TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) has launched the Japan’s first tugboat in Japan to be equipped with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (hereinafter ICE). This vessel was launched on March 28, 2025 at TSUNEISHI Factory. The vessel is equipped with a high-power output hydrogen dual-fuelled ICE and a high-pressure hydrogen gas storage system with large-capacity and supply. It also used “JGreeX” which are produced by JFE Steel Corporation as green steel for all of its steel plates. By utilising green steel and hydrogen fuel to reduce the environmental impact, we will provide cleaner vessels and contribute to decarbonisation.

Hydrogen fuel is a clean fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide when burned and is expected to contribute to the realisation of carbon neutrality. This vessel was developed and built as part of the The Nippon Foundation’s “Zero Emission Ships Project”, which aims to develop vessels with zero CO₂ emissions.

Large vessels have difficulty controlling their steering when they are operating at low speeds, making it difficult to manoeuvre them smoothly. For this reason, tugboats are used to assist with the steering and propulsion of large vessels when they are leaving or arriving at ports safely and quickly. Therefore, tugboats need to be highly manoeuvrable and have high engine output. This tugboat is installed with twin 12-cylinder hydrogen-blended engines (4,400 horsepower class), and by hydrogen in combination with traditional marine fuels, with the target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 60% compared to conventional tugboats that use traditional marine fuels. Furthermore, by having facilities to store approximately 250kg of high-pressure hydrogen gas, it is possible to maintain the same operational performance as when using conventional fuel while also making use of hydrogen fuel. 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.

In addition, “JGreeX“, which are used for all of the vessel’s hull, is a green steel material that has significantly reduced CO2 emissions by crediting the steel material with the amount of CO2 emissions reduced in the steel production process. With the use of “JGreeX”, it contributes to a 100% reduction in CO₂ emissions caused by steel plates.

TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING will continue to contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society. We are doing this by taking various approaches to reducing greenhouse gases. These include 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. Our company is working to achieve carbon neutrality by developing and constructing new fuel vessels such as methanol-fuelled, LNG-fuelled and hydrogen-fuelled vessels, making use of group synergies. 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, an the utilisation of green steel materials.’

■SPEC of the hydrogen fuel tugboat
LOA: 38.0m
Breadth: 9.6m
Draft: 4.2m
Gross Tonnage: less than 300
Main Engine: Twin 12-cylinder hydrogen dual-fuelled ICE (4,400-horsepower class)
Fuel Used: hydrogen and traditional marine fuels

■The Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships Project
The Nippon Foundation launched the Zero Emission Ships project to support developing ships with zero CO2 emissions.
This project will develop and conduct demonstration testing of some of the world’s first ships powered by hydrogen combustion (zero-emission ships), working toward the realization of carbon neutrality in Japan’s coastal shipping industry by 2050.
Project Websites：https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/what/projects/zeroemission2050 (in Japanese only)

■TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING (HQ: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan) engages in shipbuilding and repairs, and is the anchor company of the TSUNEISHI Group, which conducts business mainly in the shipbuilding industry and maritime transport. With manufacturing bases in Japan (Tsuneishi Factory, the HQ), Philippines, and China, the company builds bulk carriers, container carriers, tankers, etc.
Company info: https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/english/
Company ESG: https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/esg/en/

Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: OKUMURA Sachio
Business: Shipbuilding and repair
Founded: July 1917 (Taisho 6)
Capital: 100 million yen
Employees: 901 (as of 1st January 2025)
Headquarters: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan (Main Factory)

Shipbuilding Business Affiliates:
TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. (Cebu, Philippines)
http://www.thici.com/
TSUNEISHI GROUP (ZHOUSHAN) SHIPBUILDING INC. (Zhejiang, China)
http://www.tsuneishi-zs.com/en/
TSUNEISHI IRON WORKS Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi-iw.jp/
TSUNEISHI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan)
http://www.tsune-e.com/
MIHO SHIPYARD Co., Ltd. (Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan)
http://www.mihozosen.co.jp/
KANDA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Kure-shi, Hiroshima, Japan)
https://kandadock.com/
Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/mes-s/
YURA DOCKYARD Co., Ltd. (Yura, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.yuradock.co.jp/en
NIIGATA SHIPBUILDING & REPAIR, Inc. (Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan)
https://www.tsuneishi.co.jp/nsr/
Akishima Laboratories Inc. (Akishima, Tokyo, Japan)
https://akishima-labo.co.jp/en/

For further information, please contact:
Corporate Communication and Group Branding Dept.
TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
TEL: +81-84-987-4915
Email: pr@tsuneishi.com