News and Insights Japan

Japan


	May 4, 2026 MOL achieves 98% methane slip reduction in LNG-fuelled vessel trials Japanese shipping company exceeds target in demonstration trials aboard coal carrier operating between Japan and Australia.
	May 1, 2026 Japanese shipbuilder delivers dual-fuel LNG bulk carrier Ruri Planet The 209,000-tonne Capesize vessel can run on heavy fuel oil or LNG.
	May 1, 2026 L&T Energy GreenTech signs 300,000-tonne green ammonia supply deal with Itochu Indian firm to supply Japanese trading house from planned Kandla facility for marine fuel applications.
	May 1, 2026 Asia-Pacific ports advance cross-sector hydrogen and e-fuel infrastructure Accelleron report highlights a coordinated approach combining energy, industry and shipping demand to stimulate market development.
	April 30, 2026 MOL installs dual Wind Challenger hard sails on LNG carrier under construction Japanese shipping company fits telescoping hard sails at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje yard for 2026 delivery.
	April 29, 2026 Osaka Gas launches ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Japan Japanese energy company now offers all three primary LNG fuel supply methods for vessels.
	April 24, 2026 ClassNK grants world-first approval for ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier with Type B fuel tanks Japanese classification society issues AiP for Panamax design with tanks installed on exposed deck.
	April 24, 2026 Japanese shipping firms secure government funding for Singapore ammonia bunkering trial Sumitomo, K Line and NYK to demonstrate ship-to-ship ammonia fuel supply operations.
	April 23, 2026 MHI Marine Machinery and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding receive AiP for methane oxidation catalyst system ClassNK approves basic design of LNG engine exhaust treatment system achieving over 90% methane oxidation.
	April 23, 2026 Japanese tugboat to feature biofuel blender and ultrasonic anti-fouling system Seagate Corporation’s Bisan Maru is the first Japanese tugboat to feature both environmental technologies.
	April 22, 2026 Nippon Yuka Kogyo launches lubrication oil analysis service for ammonia-fuelled engines Japanese company offers condition monitoring service to support adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel.
	April 21, 2026 Nippon Biofuel secures METI funding for Africa-based marine biofuel supply chain Japanese company to establish Jatropha cultivation and biofuel production facilities in Mozambique and Ghana.
	April 21, 2026 MOL completes world’s first retrofit installation of Wind Challenger sail system on operating coal carrier Hard-sail propulsion system installed on Kurotakisan Maru III during service for J-Power coal transport operations.
	April 13, 2026 MOL Techno-Trade completes Japan’s first truck-to-ship LNG bunkering for foreign cruise vessel Ritz-Carlton cruise ship Luminara refuelled at Nagasaki Port using truck-to-ship method on 3 April.
	April 6, 2026 K Line secures long-term bio-LNG supply for car carrier fleet Japanese shipping company expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60,800 tonnes annually.
	April 6, 2026 Methanol- and ammonia-ready container ship delivered to ONE Approval in Principle obtained from Lloyd’s Register for future methanol and ammonia fuel conversion.
	April 2, 2026 IINO Lines secures sustainable shipping finance for methanol dual-fuel VLCC Japanese shipowner signs impact financing agreement with Mizuho Bank for alternative-fuel tanker.
	April 1, 2026 Tsuneishi Shipbuilding delivers world’s first LNG dual-fuel Kamsarmax bulk carrier Japanese shipbuilder manufactures LNG fuel tank in-house, achieving over 50% EEDI reduction.
	March 30, 2026 Japan consortium achieves hydrogen co-firing in main engine for large commercial vessel Engine reaches over 95% hydrogen co-firing ratio, with installation planned for 2027.
	March 17, 2026 Three Japanese firms partner on ammonia bunker vessel for Singapore Sumitomo, K Line and NYK Line to conduct design study for new-build vessel.
	March 17, 2026 Stolt-Nielsen sells 50% stake in Avenir LNG to NYK Line The two shipping groups will jointly own the LNG bunkering business.
	March 12, 2026 MOL acquires 25% stake in V.Ships France, adds LNG carriers to managed fleet Japanese shipping company takes equity position in ship manager’s French subsidiary.
