Yanmar’s Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System achieves DNV Type Approval

Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, announced that its Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System has achieved Type Approval from DNV, one of the world’s leading classification societies. This certification represents a significant milestone in the commercialization and global deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology for marine applications.

The approval confirms that the GH-FC series complies with DNV’s industry-leading rules and guidelines, enabling shipbuilders, system integrators and vessel operators to adopt the technology with greater confidence and reduced certification burden for future projects.

Masaru Hirose, President and Representative Director of Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., said achieving DNV Type Approval represents a major milestone in the company’s journey to bring hydrogen-powered solutions to the marine market, adding that building on its operational experience in Japan, Yanmar aims to support customers around the world in their transition to zero-emission operations and realize sustainable maritime transportation.

Eric Tigelaar, Department Manager of Commercial Marine Department at Yanmar Europe, said the certification strengthens the company’s ability to support customers throughout Europe and beyond who are seeking practical pathways toward decarbonization, noting that the GH-FC series combines easy installation, operational flexibility, modularity and environmental performance, making it an attractive solution for a wide range of vessel applications.

Olaf Drews, Head of Engines & Pressurized Equipment, DNV Maritime, said DNV is pleased to continue its cooperation with Yanmar in awarding this latest Type Approval for the GH-FC series, adding that every step demonstrates the growing maturity of hydrogen fuel cell technology and continues to build confidence in the market, showcasing its readiness for broader commercial applications.

Building on decades of expertise in marine propulsion and power generation, Yanmar has been developing hydrogen fuel cell technologies since 2015. The company commercialized its maritime fuel cell systems in 2023 and has continued to expand deployment in Japan through collaboration with shipowners, operators and local governments pursuing decarbonized marine transportation solutions. The certification marks an important step in moving Yanmar’s maritime hydrogen fuel cell technology from successful domestic deployment toward broader commercial adoption in international markets.

Yanmar has already established one of the most extensive operational track records for hydrogen fuel cell systems in the Japanese maritime sector. To date, the GH-FC Series has been deployed or selected for multiple vessel projects, including MOL Techno-Trade’s passenger vessel HANARIA, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s hydrogen workboats Tokyo Mirai Maru and Tsukiji ZERO, NYK Line’s new cruise ship Amane, and an aquaculture workboat for Kurose Suisan. These projects demonstrate the scalability of Yanmar’s hydrogen fuel cell platform, ranging from small workboats to larger passenger vessels, while providing valuable operational experience under real-world conditions.

The GH-FC Series is a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed specifically for vessel applications, generating electricity through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and designed to serve as a next-generation power source that produces zero CO2 emissions during operation. Featuring a modular design, the system enables flexible configurations to meet a wide range of vessel requirements and power demands, with output options of 80, 160, 240 and 320 kW.