Kawasaki Heavy Industries has signed an agreement with Japan Suiso Energy to construct what it says will be the world’s largest liquefied hydrogen carrier, marking a significant step in the development of a commercial hydrogen shipping market.

The vessel will have a capacity of 40,000 cubic metres and will be built at Kawasaki’s Sakaide Works facility in Kagawa Prefecture, western Japan.

Supporting Japan’s Green Innovation Programme

Japan Suiso Energy is acting as the operator for a project backed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization under its Green Innovation Fund. The programme is designed to demonstrate ship-to-shore loading and unloading of liquefied hydrogen, alongside full ocean-going trials.

These trials are scheduled to be completed by the fiscal year ending March 2031, forming part of Japan’s broader effort to establish a reliable hydrogen supply chain.

Read more: Tackling Climate Change Starts With the Supply Chain

Building on Early Hydrogen Shipping Milestones

Kawasaki previously delivered the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier, the 1,250 cubic metre Suiso Frontier, in 2021. The vessel was used in a pilot project between Japan and Australia the following year, demonstrating the feasibility of safely exporting liquefied hydrogen by sea.

The new carrier represents a substantial scale-up from that initial demonstration, reflecting growing confidence in hydrogen as a tradable energy commodity.

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Preparing for 2030s Hydrogen Demand

According to Kawasaki, the larger vessel has been designed in anticipation of rising global hydrogen demand in the 2030s. The company sees large-scale maritime transport as essential to enabling international hydrogen trade and supporting the wider energy transition.

Kawasaki has said it intends to apply its experience as a leading liquefied natural gas tanker builder to hydrogen transport, positioning itself at the centre of an emerging market that could play a key role in decarbonising energy-intensive industries worldwide.

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