Hybrid hydrogen ferry enters service in Japan

MOTENA-Sea, a company under Japan’s the MOL Group, has placed a new hybrid ferry into operational service in the waters off the city of Kitakyushu.

The 33-metre-long Hanaria was developed as a hybrid vessel that uses hydrogen and biodiesel as fuels. The hydrogen fuel cells consist of two 240kW units supplied by Yanmar.

MOTENA-Sea said this is the first passenger ship in Japan that can select propulsion energy from hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and biodiesel fuel. This allows it to achieve a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction rate of between 53 and 100 per cent compared to conventional fossil-fuelled vessels of the same class.

The ferry’s main deck passenger cabin features a large monitor and projector in the front, allowing this space of the vessel to be used for private events, environmental education, and conferences in addition to housing seated passengers.

Hanaria was built at the Hiroshima facilities of Hongawara Ship Yard. It will commence operational sailings within Fukuoka prefecture later this month.