Japan's Kikou Maru tanker successfully tested hydrogen fuel technology, preventing 1.2 tons of CO2 emissions during a two-hour trial in Osaka Bay.
In Japan, the coastal tanker named Kikou Maru conducted a trial voyage with a hydrogen fuel-powered engine for approximately two hours in Osaka Bay.
Developed as part of Japan's project for the use of hydrogen in maritime transportation, Kikou Maru traveled about 33 kilometers in Osaka Bay on September 25, 2026. The results of the trial were announced by the Nippon Foundation, which supports the project, on September 30.
It was reported that during the voyage of the approximately 4,500 gross ton tanker, about 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide emissions were prevented compared to traditional fossil fuel usage. The foundation described the development and demonstration voyage conducted with this hydrogen-focused engine technology as the first of its kind in the world, based on research conducted as of September 2026.
The hydrogen engine generates electricity.
The electricity produced by the hydrogen fuel engine on Kikou Maru powers the ship's electric propulsion system. The system, located in a container unit placed on the upper deck, operates with a hybrid infrastructure that utilizes both generators and batteries.
According to the technical statement from the Nippon Foundation, the project involves the development of four-stroke high-speed hydrogen engines. In the pilot ignition engine, hydrogen is used as the main fuel, while a small amount of ignition fuel is required to initiate combustion. The project envisions the use of HVO biofuel produced from hydrogen-treated vegetable oil for this purpose.
Preparations for the engine and crew were conducted together.
Yanmar Power Solutions undertook the development of the hydrogen engine and related equipment. The ship's owner and operator, Uyeno Transtech, carried out the conversion works of the tanker and the training of the crew for using hydrogen fuel.
The Kikou Maru was delivered in 2025.
The 104.93-meter-long Kikou Maru was launched on February 14, 2025. The oil tanker, which has a cargo capacity of approximately 5,000 kiloliters, was built at Fukuoka Shipbuilding's Nagasaki shipyard and delivered in October 2025.
According to a statement from ClassNK dated October 23, 2025, the ship received the highest evaluation rating of 'S' in the emission-free ship financing program conducted in partnership with the Japan Development Bank. For the first time, financing was provided for a coastal vessel under this program.
The goal is carbon neutrality in coastal transportation.
The trial was conducted as part of the Zero Emission Ships Project initiated by the Nippon Foundation in 2022. The project aims to support Japan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality in coastal transportation by 2050 through the development and testing of hydrogen fuel ship technologies at sea.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
