Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (“the Program”), which is jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the hydrogen-fueled demonstration large oil tanker “KIKOU MARU” (IMO 1015595) (“the Ship”), owned by Uyeno Transtech Ltd. (Uyeno Transtech). The evaluation result was the highest rating of “S,” and DBJ provided financing to Uyeno Transtech. Notably, this case marks the first instance of utilizing the Program for a coastal vessel.
In the shipping industry, where environmental regulations are becoming stricter as the industry moves towards decarbonization, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scoring model jointly developed with DBJ from the perspective of “decarbonization, environmentally friendly performance, and innovativeness,” and DBJ provides investment and financing. The program supports initiatives that contribute to the transition to decarbonization from both IR and financial perspectives.
Uyeno Transtech has been involved in the marine transportation of petroleum and petrochemical products since its establishment and has recently focused on achieving zero emissions in the maritime industry through the development of next-generation fuel supply vessels. The Ship is a “hydrogen fuel ready” electric propulsion oil tanker built at the Nagasaki Yard of Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and delivered in October 2025. In 2026, the Ship is scheduled to conduct one of the world’s first demonstration voyages using hydrogen fuel, as part of a subsidized project under the Nippon Foundation’s “Zero Emission Ships” project.
The following points were highly evaluated in this assessment of the Ship:
(1) As a “hydrogen fuel ready” vessel, development of the Ship involved not only a concept design for the use of hydrogen but also the design and equipping of a hull structure intended to satisfy requirements related to hydrogen fuel tank and compartments for tank installation.
(2) Fuel consumption is optimized through the installation of lithium-ion batteries.
As a result, the Ship received an “S” rating, the highest rank in the Program, recognizing it as a ship with “exceptionally high decarbonization, environmental consideration, and advanced performance,” acknowledging that significant environmental-related investments have been made.
Through the expansion of the Program, DBJ and ClassNK will support shipping and shipbuilding companies’ efforts to contribute to the transition toward decarbonization and work together to accelerate the transition toward decarbonization in the entire maritime industry.
Source: ClassNK
