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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jul 05, 2024 (Fri)

Suetsugu plans to build robotic electric coastal vessels for Japan with a Chinese yard

Mr. Suetsugu (right) and Mr. Zheng Tianbao, General Manager of Tri Waters New Energy Technology

　“THUNDERBIRDS”, a new company established by Yasumasa Suetsugu, president of Marindows, announced o ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTHUNDERBIRDS%E2%80%9D%2C+a+new+company+established+by+Yasumasa+Suetsugu%2C+president+of+%3Cb%3EMarindows%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+announced+on+July+4+that+it+has+entered+into+a+strategic+business+partnership+with+%E2%80%9CTri+Waters+New+Energy+Technology%E2%80%9D%2C+a+privately+owned+Chinese+shipyard+specializing+in+the+electrification+and+standardization+of+coastal+ships.+The+two+companies+plan+to+jointly+develop+a+robotic+EV+%28electrically+propelled%29+coastal+ship+for+Japan+that+will+reduce+the+burden+on+seafarers%2C+mass-produce+it+at+low+cost%2C+and+supply+it+to+Japan.+The+company+says+that+this+will+provide+a+new+option+for+Japan%E2%80%99s+coastal+shipping+industry+and+fundamentally+resolve+the+issue+of+aging+crew+and+ships+facing+the+industry.+The+ship%E2%80%99s+main+systems+will+be+made+in+Japan%2C+and+it+will+also+be+built+at+Japanese+shipyards.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Suetsugu%2C+who+serves+as+president+of+%3Cb%3EMarindows%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+launched+a+new+company+called+THUNDERBIRDS+in+April+to+create+new+businesses+and+value+specializing+in+the+marine+and+related+fields.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+company+has+now+partnered+with+Tri+Waters+New+Energy+Technology%2C+a+subsidiary+of+the+privately-owned+Chinese+Wuhu+Shipyard%2C+which+develops+and+builds+zero-emission+coastal+ships.+The+companies+will+jointly+develop+a+robotic+electric+cargo+ship+that+will+significantly+reduce+the+burden+on+seafarers+for+Japan%E2%80%99s+coastal+shipping+market.+By+mass-producing+and+supplying+it+at+a+low+cost%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+will+transform+Japan%E2%80%99s+coastal+shipping+industry+into+an+industry+capable+of+sustainable+growth%2C%E2%80%9C+said+Suetsugu.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Specifically%2C+they+will+develop+499+gross+ton+and+749+gross+ton+tankers%2C+general+cargo+ships%2C+and+container+ships.+To+ensure+safe+and+stable+operation%2C+engineering+will+be+handled+by+Japanese+companies%2C+and+the+smart+cockpit%2C+EV+powertrain%2C+and+loading+and+unloading+system+will+be+made+in+Japan.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80They+will+work+closely+with+shippers%2C+operators+%28shipping+companies%29+and+shipowners+who+need+robotic+electric+ships.+Furthermore%2C+Suetsugu+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+will+also+work+closely+with+Japanese+shipyards+and+marine+equipment+manufacturers+where+we+expect+business+opportunities+to+expand+as+a+result+of+the+convergence+of+players.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+robotic+electric+ship+is+a+ship+that+integrates+electrification%2C+automation%2C+and+intelligence+technologies.+It+is+equipped+with+an+integrated+smart+cockpit+that+combines+steering+control+and+navigation+instruments+and+an+integrated+EV+powertrain+that+integrates+storage+batteries+and+generators.+In+addition+to+having+functions+such+as+auto+berthing+and+un-berthing+and+automatic+navigation%2C+it+also+has+remote+maneuvering+support+technology.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80This+will+ensure+greater+safety+and+efficiency+than+ever+before+even+with+a+smaller+crew%2C+significantly+improving+productivity+per+crew+member.+It+will+also+reduce+the+shipowner%E2%80%99s+burden+of+hiring+crew+members.+Furthermore%2C+by+reducing+CAPEX+%28capital+costs+%3D+ship+price%29+through+standardization+and+mass+production+and+reducing+OPEX+%28operating+costs%29+through+electrification+and+intelligence%2C+it+will+contribute+to+improving+the+economic+efficiency+of+shipowners%2C+operators%2C+and+shippers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80As+part+of+this+initiative%2C+THUNDERBIRDS+will+work+with+relevant+parties+to+develop+overseas+markets+where+the+robotic+electric+coastal+ships+can+be+replaced+and+resold+7+to+10+years+after+completion.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80According+to+Suetsugu%2C+Japan%E2%80%99s+coastal+ships+will+have+to+continue+to+be+used+for+around+20-25+years+due+to+worsening+profitability+for+shipowners+caused+by+rising+ship+prices.+By+increasing+the+frequency+of+replacement+and+raising+demand+for+new+coastal+ships+to+about+three+to+four+times+the+current+level%2C+Suetsugu+believes+that+%E2%80%9Cthis+will+lead+to+increased+demand+not+only+for+ships+built+in+China+but+also+for+those+built+in+Japan.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80According+to+Suetsugu%2C+there+are+currently+approximately+5%2C200+coastal+vessels+in+Japan.+Of+these%2C+approximately+3%2C500+ships%2C+or+nearly+70%25%2C+are+old+ships+aged+18+years+or+older+and+will+need+to+be+replaced+within+the+next+10+years.+This+would+create+demand+for+approximately+350+replacement+ships+per+year.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+Japanese+shipyards+have+a+construction+capacity+of+around+100+coastal+ships+per+year.+Therefore%2C+Suetsugu+said%2C+%E2%80%9CIt+is+clear+that+Japanese+shipyards+alone+will+not+be+able+to+meet+the+replacement+demand.%E2%80%9D+Under+these+circumstances%2C+Suetsugu+plans+to+%E2%80%9Cmaintain+the+construction+scale+of+Japanese+shipyards+while+developing+an+entirely+new+robotic+electric+coastal+ship+that+employs+technology+from+Japanese+companies+for+its+main+systems%2C+and+aim+to+promote+its+early+adoption+in+combination+with+ships+built+in+China.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+the+future%2C+THUNDERBIRDS+will+hold+a+briefing+session+for+shippers%2C+operators%2C+shipowners%2C+shipyards%2C+and+marine+equipment+manufacturers+who+are+interested+in+forming+a+partnership%2C+coinciding+with+the+visit+of+Tri+Waters+New+Energy+Technology+executives+to+Japan+planned+in+August+and+September.+After+that%2C+it+will+quickly+decide+on+the+first+499+gross+ton+type+project+and+then+proceed+with+partnership+discussions+with+Japanese+shipyards+for+construction+in+Japan.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Suetsugu+said%2C+%E2%80%9CIn+addition+to+standardizing+the+ships+themselves%2C+by+incorporating+the+separation+of+ship+ownership%2C+management%2C+and+crewing+from+the+design+stage+onwards%2C+we+will+encourage+renewal+at+all+levels+of+the+coastal+shipping+industry+and+accelerate+the+convergence+of+the+industry+to+large+players.+This+will+lead+to+improved+competitiveness+and+sustainable+growth+in+the+industry.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E