Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japan Engine Corporation (J-Eng) have conducted a risk assessment of a multi-purpose vessel powered by zero-emission hydrogen fuel.
The project has been granted Approval in Principle (AiP) of the parcel layout concept from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). This is the believed to be the first AiP certification for a ship equipped with a low speed two-stroke hydrogen-fuelled main propulsion engine.
Demonstration operations of the vessel will be conducted for two years from around 2027 as part of the project ‘Development of marine hydrogen engines and MHFS’ which has been adopted by the Green Innovation Funding Programme of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO). Prior to the demonstration operation, J-Eng’s large low-speed two-stroke hydrogen-fuelled engine and Kawasaki’s marine hydrogen fuel tank and fuel supply system (MHFS) will be installed in the vessel by FY2026. MOL and MOL Drybulk will be in charge of ownership and operation management of the vessel and Onomichi Dockyard will be in charge of the development and building of the vessel, with all project participants cooperating toward the demonstration operation.
The five companies have held a Pre-Hazid meeting together with ClassNK and the National Maritime Research Institute and National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology. The parties completed identification of the risks and issues to be considered in further design for the parcel layout concept of the liquefied hydrogen fuel tank and fuel supply system, and confirmed that the design of the vessel can proceed further based on the current layout.
MOL, MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard, Kawasaki and J-Eng say this project will contribute to reduction of GHG emissions in the maritime industry and will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the demonstration operation of the vessel.
