
About Kinell
Kinell is the FÉTIS Group brand dedicated to decarbonizations, electrification, automation and software development for off-highway machinery, specialized vehicles, professional and recreational marine applications, and energy production.
Structured around several specialized activities (Mobility, Engineering and soon Marine), Kinell offers comprehensive solutions and technological building blocks. Kinell supports OEMs in the design, integration and development of high-performance, reliable machines in their energy transition. Its offering covers the entire innovation cycle: design of low-carbon propulsion systems, development of embedded software, connected services, etc.
About FÉTIS Group
FÉTIS Group is a privately owned international engineering group focusing on the industries of heavy mobility, marine and on-site power. From it’s base in Nantes, France, it has growth to over 700 employees in 9 countries.
Press contact
Béatrice Nguyen
bnguyen@fetis.group
+33 (0)6 99 62 60 28
