Japan Engine Corporation’s first full-scale commercial ammonia-fuelled engine is set to power NYK Line’s 40,000-cbm ammonia-fuelled ammonia carrier due for delivery in November 2026, according to Japan Engine Corporation.
The 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR engine is a 50-cm bore, seven-cylinder, two-stroke unit fitted with high-pressure SCR exhaust treatment.
J-ENG completed the engine in August 2025 after official factory test runs from 27 to 30 August under the supervision of NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard, Japan Marine United and ClassNK.
The engine is due to be installed on the medium gas carrier under construction at JMU’s Ariake Shipyard.
The project is part of Japan’s Green Innovation Fund programme administered by NEDO and involves NYK, J-ENG, IHI Power Systems, Nihon Shipyard, JMU and ClassNK.
Trial data showed the engine reached a 95% ammonia co-firing rate at full load, with nitrous oxide emissions of about 3 ppm and greenhouse gas emissions cut by more than 90%.
Japan Engine Corporation is an Akashi, Hyogo-based Japanese marine engine developer and manufacturer led by president Ken Kawashima. The company develops, designs, manufactures, sells and services low-speed marine engines under the UE Engine brand.
NYK Line, formally Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, is a Japanese shipping company with operations in ocean transport and logistics.
Nihon Shipyard is a Japanese ship design and sales company established by Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United.