Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Backed by the Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest shipping company, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), plans to have a container ship pilot itself from Tokyo Bay to Ise city, Mie Prefecture.
The 380 kilometer voyage will be the world’s first test of an autonomous ship in an area with heavy marine traffic.
Shipping firms Mitsui OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen are working with shipbuilders to share both costs and expertise. Nippon Yusen is also working with Norwegian maritime company DNV to collect and analyze data on vessel condition and performance.
According to a recent survey by the National Association of Domestic Tanker Shipping, about 40% of Japan shipping crew are now 55 years or older. Employing autonomous ships in Japan would address the impending issue of the country’s aging and shrinking workforce.
Not only would this yield lower insurance premiums and improved safety, but the Nippon Foundation also acknowledges a heightened efficiency that will improve Japan’s economy by an estimated US$9 billion by 2040.
For the test run taking place next February, information will be relayed to a support center on land to feed directions to the unmanned vessel using satellite technology, onboard sensors, and Artificial Intelligence. In the case of an emergency, the ship can be steered remotely from this base.
The trial run will allow an exploration of what regulatory hurdles and industry standards are required to make autonomous ships ready for regular use.
The autonomous ships may be ready for practical use by 2025.
The Nippon Foundation aims to continue backing the development of autonomous ships with the goal of making up 50% of Japan’s local fleet autonomous by 2040.
According to Allied Market Research, the global market for autonomous shipping could grow to around US$166 billion by 2030.
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