Kawasaki Heavy News

Japan’s Japan Engine Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have begun hydrogen co-firing operations on a full-scale main engine designed for large commercial vessels, marking a step toward the development of hydrogen-powered shipping.The work forms part of a government-backed project under New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, with participation from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard and ClassNK.The companies said the engine…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Obayashi Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Chiyoda Corporation have established the Japan–New Zealand Hydrogen Corridor. The consortium will study the commercialization of green hydrogen production in New Zealand and export operations to Japan.Hydrogen is expected to play a key role as a clean energy source that does not emit CO2 when burned. Japan has a low energy self-sufficiency rate, and renewable energy accounts for only a limited share of total energy consumption.For this reason…

ClassNK has launched a joint pilot test with ten Japanese companies for its drawing approval system ‘NK-PASS’ and the ‘ClassNK 3DViewer, both compatible with 3DMBA (3D Model-Based Approval), scheduled for official release in spring 2026.3DMBA is an approach in which approval processes are centered on 3D models instead of conventional 2D drawings, and its adoption is expanding globally. By utilizing 3D models, it is expected to enhance visualization and accuracy for information that was difficult to identify in traditional processes…

A newly built very large gas carrier (VLGC) was named Lucent Pathfinder at a ceremony held at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works, marking the seventh dual-fuel LPG carrier using LPG ordered by NYK.The vessel, which will be chartered by United Arab Emirates-based LPG trader BGN INT DMCC, is designed for the global transportation of liquefied petroleum gas and is capable of operating on both heavy fuel oil and LPG.The naming ceremony was attended by around 30 stakeholders.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japan Suiso Energy have signed a contract to build the world’s largest liquefied hydrogen carrier, marking a step toward the commercialization of an international hydrogen supply chain.The vessel will have a cargo capacity of about 40,000 cubic meters and will be built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works in Kagawa Prefecture. Japan Suiso Energy is the project operator for Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund Project…

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for "Safety Berthing/Unberthing Assistance System" developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to the "Berthing and unberthing Assistance System-Human Machine Interface." ClassNK has also confirmed that the 'a-SAFE' notation (BSS)-Berthing Support System, which indicate ships with advanced safety measures, can be applied to ClassNK-registered vessels equipped with…

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd. and Japan Engine Corporation announced they have successfully conducted the world’s first land-based operation of marine hydrogen engines. The demonstration took place at Japan Engine’s headquarters factory, where a newly installed liquefied hydrogen fuel supply system was utilized.The project is a part of Green Innovation Fund Projects / “Next-Generation Ship Development” of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)…

ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for an ammonia-fueled LPG/NH3 carrier, applied for jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and MITSUI E&S.The certification demonstrates its feasibility from regulatory and safety perspectives.Ammonia, which does not emit CO2 during combustion, is expected to see wider use as a zero-carbon fuel for ships. At present, various studies and development efforts are underway to bring ammonia fuelled ships into practical use.In 2021, prior to the establishment of specific international standards for the use of ammonia as fuel for ships…

China’s share of the tanker orderbook rose from 32.4% in 2022, to 62.6% in 2023 and then 71.2% in 2024. Its share of the container ship orderbook has shown a similar growth trajectory. The nation has ranked first in the world for new orders since 2012. Labor costs are about half of what they are in Korea and Japan, and China is the world’s cheapest steel manufacturer.Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO, says that during the past five years Chinese shipyards have built 50% of the ship capacity delivered, and Chinese shipyards now hold 66% of the ship capacity in the orderbook.

On August 5, a naming ceremony took place at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for a newly built very large gas carrier (VLGC). This vessel marks the sixth dual-fuel LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) carrier ordered by NYK, following the delivery of Liberty Pathfinder in October of the previous year. Upon its completion, the ship will be chartered by Astomos Energy Corporation, one of the world's leading LPG companies, for the domestic and global transportation of LPG.The ceremony was attended by about 50 people…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has ordered a new LNG-fueled very large crude carrier (VLCC), which will sail under a long-term time charter contract with Idemitsu Tanker.The vessel will be the first dual-fuel VLCC to be chartered to a Japanese oil company.It will be built at Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering in China, which is jointly operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and China COSCO Shipping Corporation.The delivery of the vessel is scheduled for 2027.

