Japan completes first hydrogen, green-steel tugboat

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture launched this dual-fuel, 38-m tug on 28 March 2025 following its construction using JGreeX green steel from JFE Steel Corp, reducing the environmental impact from its production and operations.

It has twin 12-cylinder hydrogen dual-fuel engines each delivering 3,280 kW of power, a beam of 10 m and a draught of 4 m, and is under 300 gt. 

Hydrogen is used in combination with traditional marine fuels, with the target of reducing CO2 emissions by about 60% compared with tugboats that use traditional marine fuels. 

With the capacity to store about 250 kg of high-pressure hydrogen gas, this tug can maintain the same operational performance as when using conventional fuel. However, if there is an issue with the hydrogen fuel system, the vessel can switch to marine gasoil to ensure safety.

Using JGreeX in its construction contributed to a 100% reduction in CO2 emissions from the production of steel plates for the tugboat’s hull.

This vessel was developed and built as part of Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project, which aims to develop vessels emitting no CO2 emissions. Nippon Foundation intends this project to develop and demonstrate hydrogen-powered vessels while working towards realising the Japanese Government’s goal for carbon neutrality in the country’s coastal shipping industry by 2050.

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding plans to use its experience of building this hydrogen-fuelled tug to construct more vessels ready to use hydrogen and other green fuels using green steel materials.

“We have successfully launched our first hydrogen-fuelled tugboat,” confirms Tsuneishi Shipbuilding managing executive officer and general manager of design, Takanori Nishijima.

“We will utilise the knowhow 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 says. 

“Our company is working to achieve carbon neutrality by developing and constructing new fuel vessels such as methanol, LNG and hydrogen-fuelled vessels, making use of group synergies. We 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.”