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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Mar 09, 2026 (Mon)

Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen’s Coastal RoRo Vessel passes ship inspection as an autonomous ship

The anchored “Hokuren Maru 2“

　On March 6, the Nippon Foundation announced that the Coastal RoRo Vessel “Hokuren Maru 2“ (11,413 g ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80On+March+6%2C+the+Nippon+Foundation+announced+that+the+Coastal+RoRo+Vessel+%E2%80%9CHokuren+Maru+2%E2%80%9C+%2811%2C413+gross+tons%2C+owned+and+operated+by+Kawasaki+Kinkai+Kisen%29%2C+which+is+participating+in+the+unmanned+ship+project+%E2%80%9CMEGURI2040%2C%E2%80%9C+has+passed+the+national+ship+inspection+as+an+autonomous+ship.+This+is+the+first+time+that+a+RORO+vessel+has+passed+this+inspection+in+Japan.+The+ship+is+equipped+with+autonomous+operation+functions+equivalent+to+%E2%80%9CLevel+4+Autonomy%2C%E2%80%9C+which+does+not+require+human+intervention+in+certain+areas+and+under+certain+conditions.+Under+current+law%2C+this+function+can+also+be+used+for+commercial+operations.+At+a+press+conference+on+the+same+day%2C+Mitsuyuki+Unno%2C+executive+director+of+the+Nippon+Foundation%2C+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+will+continue+to+collect+actual+operational+data%2C+promote+the+social+implementation+of+unmanned+ships%2C+and+verify+their+potential.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMEGURI2040%E2%80%9C+started+in+February+2020.+The+aim+is+to+realize+unmanned+ships+in+order+to+address+the+shortage+of+seafarers+due+to+the+declining+birthrate+and+aging+population%2C+and+to+reduce+accidents+caused+by+human+error.%E3%80%80Currently%2C+the+project+is+in+%E2%80%9CStage+2%2C%E2%80%9C+which+aims+to+resolve+issues+related+to+practical+application%2C+such+as+technological+development%2C+the+establishment+of+rules+and+standards%2C+and+fostering+social+understanding.+A+total+of+53+companies%2C+including+shipping+and+shipbuilding+companies%2C+marine+equipment+manufacturers%2C+telecommunications+carriers%2C+and+trading+companies%2C+are+participating.+The+initiative+is+being+carried+out+through+an+all-Japan+effort.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ultimately%2C+in+%E2%80%9CStage+3%2C%E2%80%9C+the+goal+is+to+make+50%25+of+domestic+ships+unmanned+by+2040.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Retrofit+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+%E2%80%9CHokuren+Maru+2%E2%80%9C+is+one+of+four+demonstration+ships+participating+in+the+%E2%80%9CSecond+Stage.%E2%80%9C+During+normal+times%2C+the+ship+transports+agricultural+products%2C+mainly+raw+milk+from+Hokkaido%2C+on+the+route+from+Kushiro+Port+%28Hokkaido%29+to+Hitachi+Port+%28Ibaraki+Prefecture%29.+The+project+has+been+led+by+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine%2C+Kawasaki+Kinkai+Kisen%2C+Japan+Radio%2C+YDK%2C+and+others%2C+and+has+been+progressing+towards+realizing+automated+operation+through+retrofitting+%28modification+work%29.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80To+achieve+this%2C+various+technologies+are+installed+on+the+ship.+Specifically%2C+these+include+sensor+functions+such+as+radar+and+AIS+%28Automatic+Identification+System%29%2C+and+path+planners+that+automatically+create+avoidance+routes+based+on+information+obtained+through+sensors.+The+ship%E2%80%99s+automatic+control+function+will+respond+to+routes+that+the+path+planner+determines+to+be+safe.+The+autopilot+controls+the+rudder+automatically.+The+land+support+center+will+also+provide+remote+monitoring+and+support+via+satellite+links.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Since+October+2022%2C+the+Hokuren+Maru+2+has+undergone+%E2%80%9Crenovation+work+for+proof+of+concept+%28PoC%29%2C%E2%80%9C+%E2%80%9CPoC+at+sea%2C%E2%80%9C+%E2%80%9Crenovation+work+for+demonstration+at+sea%2C%E2%80%9C+and+%E2%80%9Cland-based+integration+testing+of+equipment+to+be+installed%2C%E2%80%9C+and+has+passed+the+first+stage+of+the+government%E2%80%99s+ship+inspection+in+October+2025.+After+subsequent+demonstration+tests+at+sea%2C+the+ship+obtained+the+%E2%80%9CMASS%E2%80%9C+autonomous+ship+certification+from+ClassNK+%28NK%29+on+January+27%2C+2026%2C+and+passed+the+second+stage+of+the+government%E2%80%99s+ship+inspection+on+February+9.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Promoting+data+collection+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Looking+back+on+the+entire+process%2C+Unno+commented+that+%E2%80%9Cthis+will+be+a+major+boost+to+the+future+social+implementation+of+autonomous+ships+both+domestically+and+internationally.%E2%80%9C+Looking+ahead%2C+he+stated+his+desire+%E2%80%9Cto+steadily+advance+data+collection%2C%E2%80%9C+and+indicated+his+intention+to+collect+data+on+commercial+operations+from+March+to+April+with+the+cooperation+of+Kawasaki+Kinkai+Kisen%2C+which+operates+the+ship.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Commenting+on+the+presentation+of+avoidance+routes+by+the+Path+Planner%2C+one+of+the+functions+installed%2C+Gen+Yamada%2C+head+of+the+Ship+Technology+Team+at+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine%E2%80%99s+Ocean+Technology+Group%2C+explained%2C+%E2%80%9CIt+doesn%E2%80%99t+simply+judge+danger+or+the+risk+of+collision%2C+but+also+appropriately+determines+the+direction+and+timing+of+steering.+The+information+is+visually+conveyed+to+the+operator.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Sadamasa+Kuribayashi%2C+president+of+Mitsuwa+Transportation%2C+which+handles+the+loading+and+unloading+of+trailers+onto+the+Hokuren+Maru+2%2C+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+implementation+of+Level+4+equivalent+autonomous+navigation+technology+will+reduce+the+burden+on+crew+members+and+promote+work+style+reform.+This+will+support+the+industrial+base+of+eastern+Hokkaido+and+provide+a+tailwind+for+the+evolution+towards+sustainable+logistics.%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