October 24, 2025

Japan’s 1st Dual-Fueled Hydrogen Tugboat Enters ServiceTugboat decarbonization to contribute to carbon-neutral port (CNP) concept

Photo of the hydrogen-fueled tugboat — The hydrogen-fueled tugboat

The Hydrogen Engine Zero EmissioVessels Consortium (led by JPN H₂YDRO Co., Ltd.) has been promoting development as part of The Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ship Project, and on October 15 received delivery of the tugboat TEN-OH, which is equipped with hydrogen dual-fueled engines.

The vessel was built by consortium member Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and is equipped with BEH2YDRO high-output hydrogen dual-fueled engines and a high-pressure, large-capacity hydrogen gas storage and supply system provided by JPN H₂YDRO.

The consortium plans to build two hydrogen-fueled vessels for verification operation, and the TEN-OH is the first.

The vessel’s BEH2YDRO hydrogen dual-fueled engines use hydrogen and fuel oil, which reduces CO2 emissions by roughly 60% compared with tugboats using conventional fossil fuels. In addition, the high-pressure, large-capacity hydrogen gas storage system makes it possible to convert hydrogen to fuel while maintaining the same level of navigation functionality as when conventional fuel is used.

The consortium plans to use the vessel for verification operations and demonstration testing including bunkering through 2026.

Overview of the hydrogen-fueled tugboat ‘TEN-OH’

Dimensions (meters): 38.0 (LOA) x 9.6 (breadth) x 4.2 (draft)
Gross tonnage: Less than 300 tons
Main feature: Two 12-cylinder BEH2YDRO hydrogen dual-fueled engines (4,400-horsepower class)
Fuels used: Hydrogen and heavy fuel oil A

About The Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships project

Through this project, The Nippon Foundation is supporting technological development focusing on the development of zero-emission ships using hydrogen as fuel.
The project is developing some of the world’s first ships that use hydrogen as fuel to achieve zero CO2 emissions, working toward the realization of carbon neutrality in Japan’s coastal shipping industry by 2050.