Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan's Yanmar Holdings, has announced that its Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System has achieved Type Approval from Det Norske Veritas Group (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 Yanmar’s 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.
Achieving DNV Type Approval represents a major milestone in our journey to bring hydrogen-powered solutions to the marine market. Building on our operational experience in Japan, we aim to support customers around the world in their transition to zero-emission operations and realize sustainable maritime transportation, said Masaru Hirose, President and Representative Director of Yanmar Power Solutions.
Decades of expertise
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.
We are very pleased to continue our cooperation with Yanmar and award them this latest Type Approval Award for their GH-FC series. Every step demonstrates the growing maturity of hydrogen fuel cell technology and continues to build confidence in the market and showcase its readiness for broader commercial applications. DNV is pleased to continue supporting innovative solutions that can help accelerate the transition toward zero-emission shipping, remarked Olaf Drews, Head of Engines & Pressurized Equipment, DNV Maritime.
GH-FC Series selected for multiple projects
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, Passenger Vessel “HANARIA”;
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Hydrogen Workboats “Tokyo Mirai Maru” and “Tsukiji ZERO”;
- NYK Line, New Cruise Ship “Amane”;
- Kurose Suisan, Aquaculture Workboat.
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 growing adoption of GH-FC Series systems highlights increasing industry confidence in hydrogen as a viable energy source for maritime decarbonization.
This certification strengthens our ability to support customers throughout Europe and beyond who are seeking practical pathways toward decarbonization. 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, said Eric Tigelaar, Department Manager of the Commercial Marine Department at Yanmar Europe.
