World’s 1st Successful Carbon-Neutral Test Voyage Using Hydrogen Single-Fueled EngineThe Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships Project

The Nippon Foundation launched the Zero Emission Ships project in 2022 with the aim of achieving carbon-free coastal shipping, and has been promoting the development of ships with zero CO2 emissions.

The project comprises three consortia, one of which, the Ship-Use Hydrogen 4-Stroke Engine and Hydrogen Engine Compatible Large Coastal Tanker Development Consortium led by Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., has developed the world’s first^[1] ship equipped with a hydrogen single-fueled engine,^[2] the roughly 4,500 gross ton KIKOU MARU. On September 25, 2026, the vessel completed a roughly 33-kilometer voyage over approximately two hours in Osaka Bay, in a successful demonstration of carbon-neutral navigation using a hydrogen single-fueled engine. This development of a ship equipped with a hydrogen single-fueled engine and demonstration test are the world’s first of their kind, and mark a significant step forward toward the achievement of carbon neutrality in Japan’s coastal shipping by 2050.

Within the consortium, Yanmar Power Solutions was responsible for the development of the hydrogen single-fueled engine and other hydrogen-related equipment, while the KIKOU MARU’s owner and operator Uyeno Transtech Ltd. handled the vessel’s retrofitting and crew training for handling hydrogen fuel. Compared with the use of conventional fossil fuels, this demonstration test reduced CO2 emissions by roughly 1.2 tons. Following the demonstration, the KIKOU MARU will continue operating as a hydrogen-ready vessel, paving the way for the future use of hydrogen fuel in coastal shipping. The Nippon Foundation will continue to support the development of zero emission ships with the aims of achieving carbon neutrality in Japan’s coastal shipping and bolstering the competitiveness of Japan’s shipbuilding and marine transport industries.

I am confident that this world’s first successful demonstration of a carbon-neutral voyage by the KIKOU MARU, which is equipped with a hydrogen single-fueled engine, marks a major step forward in opening up the possibilities of hydrogen as a fuel in coastal shipping. I expect the technologies developed by this project to be put into broad use and for the introduction of hydrogen-fueled vessels in coastal shipping to accelerate further. The Nippon Foundation will continue to contribute to the decarbonization of coastal shipping and the enhanced competitiveness of the marine transport industry through this project going forward.

Uyeno Transtech has been involved in energy transport since our founding in 1869, with a mission of safely moving energy. As the vessel’s owner and operator, this demonstration test of the hydrogen-fueled KIKOU MARU has provided us with valuable experience and knowledge. I would like to express my gratitude to The Nippon Foundation, Yanmar Power Solutions, and all other parties who have supported this project. We will continue to explore new energy possibilities going forward, with an emphasis on safety and reliability.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to The Nippon Foundation and Uyeno Transtech for this valuable opportunity to develop a high-speed hydrogen engine and conduct an ocean-going demonstration test using a container system. I believe that actually succeeding in a zero-carbon voyage in coastal shipping is a major step forward that will open the way toward new uses of fuel and energy at sea. We will continue to build on the technologies that we have developed to expand the possibilities for hydrogen fuel and build engines that support the next generation of marine transport.

This demonstration represents a significant step toward the practical application of hydrogen-fueled zero-emission ships, and can be expected to contribute to the promotion of decarbonization in Japan’s shipping sector. Kobe City hopes to continue to contribute to the development of hydrogen-related technologies by providing a field for conducting tests. I have high hopes that this demonstration will lead to the implementation of new demonstrations in Kobe and create further momentum for the development of hydrogen-related technologies in Japan.

Developing shipping for the future with zero greenhouse gas emissions

This project established three consortia to become a world leader in hydrogen-fueled (zero emission) ships, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in Japan’s coastal shipping sector by 2050. The hydrogen fuel-cell-powered crew transfer vessel HANARIA successfully completed a zero-emission voyage in April 2024, and the three consortia plan to work together to carry out demonstration tests until the end of fiscal 2026 (March 2027). In addition to being a powerful force behind the realization of the globally pressing issue of carbon neutrality, the development of zero-emission ships is expected to become a “future industry” that uses to Japan’s globally high level of technological expertise in hydrogen and engine technologies.