Belgian shipowners Exmar and DEME are teaming up with ports and energy companies to study the transport of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.

The two companies are joining French utility Engie, Belgian gas transport company Fluxys, the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge, and hydrogen solutions company WaterstofNet to move towards "a Belgian hydrogen economy."

The work will serve as a basis to coordinate delivery of concrete projects that shape the production, transport and storage of the gas, which could fuel vessels, be used for electricity and heat production, and be a raw...