What if we could build a ship that could transport cargo across the globe without needing any fueling? What if we could make the ultimate zero-emissions seagoing vessel to reduce greenhouse gases? We’re talking about the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Wind Hunter project.
It may sound like a fantasy, but it is by no means impossible. That is because the wind over the seas provides an inexhaustible supply of energy.
This is the principle behind the Wind Hunter. When the wind is blowing strongly, sails capture it to propel the vessel forward. In between those gusts, turbines in the water spin and generate electricity and produce hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored in a tank in the form of MCH. When the wind is weak, the ship uses that hydrogen as a fuel cell delivering electricity. The electricity powers electric propellers that drive the ship forward. We have already completed demonstration testing with a yacht in Omura Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture. For the next stage, we plan to begin construction in 2024 on a hydrogen-producing vessel with a total length of 60 to 70 meters and outfitted with multiple sails. The Wind Hunter will ride the winds across the sea by searching for areas with strong winds to find the optimal route.
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And by 2030, we expect to construct a large zero-emissions hydrogen-producing cargo ship. Of course, there are still many challenges to be solved, but taking on challenges is what we do at Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. If you don’t take the first step, you’ll never reach your goal. This journey charts a direct route to the future.
