A hydrogen-fuelled demonstration oil tanker has become the first coastal vessel to receive financing under a joint programme aimed at accelerating maritime decarbonisation.

The Kikou Maru, owned by Uyeno Transtech, received the highest "S" rating from classification society ClassNK under the Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance programme, jointly operated with Development Bank of Japan (DBJ). The evaluation led to DBJ providing financing to the shipowner.

The 5,000 KL capacity oil tanker was built at Fukuoka Shipbuilding's Nagasaki Yard and delivered in October. The vessel is described as hydrogen-ready with electric propulsion and is scheduled to conduct demonstration voyages using hydrogen fuel in 2026 as part of the Nippon Foundation's Zero Emission Ships project.

ClassNK evaluated the vessel based on what it describes as "decarbonisation, environmentally friendly performance, and innovativeness" using a scoring model developed with DBJ. The assessment highlighted two key features: the ship's hydrogen-ready design including hull structure modifications for hydrogen fuel tanks, and optimised fuel consumption through lithium-ion battery installation.

Uyeno Transtech, part of the Uyeno Group, specialises in transportation, storage, and sales of petroleum and chemical products.