Higher Power Output from the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine and Greener Shipbuilding Steel – TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. has launched Japan’s first tugboat powered by a hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE), marking a major milestone in sustainable maritime technology.
This ship was launched on March 28, 2025, from the TSUNEISHI Factory. It features a high-performance hydrogen dual-fuel internal combustion engine (ICE) and a large-capacity high-pressure hydrogen storage and supply system.
The company employs “JGreeX,” a green steel product manufactured by JFE Steel Corporation for all its steel plates. By utilising green steel and hydrogen fuel to reduce the environmental impact, they are to provide cleaner vessels and contribute to decarbonisation. This vessel was developed and built as part of the Nippon Foundation’s “Zero Emission Ships Project”, which aims to develop vessels with zero CO₂ emissions.
Tugboats need to be highly manoeuvrable and have high engine output. Hence, they are used in assisting with the steering and propulsion of large vessels when they are leaving or arriving at ports safely and quickly. Powered by twin 12-cylinder hydrogen-blended engines (4,400 HP class), this tugboat runs on a mix of hydrogen and traditional marine fuels. The hybrid propulsion system is designed to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 60% compared to conventional tugboats using standard marine fuel alone.
Additionally, the tugboat is equipped with storage facilities capable of holding around 250 kg of high-pressure hydrogen gas, allowing it to maintain operational performance comparable to conventional fuel-powered vessels while utilising hydrogen. In the unlikely event of failure of the hydrogen fuel system, the vessel can operate with only traditional marine fuels, thus ensuring the same level of safety as conventional vessels.
“JGreeX“, is a green steel material that achieves a substantial reduction in CO₂ emissions by accounting for the decreased carbon footprint in its production process. With the use of “JGreeX”, it contributes to a 100% reduction in CO₂ emissions caused by steel plates.
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING plans to continue to contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society. They are planning to take various approaches to reducing greenhouse gases, including the development and construction of next-generation fuel vessels and the procurement of green steel materials.
Mr. NISHIJIMA Takanori, from General Manager of the Design Division and Managing Executive Officer of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. commented, “We have successfully launched our first hydrogen-fuelled tugboat. We will utilise the know-how and design processes we have developed in the construction of hydrogen-fuelled tugboats, which require high power, in the construction of further new fuel vessels.”
He also said that the company is working to achieve carbon neutrality by developing and constructing new fuel vessels like the methanol-fuelled, LNG-fuelled, and hydrogen-fuelled vessels, leveraging the collective strengths of the group.
“TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING will continue to contribute to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry through a multifaceted approach to the development and construction of new fuel vessels and the utilisation of green steel materials,” Takanori added.