Photo/Illutration Iwatani Corp. announced on Oct. 24 that it has finished building a hydrogen-powered boat named the Mahoroba. (Provided by Iwatani Corp.)

Iwatani Corp. announced that it has completed building a boat that runs completely on hydrogen fuel cells and will transport passengers to and from the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo.

This will be the first commercial operation of a hydrogen-powered boat in Japan.

The company will proceed with test operations and aims to have the vessel up and running during the Osaka Expo, which starts in April next year.

The boat is scheduled to carry visitors from Nakanoshima in central Osaka to the expo venue on Yumeshima island during the event.

The vessel is called the Mahoroba, which is the old Japanese word meaning “a comfortable place to live.”

The company named it in the hopes that the world will become a truly comfortable place to live through coexistence with nature.

The boat is 33 meters long and 8 meters wide, with a 150-passenger capacity.

Its motors are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which generate electricity by causing the hydrogen to react with oxygen in the air.

It doesn’t emit carbon dioxide during operation, and produces less odor, noise and vibration than traditional boats powered by gasoline engines.

The Mahoroba was built in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, and a launching ceremony was held in May.

It was then towed by another ship to Osaka in mid-October.

The operation of the vessel will be entrusted to Osaka Aqua Bus ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Keihan Holdings Co.

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