Signal Hitachi, MOL, and JAL Sign MOU for Japan's First Direct Ocean Capture Pilot on Kume Island

Summary

Hitachi, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Japan Airlines (JAL) signed a memorandum of understanding to launch Japan's first pilot project using Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology, according to a press release distributed via ACN Newswire on August 4, 2026. The pilot will take place on Kume Island in Okinawa Prefecture, where containerized equipment will extract carbon dioxide directly from seawater to evaluate the technology's operational performance, environmental impact, and commercial potential along Japan's coastline. The three companies will also explore future applications for the captured CO2, including its use in producing synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF), directly linking the airline's decarbonization strategy to the ocean-capture pilot. Kume Island was selected because it already hosts several advanced marine technology projects, including Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) research, making it a suitable location for testing ocean-based climate technologies. The initiative marks a step toward developing ocean-based carbon removal solutions and a domestic carbon economy in Japan.