	March 10, 2026 Japan Engine Corporation extends ammonia engine licence to Akasaka Diesels J-ENG grants domestic partner rights to manufacture alternative-fuel engines for decarbonisation efforts.
	March 4, 2026 ClassNK updates EU shipping emissions guidance for LNG-fuelled vessels Japanese classification society releases revised FAQs addressing methane slip measurement procedures.
	February 26, 2026 Mitsubishi Shipbuilding delivers first ammonia fuel supply systems for marine engines Systems shipped to Japan Engine Corporation for integration with an ammonia-fuelled marine engine.
	February 18, 2026 Yanmar to build hydrogen engine test facility in Japan by 2029 Japanese engine manufacturer acquires land for new factory to develop next-generation marine fuel technologies.
	February 12, 2026 NYK operates methanol-fuelled bulk carrier for BHP, claims 65% emissions cut Green Future becomes first oceangoing bulk carrier to use low-carbon methanol fuel.
	February 9, 2026 Japan completes first ship-to-ship methanol bunkering at anchorage in Yokohama Five-way partnership delivers methanol fuel transfer between vessels at Keihin Port using domestically produced biomethanol.
	February 6, 2026 NYK signs long-term charter deals with Cheniere for new LNG carriers Japanese shipping company partners with Ocean Yield for vessels to be delivered from 2028.
	January 29, 2026 Oshima Shipbuilding receives approval for multi-fuel-ready Ultramax bulk carrier design Lloyd’s Register grants approval in principle for 64,000-dwt vessel concept accommodating ammonia, methanol and LNG.
	January 19, 2026 Maritime Technologies Forum to host webinar on methanol dual-fuel ship inspection guidelines MTF webinar on 5 February will present recommendations from recently published safety inspection report.
	January 16, 2026 Wärtsilä signs 10-year lifecycle agreement with MOL for 12 LNG carriers Deal covers operational support and maintenance for vessels delivered in 2024 and 2025.
	January 16, 2026 Oceanscore opens Tokyo office to support Japanese shipping with EU emissions compliance Digital compliance provider expands Asia-Pacific presence with new Japan operation led by Jyouichi Syou.
	January 16, 2026 Imabari Shipbuilding delivers 7,000-unit LNG-fuelled car carrier Japanese shipbuilder hands over vessel claiming 25-30% CO₂ reduction versus conventional heavy oil-fuelled ships.
	January 15, 2026 NYK takes delivery of dual-fuel LPG carrier with ammonia capability Lucent Pathfinder is the seventh LPG-fuelled VLGC ordered by the Japanese shipping company.
	January 13, 2026 MOL and ITOCHU sign MoU for cross-industry environmental attribute certificate partnership Japanese shipping and trading firms to promote EACs for reducing Scope 3 emissions in transport.
	December 30, 2025 Ocean Network Express names sixth methanol and ammonia-ready container ship ONE Satisfaction is a 13,800-teu vessel scheduled for delivery in February 2026.
	December 18, 2025 ClassNK grants approval for multi-fuel ready bulk carrier design by Oshima Shipbuilding Vessel design accommodates future conversion to ammonia, methanol, or LNG with carbon capture capability.
	December 17, 2025 J-ENG starts development of methanol-fuelled marine engine Japanese engine maker targets 2027 completion for UEC50LSJM model following ammonia and hydrogen engine projects.
	December 9, 2025 Imabari delivers 13,900-teu container ship with future-fuel readiness Japanese shipbuilder hands over One Synergy with methanol and ammonia conversion designs approved.
	December 8, 2025 Japanese shipbuilder delivers LNG-fuelled Capesize bulk carrier Imabari Shipbuilding completes 209,000-dwt vessel with dual-fuel capability and enhanced environmental performance.
	December 3, 2025 ClassNK approves spray insulation system for LNG and ammonia fuel tanks Classification society grants AiP to Nihon Shipyard and Hankuk Carbon for Type B tank technology.
	December 2, 2025 Seven Japanese maritime firms sign MoU on standard design framework for LCO₂ carriers Major shipping lines and shipbuilders to collaborate on decarbonisation vessel designs through the MILES platform.
