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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 10, 2025 (Tue)

Uyeno Transtech Accelerates Decarbonization with Hydrogen-fueled Ship,’KIKOU MARU’

“KIKOU MARU“

　Uyeno Transtech, the Uyeno Group’s shipping company, is accelerating its efforts to reduce and elim ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EUyeno%3C%2Fb%3E+Transtech%2C+the+%3Cb%3EUyeno%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%E2%80%99s+shipping+company%2C+is+accelerating+its+efforts+to+reduce+and+eliminate+carbon+dioxide+emissions.+The+company+is+currently+building+a+new+tanker%2C+%E2%80%9CKIKOU+MARU%E2%80%9C+%285%2C000+kiloliters%29%2C+under+The+Nippon+Foundation%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%9CTechnology+Development+Grant+Program+for+Demonstration+Experiments+of+Zero-Emission+Ships.%E2%80%9C+In+2026%2C+the+ship+is+scheduled+to+become+the+world%E2%80%99s+first+to+conduct+a+demonstration+voyage+using+an+electric+propulsion+hybrid+model+system%2C+which+generates+electricity+using+a+hydrogen-fueled+internal+combustion+engine+and+combines+it+with+storage+batteries+to+drive+an+electric+motor.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+%E2%80%99KIKOU+MARU%E2%80%99+is+positioned+as+the+culmination+of+the+knowledge+we+have+cultivated+about+electric+propulsion+vessels+and+the+next+step+up.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Minetaka+Fujita%2C+%3Cb%3EUyeno%3C%2Fb%3E+Transtech%E2%80%99s+Executive+Officer%2C+general+manager+of+the+Construction+Division+and+general+manager+of+the+Environment+and+Safety+Division%2C+had+this+to+say.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+company+has+been+involved+in+electric+propulsion+ships+since+the+days+of+the+national+policy+%E2%80%9CSuper+Eco+Ship+%28SES%29%E2%80%9C+in+the+early+2000s%2C+and+currently+operates+seven+ships.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Utilizing+the+operational+know-how+it+has+cultivated%2C+including+the+maintenance+and+upkeep+of+electric+propulsion+ships%2C+the+company+will+now+team+up+with+multiple+companies+under+a+program+run+by+The+Nippon+Foundation+to+further+reduce+the+environmental+impact.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+shipyard+that+is+building+the+%E2%80%9CKIKOU+MARU%E2%80%9C+is+Fukuoka+Shipbuilding+Nagasaki+Factory+%28Nagasaki+City%29.+The+ship+launched+in+February+and+is+scheduled+to+be+completed+in+the+fall.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+2026%2C+a+demonstration+will+be+conducted+to+make+full+use+of+the+system+and+implement+zero-emission+navigation.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80With+this+system%2C+when+there+is+high+demand+for+electricity+on+board%2C+power+can+also+be+supplied+from+batteries.+When+demand+for+electricity+is+low%2C+it+is+stored+in+the+battery.+This+optimizes+fuel+combustion+efficiency+in+the+internal+combustion+engine.+It+also+has+high+compatibility+with+next-generation+fuels%2C+including+hydrogen.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+addition%2C+unlike+conventional+systems%2C+the+new+system+also+incorporates+power+control+devices+such+as+inverters+and+transformers+to+improve+the+efficiency+of+power+conversion+between+the+generator+and+the+motor.+It+also+has+excellent+fuel+efficiency.+Even+when+using+heavy+oil+A%2C+it+places+less+of+a+burden+on+the+environment+than+conventional+models.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Implementation+is+also+envisaged%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+the+future%2C+the+company+is+considering+not+only+electric+propulsion+but+also+operation+as+a+hydrogen-fueled+ship.+When+the+demonstration+will+be+conducted+in+2026%2C+a+dual+fuel+hydrogen+technology+and+a+hydrogen-fueled+main+power+generating+engine+are+planned+to+be+installed+on+the+deck+as+a+40-feet+container+unit.+In+addition%2C+if+a+hydrogen+fuel+engine+is+to+be+installed+in+the+engine+room+in+the+future%2C+it+is+designed+to+accommodate+the+installation+of+a+hydrogen+fuel+tank+instead+of+the+container+unit.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80This+design+has+already+obtained+the+AIP+%28Approval+in+Principle%29+from+ClassNK+%28NK%29+as+of+June+2024.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Addressing+seafarer+issues%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+%E2%80%9CKIKOU+MARU%E2%80%9C+will+be+owned+and+operated+by+%3Cb%3EUyeno%3C%2Fb%3E+Transtech%2C+which+will+also+handle+ship+management+including+crew+manning.+The+number+of+crew+is+expected+to+be+11+to+13.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+in+the+future%2C+it+is+also+expected+that+the+ship+will+be+used+as+a+training+ship+for+new+fuels.+In+that+case%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+will+make+sure+up+to+14+people+can+be+on+board%2C+including+one+trainee+crew+member%2C%E2%80%9C+said+Fujita.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+securing+seafarers+is+a+challenge+for+the+entire+coastal+shipping+industry.+To+ensure+a+stable+workforce%2C+the+%E2%80%9CKIKOU+MARU%E2%80%9C+was+%E2%80%9Cdesigned+with+the+intention+of+making+it+a+%E2%80%99ship+that+sailors+would+want+to+board%2C%E2%80%99%E2%80%9C+according+to+Ryotaro+Hidaka%2C+Executive+Officer+and+head+of+strategy+promotion+at+%3Cb%3EUyeno%3C%2Fb%3E+Transtech.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+the+living+areas+on+board%2C+professional+designers+were+hired+to+design+the+room+layout+and+colors.+The+opinions+of+young+people+with+experience+working+at+sea+were+also+taken+into+account%2C+resulting+in+a+sophisticated+design+and+color+scheme.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Specifically%2C+while+adhering+to+safety+regulations%2C+the+windows+in+the+living+areas+are+square+like+those+in+a+house+instead+of+the+traditional+round+ones%2C+and+power+outlets+are+provided+next+to+the+beds%2C+with+specifications+that+take+into+account+the+lifestyles+and+preferences+of+young+people.+The+walls+are+all+painted+in+muted+tones%2C+creating+a+chic+impression.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80It+also+comes+equipped+with+the+satellite+communications+service+%E2%80%9CStarlink%2C%E2%80%9C+providing+an+internet+environment+comparable+to+that+on+land.+There+will+also+be+rooms+for+female+crew+members+and+separate+smoking+rooms.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+addition%2C+from+the+perspective+of+improving+efficiency+and+reducing+labor%2C+a+joystick+that+allows+for+simultaneous+control+of+the+propeller%2C+rudder%2C+and+thrusters%2C+as+well+as+automatic+Cargo+Handling+have+also+been+introduced.+With+the+aim+of+supporting+autonomous+navigation+systems%2C+recognition+cameras+will+be+installed+and+high-speed+LAN+lines+will+also+be+laid.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Hidaka+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThis+ship+can+address+both+the+environmental+issue+of+carbon+neutrality%2C+which+is+the+current+trend%2C+and+the+crew+issue%2C+which+is+a+constant+challenge+in+the+coastal+shipping+industry.%E2%80%9C+He+has+high+hopes+for+the+%E2%80%9CKIKOU+MARU%E2%80%9C+to+perform+well+as+the+flagship.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E