MOL Announces Award-Winning Hybrid Passenger Ship 'Hanaria' Utilizing Hydrogen and Biodiesel Fuels
Key Ideas
  • The hybrid passenger ship 'Hanaria', using hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, won the 'Ship of the Year 2024' award from JASNAOE.
  • MOL Group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. developed the vessel equipped with a hybrid propulsion system.
  • MOL aims for net zero GHG emissions by 2050, highlighting initiatives like wind power and clean alternative fuels.
  • The Hanaria, operating on hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, is commended for its eco-friendly design and power source flexibility.
On May 27, 2025, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. revealed that their hybrid passenger ship 'Hanaria' had been honored with the 'Ship of the Year 2024' award by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers (JASNAOE). The ship, developed by MOL Group's MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., stands out for its utilization of a hybrid propulsion system that incorporates hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and a biodiesel generator. This configuration enables the vessel to navigate with zero emissions when using only hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. The award recognizes the Hanaria's eco-friendly biodiesel generator and its ability to combine three power sources for navigation efficiently. This achievement marks the eighth instance of MOL Group-operated ships receiving the Ship of the Year Award and the first in two years. MOL's overarching goal is to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as outlined in the 'MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2,' by implementing strategies like wind power and the adoption of clean alternative fuels. The Hanaria commenced operations in Kitakyushu in April 2024, and it was constructed at the Hongawara Ship Yard Co., Ltd., for MOL Group company MOTENA-Sea, Ltd., with investments from MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. is a significant Japanese shipping company headquartered in Tokyo that operates a varied fleet, including tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, with a strong emphasis on sustainable practices and the goal of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
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