MOL launches Japan's first hybrid passenger ship

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that the naming and launching ceremony for Japan's first hybrid passenger ship, which utilises hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, was held on September 13.

The ship named Hanaria was ordered by MOL Group company Motena-Sea and is under construction at the Hongawara Ship Yard Co. The ship is scheduled to be delivered in March 2024 and will start servicing in Fukuoka Prefecture in April 2024.

According to MOL, Hanaria will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 53%-100% compared to conventional fossil fuels vessels, by introducing a system that would be the first case in Japan, that allows the selection of any of operating modes: hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and biodiesel fuel.

The ship is a 60-m long passenger ship with a capacity of 120 passengers. It will be used for sightseeing and transportation in Fukuoka Prefecture.