Japan's first hydrogen dual-fuel tugboat sees the light of day

Japan’s first tugboat equipped with a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine, TEN-OH, has been officially delivered.

Constructed by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding as part of the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project, TEN-OH was delivered on October 15.

The newbuild is equipped with a BEH2YDRO high-output hydrogen dual-fueled engine and high-pressure hydrogen gas storage system with a large-capacity and supply system, provided by JPNH2YDRO — a joint venture between Tsuneishi Group and CMB.TECH.

The 38-meter-long tugboat is powered by twin 12-cylinder hydrogen-blended engines (4,400 horsepower class) and stores around 250kg of hydrogen in high-pressure tanks, which is expected to ensure operational performance equivalent to conventional fuel use, whilst enabling significant CO2 reductions.

Compared to conventional tugboats, TEN-OH is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 60%.

Okumura Sachio, Representative Director, President & Executive Officer of Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, commented on this milestone: “It is a great honour to deliver Japan’s first hydrogen dual-fuelled tugboat.

“Across our domestic