NYK taps hydrogen fuel cell technology for new zero-emission dinner cruise vessel

To attain zero emissions when it begins operating in 2027, a new dinner cruise vessel under construction in Japan for an NYK Group company will be powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology.

A tripartite Japanese collaboration of shipowner NYK Group, technology provider Yanmar Power Solutions, and energy company ENEOS is undertaking the project. Yanmar Power Solutions will be the technology provider, designing the hydrogen fuel cell system, and integrating hydrogen storage modules from Toyota Motor Corp as part of the fuel supply system. Toyota has more than a decade of experience in hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology for passenger vehicles. It began the mass production of its Mirai model in 2014.

Under construction at Maehata Shipbuilding, the new 480-gt dinner cruise vessel will have an overall length of 48.0 m, beam of 9.5 m, and draught of 2.1 m. This newbuild will replace Lady Crystal, operated by Cruise Club Tokyo, an NYK Group company in the Tennoz Isle area of Tokyo.

Safety guidelines for hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) ships established by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) were used by NYK to verify the ship’s design.

ENEOS, an energy infrastructure provider, will be responsible for hydrogen production at refuelling stations, primarily located in Tokyo, and for supplying hydrogen to the storage modules.

This NYK newbuild project marks Yanmar Power Solutions’ fifth implementation of HFC technology. In 2023, the company delivered technology for Japan’s first hydrogen fuel-powered passenger vessel, Hanaria, operated by MOTENA-Sea, a company backed by Mitsui OSK Lines and other investors.

Operated by the shipowner’s technology trading company, MOL Techno-Trade, the sightseeing vessel incorporates two 240-kW GF240FC model hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, biodiesel-powered generators, a power management system, propulsion equipment, remote monitoring, and other elements. There are two operating modes: a zero-emission mode using only hydrogen fuel cell systems and lithium-ion batteries, and a hybrid mode that combines hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and a biodiesel generator running in parallel.

Two years ago, ClassNK granted an approval in principle to Yanmar for a 300-kW HFC unit that incorporates features that allowed it to be scaled for larger ship applications.

This is the latest in a string of maritime propulsion efforts over the last few years that incorporate hydrogen either in fuel cells or internal combustion engines. These projects advance Japan’s “Hydrogen Society”, the country’s ambition to transition to carbon neutrality by 2050, while supporting maritime decarbonisation.

Other cruise and ferry companies are testing hydrogen fuel cells, which use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, emitting only water vapour and heat in the chemical process. The technology allows a vessel to operate quietly and with zero emissions.