The Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd. is a publicly listed Japanese company specializing in the design, manufacture, sales, and maintenance of marine diesel engines and vessel propulsion systems.
Headquartered in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, and established in 1918, the company produces low-speed and medium-speed 4-stroke diesel engines, controllable pitch propellers, side thrusters, hydraulic systems, and engine monitoring systems. It also offers casting and metal machining services.
The firm has a strong focus on technological innovation, having developed the world's first electronically controlled 4-stroke low-speed diesel engine and, in 2024, the world's first methanol-fueled marine engine based on its low-speed 4-stroke platform, including models such as the LA28M series. These advancements support reduced emissions in the shipping industry.
Operating primarily from facilities in the Kansai region of Japan, its products are used in vessels worldwide. As a listed entity on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (code 6018) with approximately 300 employees, it maintains an independent position in the marine engine sector while contributing to global efforts in sustainable maritime propulsion through alternative fuel technologies.
Also known as Hanshin Ironworks Co., Ltd., 阪神ディーゼル, and The Hanshin Diesel Works.
New 498 GT chemical tanker to transport and bunker methanol; initial bunkering used biomethanol from Niigata plant; methanol fuel cuts CO2 by ~17.5% vs heavy fuel oil.
