Portuguese 
Spanish 
Brazilian vessel attracts attention in Santa Catarina by combining green hydrogen, hybrid engines, and technical tests in a private project that seeks to broaden the debate on new energy sources in navigation.
The JAQ H1, a 36-meter Brazilian vessel operated with green hydrogen, arrived in Itajaí, on the Northern Coast of Santa Catarina, to participate in the Marina Itajaí Boat Show 2026.
The event takes place from July 2 to 5, at Marina Itajaí, and gathers vessels, engines, accessories, and nautical equipment, according to the organization.
The boat is part of a private project estimated at R$ 150 million and has entered a new phase of testing with dual-fuel engines from the German company MAN.
-
Indian Students from Jaipur Win Top Prize at World’s Largest Science Fair with EcoFog, an Affordable Mesh to Harvest Fog Water Without Energy
-
Italy Sinks Massive 11-Story Concrete Structures in the Ligurian Sea to Create a 6.2 km Barrier, Clearing the Way for 400-Meter Ships in Genoa
-
Wireless Charging Roads for Electric Vehicles: Detroit Implements Coil Technology, France Successfully Tests 300 kW Transfer Near Paris
-
Scientists Create Lab-Made Cell with Only 36 Genes That Eats, Grows, Copies DNA, and Divides, Raising the Question: Is This Life?
According to the JAQ Green Hydrogen project, the equipment is capable of operating with a mixture of 20% green hydrogen to diesel, with the possibility of full reversion to fossil fuel in case of supply instability.
The presence of the vessel in Santa Catarina allows the public to see the JAQ H1 in full size.
In the previous edition of the Marina Itajaí Boat Show, visitors only had access to the project model.
Now, the vessel has been included in the nautical show’s program as a space for visitation and debates on innovation, sustainability, and energy in the maritime sector.
JAQ H1 advances in tests with green hydrogen in Santa Catarina
The JAQ H1 is part of an initiative developed by Grupo Náutica in partnership with GWM Hydrogen.
According to the project leaders, the proposal is to test the use of green hydrogen in the vessel’s internal systems and gradually expand the application of the fuel in propulsion.
In the current configuration, diesel remains present in the operation of the engines.
The difference lies in the mixture with green hydrogen, a technology that, according to the project, can reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by up to 80%.
The data is presented by the initiative leaders and is related to the testing phase of the dual-fuel engines.
The onboard hospitality part also uses green hydrogen.
The system supports equipment such as air conditioning, television, microwave, lighting, and other support items, as disclosed by the project.
This application allows demonstrating the use of the fuel in internal services before expanding the tests directly linked to propulsion.
Previously presented at COP30, in Belém, the JAQ H1 began to be used as a technical demonstration platform for the project.
The vessel also appears in promotional materials as a space for educational activities, data collection, and presentation of low-emission solutions in the nautical sector.
Marina Itajaí Boat Show will have visits and lectures on the boat
In addition to visits, the JAQ H1 hosted the Náutica Talks program on July 3 and 4.
The lectures were scheduled to take place inside the boat itself, with topics related to the nautical market, innovation, sustainability, and new energy sources for vessels.
Ernani Paciornik, president of Grupo Náutica and creator of the JAQ Green Hydrogen project, stated that the vessel allows the public to see practical applications of green hydrogen in navigation.
“The JAQ H1 shows, in practice, how green hydrogen can begin to be applied in navigation, both in propulsion and in onboard support systems,” said the executive.
The statement was retained as it is attributed to the project leader.
Other evaluation excerpts on the impact of the technology were treated as project information or replaced with factual descriptions, as the vessel is still undergoing tests and technical validations.
The organization of the Marina Itajaí Boat Show informs that the 2026 edition will take place in an area integrated with the water, featuring vessel exhibitions, test drives, and activities aimed at the public interested in the nautical sector.
The event is held at Marina Itajaí, on Avenida Carlos Ely Castro, in the city center.
Commissioning of the hydrogen system will be done after the event
After participating in the Marina Itajaí Boat Show, the forecast released by the project is that the JAQ H1 will remain in Santa Catarina for the commissioning of the hydrogen system.
This stage involves tests, technical adjustments, and safety validations to expand the use of fuel onboard.
The commissioning is a phase of verification of the installed systems.
In the case of the JAQ H1, the process should evaluate the operation of the hydrogen-related set and the integration with the dual-fuel engines, without removing diesel from operation at this stage.
The gradual adoption avoids presenting the technology as a complete replacement of fossil fuel in propulsion.
According to the information released so far, the JAQ H1 operates with a hybrid solution, in which green hydrogen is used as part of the engine mixture and also in the vessel’s support systems.
JAQ Green Hydrogen Project plans 50-meter vessel
The estimated private investment of R$ 150 million also includes the construction of the JAQ H2, a 50-meter vessel scheduled for delivery in 2027.
According to the project, the new model should feature an onboard electrolyzer to produce hydrogen from seawater desalination.
The proposal released by those responsible is to reduce the dependence on external refueling infrastructure.
However, the production of hydrogen within the vessel itself still depends on the execution of JAQ H2 and the technical stages planned for the coming years.
While the new model is not delivered, the JAQ H1 functions as a testing and demonstration unit.
The vessel brings together already installed systems, technical dissemination programming, and validation stages aimed at the use of green hydrogen in navigation.
Green hydrogen in navigation still undergoes technical validations
In the maritime sector, green hydrogen is discussed as an alternative to reduce emissions, but its large-scale adoption depends on infrastructure, production costs, operational safety, and engine adaptation.
In the case of JAQ H1, these issues appear within a project that is still in the testing and commissioning phase.
The vessel does not eliminate diesel from propulsion at this stage.
What the project presents is a combined operation, with engines capable of using part of green hydrogen in the mix and internal systems powered by the renewable fuel.
The passage of JAQ H1 through Itajaí also places Santa Catarina on the route of the project’s public presentation.
The state received the vessel during a regional nautical event aimed at companies, visitors, and industry professionals.
According to the information released, the next technical results should depend on the commissioning stage and the continuation of JAQ H2’s development.
Until then, the JAQ H1 remains a vessel used for tests, demonstrations, and discussions about new energy sources in Brazilian navigation.
