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MOL Group's Hanaria, Japan's 1st Hydrogen and Bio Fuel Hybrid Passenger Ship, Earns 'Ship of the Year 2024'

May 27, 2025

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that the hybrid passenger ship Hanaria (Note 1), which uses hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, has received the "Ship of the Year 2024" award presented by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers (JASNAOE). The Hanaria was developed by MOL Group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. (President & CEO: Masao Fukushima; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
JASNAOE presents the awards every year to recognize outstanding vessels or offshore structures built in the past year, based on technical, artistic, and social considerations. This marks the 35th year of the event.

Japan's first hydrogen and bio fuel hybrid passenger ship "Hanaria"

The Hanaria is a hybrid ship with three power sources: hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and a biodiesel generator. The combination of hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries can achieve zero-emission navigation. It was highly evaluated for its environmentally friendly biodiesel generator and its ability to freely combine three power sources for navigation.
This is the eighth time to receive Ship of the Year Award, and the first time in two years that MOL Group-operated vessels have been recognized. The coal carrier Shofu Maru, equipped with the Wind Challenger hard sail wind propulsion system, and Japan's first LNG-fueled ferry, the Sunflower Kurenai, were both honored in 2023 (Note 2).
MOL set a target of achieving net zero GHG emissions for the entire MOL Group by 2050 under the "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2." It will reduce impacts on the global environment through various initiatives including use of wind power and adoption of clean alternative fuels with concerted efforts throughout the Group.
MOL will leverage its experience and expertise as one of the world's largest shipping companies to develop various social infrastructure businesses, technologies, and services, centering on ocean transport, to meet the needs of a wide range of customers throughout the group. It aims to become a global social infrastructure company, a strong and resilient corporate group that supports people's daily lives from the blue oceans, ensures a prosperous future, and delivers new value to all of its stakeholders.

(Note 1) For details, please refer to the following April 10, 2024:
Japan's 1st Hydrogen and Bio Fuel Hybrid Passenger Ship 'Hanaria' Starts Service in Kitakyushu | MOL

(Note 2) For details, please refer to the following May 25, 2023:
MOL Group Earn 2 Awards in 'Ship of the Year 2022' - World's 1st Coal Carrier Equipped with Wind Challenger, Shofu Maru, Named Ship of the Year 2022; Japan's 1st LNG-fueled Ferry Sunflower Kurenai Wins in Large Passenger Ship Sector - | MOL

MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Safety & Value -Provide added value through safe transportation and our social infrastructure business-", "Environment -Conservation for Marine and global environment-" and "Innovation -Innovation for development in marine technology-".