03/09/2026
https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1JBzw8944T/
Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines developed the experimental Winz Maru under its Wind Hunter Project to combine wind propulsion with onboard hydrogen production. During strong winds, sails propel the vessel while underwater turbines generate electricity for producing hydrogen from purified seawater.
When winds weaken, stored hydrogen is converted back into electricity through fuel cells to power the vessel’s electric propeller. The system converts the hydrogen into methylcyclohexane (MCH) for onboard storage, creating a cycle of wind power, hydrogen production, storage and propulsion.
The Winz Maru successfully demonstrated this complete cycle in Japan, and in 2025 it achieved another milestone by supplying hydrogen produced onboard to land. However, it remains an experimental technology rather than a fully self-sufficient ocean-going cargo ship.