In Japan, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japan Suiso Energy have signed a contract to build a 40,000 cubic meter liquefied hydrogen carrier, the largest of its kind. The vessel will form the backbone of a commercial hydrogen supply chain demonstration funded by the government’s Green Innovation Fund and led by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.
To be built at Kawasaki’s Sakaide Works, the vessel will load hydrogen at a new terminal in Kawasaki City and undergo ocean-going trials by 2030. It follows the smaller Suiso Frontier, launched in 2021, and will expand Japan’s capabilities in cryogenic hydrogen shipping.
The new carrier will run on a hybrid propulsion system using both oil and hydrogen. A dual-fuel generator engine will draw from conventional fuel and from hydrogen gas derived from boil-off within the cargo tanks. A compressor and heat exchanger system will channel that gas to the engine, enabling partial hydrogen-fueled operations and reducing emissions during transit.
Kawasaki says the ship is designed for efficiency, with insulation to limit boil-off losses, vacuum-jacketed piping for safe transfers, and a hull optimized for hydrogen’s low density. Trials will assess safety, durability, and cost ahead of planned global deployment.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