To commemorate the history of Hong Kong – Macau sailings, Aero Editor launched a book “Hong Kong - Macau High-Speed Ferries” (Traditional Chinese) last year. This book introduces the history, development and current status of sea travel between Hong Kong and Macau, especially the stories of the legendary Jetfoil fleetOn April 25, 1975, Jetfoil MADEIRA of Far East Hydrofoil Co. Ltd. (now TurboJET) set sail from Hong Kong to Macau, setting a new benchmark for the upcoming 50 years of sea travel between the cities with stability borrowed from airplane technology…

From June 18-20, 2025, the Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition will return to Tokyo Big Sight, convening global energy leaders, influential policymakers, and industry executives to advance Japan’s energy transition, investment landscape, and strategic role in the global energy system. Co-hosted by JERA and Tokyo Gas, this high-level platform will once again provide critical insight into the country’s evolving energy strategy under the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan.Held amid rising global energy demand…

NYK and Astomos Energy have named their second jointly owned large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier Gas Amethyst at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.Following Gas Garnet vessel, which was delivered in March this year, Gas Amethyst is the second jointly owned LPG dual-fuel vessel to be delivered this year and the fourth LPG dual-fuel vessel for Astomos Energy.Gas Garnet is 229.90 meters long vessel, with a tank capacity of 86,953 m3.The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can use heavy oil and LPG as fuel.

As their first jointly owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier in 21 years, NYK and Astomos Energy have named the new vessel Gas Garnet.The companies held a naming ceremony at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries on March 1, 2024.The 86,953 m3 capacity vessel was christened Gas Garnet by Yoshihito Takahashi, senior executive officer of Astomos Energy. This is the first jointly owned LPG vessel by the companies after they shared ownership of Gas Capricorn from 2003.The vessel has a breadth of 37.2 meters…

Pelagus 3D said Wednesday it had delivered a Return Oil Standpipe at Kobe, Japan, to be installed on Wallenius Wilhelmsen's RoRo vessel TYSLA. The collaboration involved Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Wilhelmsen Ship Management.Traditionally, the procurement, fabrication, and delivery of specific spare parts has been a time-consuming process, often leading to costly downtime for the maritime and offshore industries. However, with the advent of Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D Printing…

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a parcel layout concept for a hydrogen-fueled multi-purpose vessel developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), MOL Drybulk Ltd. (MOL Drybulk), Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd. (Onomichi Dockyard), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Kawasaki), Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG). This is the world’s first AiP certification for a ship equipped with a large low-speed two-stroke hydrogen-fueled engine as the main propulsion engine.Demonstration…

NYK ordered of its sixth liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel very large LPG / liquefied ammonia gas carrier (VLGC) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI). The ship will be built at the KHI Sakaide Works shipyard and is set for delivery in 2026.This vessel is the eighth in NYK's fleet of LPG-fueled LPG carriers and the sixth in a new type of vessel capable of carrying ammonia and thus flexibly responding to various trade patterns.In addition to the LPG dual-fuel engine,…

Danish shipowner NORDEN has recently placed a newbuilding order for six dry cargo vessels from Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (DACKS), a joint venture between COSCO Shipping and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, for delivery in the next two to three years. All six orders are for Supramax vessels with a capacity of 64,000 deadweight tonnes.NORDEN's Head of Asset Management, Henrik Lykkegaard Madsen, said, “Placing this newbuilding order is an integrated part of our asset trading strategy…

The Australian government has released its annual State of Hydrogen report, saying it reinforces that Australia has the foundations to become a global leader in green hydrogen.The report illustrates local industry is advancing hydrogen as a chemical feedstock and for export to generate electricity, but there’s an urgent need to speed up priority pilot projects and hydrogen hubs to compete internationally.In 2022, more than 100 Australian green hydrogen projects such as green ammonia and green methanol manufacturing were announced.

NYK ordered its fifth liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel very large LPG/liquefied ammonia gas carrier (VLGC) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI). The ship will be built at the KHI Sakaide Works shipyard and is set for delivery in 2026.This vessel is the seventh in NYK's fleet of LPG-fueled LPG carriers and the fifth in a new type of vessel that is also capable of carrying ammonia and will be equipped with separate cargo tanks designed to carry LPG and ammonia at the same time to flexibly respond to various trade patterns.In addition to the LPG dual-fuel engine…

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipping company Dorian LPG announced it has taken delivery of the newly built very large gas carrier (VLGC) Captain Markos from Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries.The 84,000 cubic meter capacity VLGC is a dual-fuel vessel capable of running on on LPG and low-sulfur fuel oil.The ship  is owned by a Japanese owner will be operated by Dorian LPG under a 13-year bareboat charter, trading in the Helios LPG Pool which Dorian LPG jointly operates with Phoenix Tankers Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd.

A valve failure that caused a flame to flare up briefly on the world's first liquid hydrogen carrier before its first trip from Australia to Japan highlighted the need for strong fault detection systems, an Australian safety report found.The cause of the incident on the Suiso Frontier on Jan. 25 last year has been fixed, the Australian Transportation Safety Board said in a report released last week. The ship had loaded liquid hydrogen for the trip the day before. "Safety has always been our highest priority.