German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, alongside partners like Freudenberg Fuel Cell e-Power Systems and the German Aerospace Center, has launched the zero4cruise project to develop fuel cell technology powered by green methanol for cruise ships. The project aims to create fuel cell systems that can be implemented on new ships and retrofitted on existing ones, crucial for decarbonizing the cruise sector. By combining PEM fuel cells with methanol reformers and batteries, the hybrid system will enable ships to operate carbon-neutrally in ports and coastal areas. The German Aerospace Center is pivotal in pre-developing and testing large maritime fuel cell stacks, including prototype stacks with 250 kW and 120 kW capacities. Long-term tests on a 500 kW maritime fuel cell system are being conducted to simulate real ship load cycles and verify system durability. The project, backed by €18.7 million in funding from the German government, signifies a positive step towards sustainable energy solutions in the maritime industry.