HONG KONG, March 6, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) – 5 March 2026, the world’s first methanol dual-fuel roll-on/roll-off vessel, CM HONG KONG, successfully completed its first green methanol bunkering operation in Hong Kong. This also marks China's first green methanol bunkering operation conducted at anchor.

This milestone signifies a major breakthrough in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s deepened collaboration with enterprises, including China Merchants Group (CMG), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), and China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC). The achievement responds proactively to the “Dual Carbon” goals and advances implementation of Hong Kong’s Action Blueprint for Green Marine Fuel Bunkering, marking a solid step forward in Hong Kong’s development into an international green marine fuel bunkering centre.

The bunkering ceremony, themed “RIDING THE TIDE, GREENING THE FUTURE”, was jointly hosted by China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES), Sinopec (Hong Kong), and CIMC Enric at the Legislative Council Complex. Officiating guests included the Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hon Mable CHAN, JP; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Diane WONG Shuk-han, JP; the Director of Marine, WONG Sai-fat, together with Members of the Legislative Council, the Hon Gary CHAN Hak-kan, SBS, JP; the Hon Judy CHAN Kapui, MH, JP; the Hon Erik YIM Kong, JP; the Hon Aaron BOK Kwok-ming; Dr the Hon Webster NG Kam-wah, JP; Capt the Hon Lothair LAM Ming-fung; and the Hon Tommy CHUNG Ki-fung. Representatives from CMG, Sinopec, and CIMC, along with more than 100 distinguished guests from the shipping, energy, equipment manufacturing, and financial sectors, witnessed the significant moment.

During the ceremony, officiating guests jointly launched the bunkering operation. A live screen broadcast the “first injection” of green methanol into CM HONG KONG, while simultaneously displaying the internationally certified green attribute certificate.

The vessel completed bunkering via a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer, receiving approximately 500 tonnes of green methanol. According to calculations, this volume is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 85% compared with conventional marine fuels.

The green methanol was produced and supplied by CIMC Enric and has obtained ISCC EU certification. The bunkering operation was carried out through Sinopec (Hong Kong)’s professional bunkering service system, and the fuel was ultimately applied by CMES as the shipowner. The operation fully demonstrated a closed-loop green methanol value chain encompassing “production–storage–shipping–bunkering–application”.

Pursuant to the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Jointly Building the Hong Kong Green Methanol Bunkering Centre signed in November 2025, the three parties leveraged their respective core strengths in ocean shipping, oil and gas and green fuel storage-transport-sales, and energy equipment manufacturing. Technical validation, solution optimisation, and emergency preparedness were completed in advance to ensure smooth implementation.

To ensure safe and efficient operations, relevant HKSAR Government departments worked closely with participating enterprises. The Transport and Logistics Bureau, Marine Department, Customs and Excise Department, and Immigration Department provided end-to-end support in policy guidance, streamlined approvals, and safety oversight in accordance with the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering.

This inaugural bunkering is not merely a technical demonstration, but a pivotal practice in establishing Hong Kong’s green marine fuel bunkering ecosystem. It verifies both the technical feasibility and commercial operability of green methanol bunkering in Hong Kong, and showcases a “Hong Kong’s Approach” characterised by government-enterprise collaboration, port-shipping synergy, and full industry-chain coordination. This initiative helps attract more green vessels to call at Hong Kong and encourages Hong Kong-registered vessels to increase their use of green marine fuels, striving to achieve the 7% target by 2030.

The three organizations that collaborated to complete this bunkering operation stated that they would continue to further deepen cooperation, promote the industrialisation, scaling, and regularisation of green methanol supply in Hong Kong, and accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem covering production, storage, shipping, bunkering, trading, and financial services. These efforts will support Hong Kong in building a leading green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the national “Dual Carbon” goals, Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality, and the global low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry.

TORONTO, CANADA, Feb 20, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Rail today announced that it is investing of almost C$30 million in a new state-of-the-art Canadian headquarters in Toronto, Ontario.

The new HQ hosts Hitachi Rail’s Global Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) Competence Centre, which provides the engineering and technical expertise around the world. This new announcement builds on a C$100 million commitment to develop SelTrac™ G9, the next generation of cutting-edge rail signalling technology from this new office.

The new headquarters spans 125,000 sq. ft. across 5.5 floors will be the base for 1,100 Hitachi Rail employees and 100 paid interns. The office is located in Consilium Place in Toronto’s Scarborough district and is due to open officially in summer 2026.

As a LEED Silver and BOMA-certified building, the choice reflects Hitachi Rail’s commitment to operating in environmentally friendly sites, in addition to providing sustainable rail solutions. The company is prioritising employee well-being by offering a gym, daycare and EV charging stations.

The new office boosts Toronto’s position as a hub for tech jobs and reinforces Canada’s status as a growing leader in rail technology. The investment underlines Hitachi Rail’s long-term commitment to Ontario and its position as the only Canadian domestics signalling provider.

