Japanese firms demonstrate hydrogen-fuelled engine for large vessels
- Published
by Admin
A consortium of Japanese companies has successfully completed hydrogen co-firing operations across all cylinders of a large, two-stroke hydrogen marine engine, according to a joint statement on Monday (30 March).
To date, the engine has achieved a hydrogen co‑firing ratio of over 95% at 100% load, confirming both greenhouse gas reduction and stable operation. Verification testing will continue to further optimise performance under hydrogen co‑firing conditions.
Japan Engine Corporation (J‑ENG) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Kawasaki) are collaborating with Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk Ltd (MOL Drybulk), Onomichi Dockyard, and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) on the project.
In recent years, the development and demonstration of hydrogen‑fuelled vessels have progressed in Japan and abroad. However, most initiatives focus on short‑distance, short‑duration, and low‑output operations—such as sightseeing boats or tugboats using compressed hydrogen—primarily for domestic coastal or port‑area applications.
In contrast, this project combines the high‑efficiency, high‑output, low‑speed two‑stroke hydrogen‑fueled 6UEC35LSGH engine with liquefied hydrogen fuel, thereby enabling long‑distance, long‑duration, and high‑output operations.
“This represents a major technological milestone toward the practical use of large oceangoing hydrogen‑fuelled merchant ships,” the consortium said.
Once full-scale verification is complete, the engine is scheduled for shipment in January 2027 and will be installed as the main engine of a 17,500‑DWT hydrogen‑fuelled multi-purpose vessel designed and built by Onomichi Dockyard. A marine hydrogen fuel supply system for this engine is being developed and manufactured by Kawasaki, and it will also be installed on the vessel.
The vessel is scheduled to undergo three years of demonstration operation starting in FY2028 under the operation of MOL and MOL Drybulk. Throughout the development of the engine and MHFS, as well as the design, construction, and operation of the vessel, ClassNK will conduct safety evaluations.
Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 31 March, 2026
