Japan has officially taken delivery of its first tugboat powered by a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine, named TEN-OH. The 38-meter vessel was constructed by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding under the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project and was handed over on October 15, reports Offshore Energy.
TEN-OH is equipped with a BEH2YDRO high-output hydrogen dual-fuel engine and a high-pressure hydrogen storage system with a large-capacity supply, developed by JPNH2YDRO — a joint venture between Tsuneishi Group and CMB.TECH. The tugboat features twin 12-cylinder hydrogen-blended engines generating 4,400 horsepower and stores around 250 kilograms of hydrogen in high-pressure tanks. This setup is expected to deliver performance comparable to conventional fuel-powered vessels while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
The vessel is projected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 60% compared to standard tugboats.
Okumura Sachio, Representative Director, President, and Executive Officer of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, said the delivery marked an important milestone. “It is a great honor to deliver Japan’s first hydrogen dual-fueled tugboat,” he said. “Across our domestic and international operations, we are developing vessels powered by next-generation fuels such as methanol and LNG. By applying the expertise gained through this project and leveraging the collective strength of our Group, we aim to continue driving innovation and contribute to a more sustainable future for the maritime industry.”