“This C$30m investment reinforces our commitment to Ontario and builds on our rail technology leadership in Canada. Our new state-of-the-art office will attract the next generation of new tech talent to Hitachi Rail. It will also be the hub the next generation signalling technology that will increase capacity, improve reliability and reduce costs for transit systems around the world,” said Arnaud Besse, Chief Operating Officer, Hitachi Rail Canada

“I am proud to welcome Hitachi Rail’s new headquarters to Scarborough-Guildwood. Hitachi Rail has already demonstrated strong leadership in advancing transit solutions across our city, and this investment builds on that important work. This new headquarters will strengthen our local economy, create meaningful jobs and opportunities for young people, and position Ontario at the forefront of next-generation rail innovation. Scarborough has waited a long time for real transit progress, and investments like this show what’s possible when global partners choose to build, hire, and grow locally,” said Andrea Hazell, MPP Scarborough—Guildwood.

Rail Technology Leadership in Toronto

SelTrac™ CBTC technology, developed from Toronto, is the solution of choice for complex urban rail systems around the world, including in London, Paris, New York, Dubai, Seoul, Singapore, and major Canadian cities like Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. This next generation CBTC technology being developed in Canada will integrate AI and 5G to deliver smarter, more efficient and more sustainable subway systems. For transit operators around the world, it will translate to lower operating costs, improved reliability, increased capacity and better journeys for passengers. For example, its resignalling of four London Underground lines led to a 33% increase in peak passenger capacity.

Economic Growth and Skills

Hitachi Rail’s signalling business, centered in Toronto for almost 50 years, has brought billions of dollars into the Canadian economy by exporting its Seltrac™ CBTC systems to more than 100 metros in 40 cities globally.

The company is also supporting the next generation of rail expertise through partnerships with post-secondary institutions. In 2025, Hitachi Rail signed an MoU with Ontario Tech University, to the development and direction of a first-of-its-kind Railway Engineering Specialization. Hitachi Rail’s commitment to the future of rail jobs in Canada is underscored by the company’s 100+ paid internship a year and its recognition as a Top Employer for Young People in Canada.

Hitachi Rail is also the lead partner for the Ontario Line, North America’s largest subway project, which will transform transit in Toronto [responsible for Rolling Stock, Signalling, Operations and Maintenance].

Hitachi Rail’s experience in Canada began in the 1970s when it invented and delivered the signalling technology behind the first ever driverless subway, Vancouver’s SkyTrain.

About Hitachi Rail

Hitachi Rail is committed to driving the transition to sustainable mobility and has a clear focus on partnering with customers to rethink mobility. Its mission is to help every passenger, customer, and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, smooth, and sustainable transportation.

With a turnover of more than €7 billion and 24,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Hitachi Rail is a reliable partner for the world's best transport companies. The company's presence is global, but the company is local, with success based on developing local talent and investing in people and communities.

Its international expertise and experience covers every part of urban ecosystems, main lines and freight railways, from high-quality production and maintenance of rolling stock to digital signalling, payment systems and smart operations.

Hitachi Rail, famous for Japan's iconic high-speed train, leverages the digital and artificial intelligence expertise of Hitachi Group companies to accelerate innovation and develop new technologies.

For more information, visit the hitachirail.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors—Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries—and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY 2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

TOKYO, Feb 18, 2026 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems, Ltd. (MHI-MS), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has concluded a joint research agreement with Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. for a demonstration experiment of ramp merging support technology for autonomous vehicles.(1)

The joint research, initiated in anticipation of expanded the adoption of autonomous vehicles, centers on conducting a demonstration experiment for ramp merging support for autonomous vehicles in the severe traffic conditions typical of Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway, primarily high traffic volume and short merging sections. The project aims to accelerate the development of infrastructure support technologies for the practical implementation of autonomous driving.

Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. issued a call for participants in a joint research project. Following a review of the proposals, a contract was concluded with MHI-MS in recognition of its successful delivery of a Merging Support Information System for a section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway.(2) The demonstration experiment is scheduled to be conducted around September to November 2026, near the on-ramp of the Yoyogi entrance (Inbound) of Metropolitan Expressway Route 4 (Shinjuku Line). MHI-MS will coordinate and make preparations in cooperation with automobile manufacturers and other joint research participants.

The site for the demonstration experiment is considered challenging from a sensing standpoint, owing to the short merging section, continuous curve, and height difference between the on-ramp and the main expressway. MHI-MS will fully leverage the technology developed for the Shin-Tomei Expressway and the knowledge gained to ensure safe and smooth merging of autonomous vehicles even in such demanding conditions. MHI-MS also believes that it can apply the sensing and communication technologies cultivated through the toll collection and ETC systems that it has delivered in Japan and overseas to autonomous driving support infrastructure.

With various services that make extensive use of CASE technologies(3) being expanded to traffic engineering, MHI-MS will contribute to the establishment of safe and convenient next-generation mobility by supporting the infrastructure aspects that convey information from the roadway to the vehicle, beyond the sensors and other functions of the vehicle itself. Further, building on the projects for the Shin-Tomei Expressway and Metropolitan Expressway, MHI-MS will participate in demonstration experiments for merging support technologies, and accelerate implementation of its systems among a broad range of roadway operators.

(1) For more information on the joint research agreement, see the following press release from Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd. (in Japanese)
https://www.shutoko.co.jp/company/press/2025/data/02/18-joint-research
(2) For more information on the successful delivery of a system on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, see the following press release
https://www.mhi.com/news/250303.html
(3) "CASE" is an acronym derived from the words "connected," "autonomous," "shared" and "electric." It refers to the current technological trend in the automotive industry to create next-generation mobility services offering outstanding safety and convenience.

About MHI Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com.