In Japan, Yanmar Power Solutions has secured classification from ClassNK for its hydrogen-fueled 4-stroke high-speed engine, becoming the first Japanese engine maker to do so. The engine, designed for coastal vessels, runs without combustion and emits nearly zero CO₂.
The system uses pilot ignition with a small amount of hydrotreated vegetable oil and feeds hydrogen into an electronically controlled engine. Both type approval and NOx certification were granted in late 2025 after land-based tests. Two engines will be installed on domestic vessels this year, with demonstration trials planned for the fall.
The engine is part of the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project and is being developed alongside a hybrid hydrogen-electric vessel led by Uyeno Transtech. The design uses containerized hydrogen generators mounted on deck.
Yanmar sees the project as a step toward a hydrogen-powered coastal fleet. “This is a practical move toward carbon neutrality,” the company said, pointing to the system’s readiness for installation and real-world use.
By advancing both propulsion and power systems, the project aims to shift hydrogen shipping from concept to deployment in Japan’s domestic fleet.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
