1 July 2026
F. Laeisz Award for Maritime InnovationAward for an Innovative Hydrogen Fuel Cell That Extracts Oxygen from Seawater
Photo: Martha-Theresa Koch/F. Laeisz GmbH
As part of Hamburg Sustainability Week, three awards totaling 20,000 euros were presented during a festive evening event on June 30 at the Laeiszhof of F. Laeisz GmbH. First prize (10,000 euros) went to the Helmholtz Center Hereon in Geesthacht for the development of a novel hydrogen fuel cell that passively extracts oxygen directly from seawater. The jury emphasized that the award-winning technology enables significantly more sustainable and energy-efficient marine research, as autonomous underwater vehicles can operate for much longer periods without the need for ship-based support.
The jury awarded second place (6,000 euros) to the SEADS project by the student entrepreneurship initiative Enactus Münster e.V. for the first fully autonomous, AI-powered seagrass seed harvester. The jury noted that the project addresses a key bottleneck in marine restoration and impressed them with its high level of originality as well as pilot experience in the Baltic Sea and Wales. The jury also emphasized the project’s immense potential ecological impact—seagrass is an essential component of ocean health, playing a key role in water quality, climate, CO₂ sequestration, and marine habitat.
Third place (4,000 euros) went to Jade University of Applied Sciences in Elsfleth for the “Eco-Crossing” project. This is a data-driven assistance system for energy-efficient vessel navigation during ferry trips, with a published potential for reducing fuel consumption by 23 percent. Among other things, the jury commended the ongoing pilot installation on the Farge ferry and the project’s broad application prospects.
In addition to the three main prizes, the jury awarded a special jury prize to SAILWINT GmbH, Berlin, in recognition of its courage and vision. The company develops autonomously sailing wind turbine ships for the production of green hydrogen at sea. With two completed sea trials and collaborations with DLR and TU Berlin, SAILWINT represents a highly innovative, disruptive approach, according to the jury.
Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Chief Sustainability Officer and Professor of Sustainable Business, University of Hamburg: “The sustainable transformation of the maritime economy is one of the major challenges of our time. The award-winning projects impressively demonstrate the potential that arises when scientific excellence, entrepreneurial courage, and innovative technologies come together. The Laeisz Award brings these solutions to light and strengthens the dialogue between science, business, and society. As a university, we see it as our mission to link scientific insights with social and economic impact. The Laeisz Award is an expression of this commitment.”
Nikolaus H. Schües, owner of F. Laeisz GmbH, said in his speech at the award ceremony: “The title of today’s event is: ‘What Does True Transformation Require—and How Can We Achieve It Together?’ For us, one thing is clear: transformation can only succeed when we work together! That is why we have partnered with the University of Hamburg to establish this award—to bring together scientific excellence and entrepreneurial innovation and to highlight solutions that accelerate the sustainable transformation of the maritime economy.”
This year, the shortlist jury consisted of Prof. Dr. Simone Neumann, Professor of Sustainable Logistics and Mobility Systems at the University of Hamburg Business School; Lina Schoepflin, a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Ship Structural Design and Analysis at TUHH; and Fabian Feldhaus, co-founder of Flagship Founders. The main jury consisted of Prof. Dr. Laura Marie Edinger-Schons, Professor of Sustainable Business and Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Hamburg; Volker Ebeling, Senior Vice President of New Energy, Supply & Infrastructure at MB Energy Holding GmbH & Co. KG; Arik Willner, CEO of Impossible Founders; Boris Herrmann, German sailor with Team Malizia; Katharina Fegebank, Second Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Chair of the Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Energy, and Agriculture; and Rasmus Stute, Area Manager Germany, DNV Maritime.
The goal of the award is to bring together scientific excellence and entrepreneurial innovation and to highlight solutions that accelerate the sustainable transformation of the maritime economy. More information is available on the F. Laeisz Award for Maritime Innovation website.