	November 26, 2025 NYK Line and BHP renew partnership for dry bulk decarbonisation Japanese shipping firm and Australian resources company extend collaboration on alternative fuels and vessel safety.
	November 13, 2025 ClassNK updates methanol fuel guidelines as alcohol-fuelled ship orders rise Japanese classification society releases revised safety requirements for methyl and ethyl alcohol-fuelled vessels.
	November 3, 2025 Imabari Shipbuilding delivers LNG-fuelled car carrier to NYK Line Padma Leader expected to achieve up to 30% CO2 reduction through dual-fuel propulsion and exhaust gas recirculation.
	October 31, 2025 ClassNK publishes world-first guidelines for membrane-based onboard CO2 capture systems Classification society expands guidelines to cover membrane separation method for capturing ship exhaust emissions.
	October 30, 2025 Yang Ming finalizes contracts for six methanol dual-fuel-ready boxships Taiwanese carrier signs deals with Japanese shipbuilders for vessels scheduled for delivery from 2028.
	October 27, 2025 MOL executive calls for development of ammonia bunkering infrastructure Carbon solution specialist stresses the need to improve ammonia supply chains and safety protocols.
	October 24, 2025 Hydrogen-fuelled tanker achieves top rating in zero-emission programme Kikou Maru becomes first coastal vessel to secure financing under DBJ-ClassNK decarbonisation initiative.
	October 16, 2025 Tsuneishi delivers Japan's first hydrogen dual-fuelled tug TEN-OH tugboat features hydrogen-powered engines and can operate on conventional marine fuel as backup.
	October 15, 2025 Tug becomes world's first ammonia-fuelled vessel to receive environmental credit certification Third-party validation enables Book & Claim allocation to help reduce customers' Scope 3 emissions.
	October 7, 2025 Japanese consortium achieves 98% methane slip reduction in LNG vessel trials Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Kanadevia, and Yanmar exceed target in onboard demonstration.
	October 6, 2025 ClassNK partners with GTT Training to offer alternative fuels courses Japanese classification society partners with French technology group for LNG training programs.
	October 1, 2025 ClassNK and Panama approve methanol tank design that almost doubles capacity SRC's Methanol Superstorage technology uses a sandwich plate system to increase shipboard fuel storage by 85%.
	September 30, 2025 Safety guidelines released for methanol dual-fuel ship inspections New report provides 41 safety recommendations to address methanol's flammability, toxicity, and corrosivity challenges.
	September 23, 2025 MOL capesize bulker begins first biofuel voyage for Anglo American Japanese shipping firm uses B30 biodiesel blend on Lambert Maru under carbon inset programme.
	September 22, 2025 NYK Line completes six-month biofuel trial with 'no technical issues' Project LOTUS demonstrates B24 biofuel maintains ISO standards during extended storage and operation.
	September 17, 2025 Nissen Kaiun invests in wind-assist technology firm Econowind Investment highlights growing industry interest in fuel-neutral wind propulsion technologies.
	September 15, 2025 Hong Lam Marine takes delivery of Artizen tanker in Japan Singapore-based firm receives new vessel from Kegoya Shipyard.
	September 9, 2025 ClassNK grants approval in principle for ammonia-fueled LPG carrier design Japanese classification society approves Kawasaki Heavy Industries and MITSUI E&S ammonia-fueled vessel concept.
	September 9, 2025 MOL secures approval for LNG carriers with four wind-assisted propulsion systems Japanese shipping company claims new design could cut fuel consumption by up to 30%.
	September 2, 2025 J-ENG completes world's first commercial ammonia-fuelled engine Dual-fuel engine achieves 90% greenhouse gas reduction in testing ahead of 2026 vessel deployment.
	August 28, 2025 Tsuneishi launches methanol-fuelled boxship as part of carbon neutrality push 5,900 TEU vessel is the Japanese shipbuilder's largest container carrier to date.
	March 10, 2025 ONE implements emergency fuel surcharge amid Middle East disruption Container line cites rising fuel costs from regional security situation and operational constraints.
	February 12, 2025 NYK trials biofuel in milestone coal carrier test Vessel is used to test biofuel for domestic utility company.