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Climate Change

Japan shipbuilding pins comeback hopes on zero-emissions vessels

Imabari in race against Chinese and South Korean rivals as market goes greener

Imabari Shipbuilding runs the Saijo shipyard in western Japan. The company will start building large shipping vessels that run on clean-burning ammonia.

TOKYO -- With decarbonization emerging as a priority in the traditionally emissions-heavy shipping industry, Japan's Imabari Shipbuilding aims to launch a cargo vessel that runs entirely on ammonia by 2026.

No ammonia-powered ships have been built to date, but the fuel is considered a key green energy source for the future. Imabari looks to take a lead in the cutting-edge field both in terms of technology and rule-setting, possibly regaining some of Japan's market share in shipbuilding lost to China and South Korea over the last several decades.

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