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Hitachi Zosen finds manipulated emissions data for hundreds of marine engines
Japanese government agencies are investigating marine engine makers across the country after manufacturer Hitachi Zosen and two of its subsidiaries became the latest to admit to falsifying emissions testbed data
Hitachi Zosen said it had found routine and deliberate manipulation of marine engine emisssions data stretching back to 1999, for more than 1,300 engines, after being asked by the Japanese government to audit its engine emissions data practices.
The company and its subsidiaries IMEX and Hitachi Zosen Marine Engines Corp make engines under licence for German engine makers MAN Energy Solutions and WinGD, two of the shipping industry’s largest engine makers.
Hitachi Zosen said interviews with relevant personnel confirmed the "data was altered at the time of shop trial test to keep the fuel consumption rate within the permissible range required in the customerʼs specification and to reduce data variability".
As NOx emission verification tests were conducted alongside other emissions data tests, the company said it believes there is a possibility the manipulation may also affect its calculations for NOx emissions.
Hitachi Zosen’s disclosure comes in the wake of an April 2024 public admission by Japanese manufacturer IHI Corp of tampering with emissions data on more than 4,200 marine engines over the span of 20 years.
The Maritime Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) issued a reminder to marine engine manufacturers in April, following the revelations from IHI Corp, about complying with environmental and safety regulations.
IHI launched an internal probe and reported the emissions data falsifications after an employee in a subsidiary company reported misconduct in February 2024.
Japanese authorities have said they will now investigate all the country’s other marine engine manufacturers to check for similar falsifications and MLIT said it will not issue any related certificates to Hitachi or other engine makers until they are fully compliant with regulations.
MLIT has instructed Hitachi Zosen and the two subsidiaries to conduct a detailed investigation into the facts, “consider measures to prevent recurrence” and to report back to the ministry.
In a public statement, Hitachi Zosen apologised "to all stakeholders for the significant loss of trust and for causing considerable inconvenience and concern” adding that it will establish a special investigation committee composed of external experts who “will thoroughly ascertain the facts and investigate the cause while also committing all efforts to prevent recurrence including a reassessment of our business operation structure and to restore trust."
Hitachi Zosen added that all the Engine International Air Pollution Prevention certificates were issued by Japanese society ClassNK.
Some 19 other marine engine makers in Japan will now be investigated to determine if any testbed emissions data has been manipulated. These companies are also expected to conduct internal reports and file them by the end of September.
In Japan, Hitachi Zosen licensor MAN Energy Solutions counts IHI Power, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Hanshin Diesel Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (Mitsui E&S), JFE Engineering and Makita as licensees.
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