A consortium led by the University of Vaasa has been awarded significant Horizon Europe funding for a major research and innovation project that moves long‑distance shipping closer to a zero‑carbon future. The H4PERION – Hydrogen FOR Performance Enhancement and Reliable Ice OperatioN – project will, for the first time, demonstrate in practice how a large vessel can operate with a hydrogen‑capable internal combustion engine (ICE). This marks an important milestone in clean maritime technology.