World's first ammonia commercial ship engine set to launch in Japan

Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has developed and unveiled the world’s first commercial ammonia-powered ship engine, the 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR, marking a significant advancement in maritime decarbonization. This dual-fuel engine, capable of running on both ammonia and heavy fuel oil, features seven cylinders with a 50 cm bore and incorporates a high-pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system that drastically reduces nitrogen emissions by using ammonia-based agents. The engine successfully passed rigorous performance tests supervised by major industry players and was certified by ClassNK for environmental performance and operational safety. It is scheduled for shipment in October 2025 and will be installed on an Ammonia-Fueled Medium Gas Carrier (AFMGC) set to enter commercial service in 2026, representing the first full-scale deployment of ammonia marine engine technology. The development is part of Japan’s Green Innovation Fund Project, supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO),