日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Oct 26, 2026 (Mon)

Interview: Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to Double Output at Shimonoseki Yard in Massive Revamp

Shin Ueda, President of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding

　Interest in “shipbuilding“ in Japan has grown from last year into this year, and large-scale public ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Interest+in+%E2%80%9Cshipbuilding%E2%80%9C+in+Japan+has+grown+from+last+year+into+this+year%2C+and+large-scale+public-+and+private-sector+investment+plans+aimed+at+revitalizing+the+industry+are+now+getting+underway.+We+asked+the+heads+of+major+shipbuilders+about+their+current+thoughts+and+future+strategies.+First+in+the+series+is+Shin+Ueda%2C+president+of+%3Cb%3EMitsubishi+Shipbuilding%3C%2Fb%3E.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Could+you+give+us+an+overview+of+the+company%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+business+has+two+main+pillars%3A+newbuild+construction+and+engineering.+In+our+newbuild+construction+business%2C+we+build+ferries%2C+RORO+vessels+and+government+vessels%2C+including+patrol+vessels+for+the+Japan+Coast+Guard+%28JCG%29%2C+at+our+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works+in+Shimonoseki+City%2C+Yamaguchi+Prefecture.+Annual+output+is+around+five+vessels%2C+depending+on+vessel+type+and+size.+As+of+August%2C+the+backlog+stood+at+22+vessels%2C+mainly+RORO+vessels+and+patrol+vessels.+We+have+secured+work+through+early+2029.+Our+engineering+business+draws+on+our+experience+in+building+numerous+gas+carriers+and+includes+providing+designs+to+other+companies.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+sales+ratio+between+the+two+businesses+is+2+to+1.+The+workforce+totals+around+1%2C000%2C+with+70%25+at+the+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works%2C+20%25+primarily+in+design+teams+in+Nagasaki+City%2C+which+houses+repair+facilities%2C+and+the+remaining+10%25+at+the+head+office+in+Minato+Ward%2C+Tokyo%2C+and+other+locations.+In+addition%2C+just+under+500+subcontractor+personnel+work+on-site+at+the+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Additional+outfitting+pier+development+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--With+capital+investment+already+underway%2C+you+were+approved+for+support+from+the+Shipbuilding+Industry+Revitalization+Fund+in+September.+In+October%2C+you+also+announced+the+acquisition+of+industrial+land+on+Choshu+Dejima+at+Shimonoseki+Port.+What+specifically+are+you+planning+to+do%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+double+the+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works%E2%80%99+shipbuilding+capacity+compared+with+FY2024.+Our+capital+investment+will+focus+on+achieving+that+goal.+After+examining+the+factors+limiting+shipbuilding+capacity%2C+we+first+set+a+goal+of+improving+efficiency+in+outfitting+and+subsequent+processes+by+expanding+the+outfitting+piers.+We+applied+for+and+were+selected+for+the+%E2%80%99Subsidy+Program+for+Promoting+the+Construction+of+Zero-Emission+Ships%2C%E2%80%99+a+joint+initiative+of+the+Ministry+of+the+Environment+and+the+Ministry+of+Land%2C+Infrastructure%2C+Transport+and+Tourism.+Through+this+program%2C+we+will+expand+our+outfitting+piers%2C+install+cranes+at+the+piers%2C+and+extend+the+jib+crane+tracks%2C+among+other+improvements.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works+consists+of+the+Enoura+Plant+and+the+Yamatomachi+Plant.+We+will+also+build+a+large+outfitting+pier+at+the+Yamatomachi+Plant%3B+until+now%2C+only+the+Enoura+Plant+has+had+one.+The+outfitting+pier+at+the+Enoura+Plant+is+narrow%2C+which+makes+it+inconvenient+in+some+respects.+The+new+outfitting+pier+at+the+Yamatomachi+Plant+will+adjoin+a+large+area+of+land%2C+making+it+easier+to+deliver+materials+and+equipment+to+vessels+undergoing+outfitting.+Completion+is+scheduled+for+December+2028.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Land+acquisition+on+Choshu+Dejima+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+will+Choshu+Dejima+be+used%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAfter+improving+the+efficiency+of+outfitting+and+subsequent+processes%2C+the+next+challenge+identified+was+how+to+efficiently+launch+vessels+under+construction+from+the+slipway.+The+solution+is+to+increase+slipway+turnover+by+using+larger+hull+blocks.+To+achieve+this%2C+we+will+relocate+hull+block+manufacturing+operations+to+Choshu+Dejima.+Relocating+the+Enoura+Plant%E2%80%99s+main+block+manufacturing+capacity+will+allow+more+effective+use+of+space+at+the+plant.+Going+forward%2C+we+will+work+to+improve+logistics+and+movement+flows+within+the+plant.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+capital+investment+in+relocating+block+manufacturing+operations+to+Choshu+Dejima+will+fall+under+the+Shipbuilding+Industry+Revitalization+Fund.+The+project+under+the+fund+is+eligible+for+up+to+40+billion+yen+in+subsidies%2C+with+total+project+costs%2C+including+our+own+contribution%2C+amounting+to+approximately+100+billion+yen.+The+%E2%80%99Subsidy+Program+for+Promoting+the+Construction+of+Zero-Emission+Ships%2C%E2%80%99+which+is+already+underway%2C+focuses+on+developing+outfitting+piers+at+the+Yamatomachi+Plant+of+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works.+The+total+project+cost+is+6.5+billion+yen%2C+of+which+approximately+2.1+billion+yen+will+be+covered+by+subsidies.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Continuing+passenger+ship-related+business+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Regarding+the+passenger+ship+business%2C+which+incurred+massive+losses%2C+the+Mitsubishi+Heavy+Industries+Group%E2%80%99s+passenger+ship+evaluation+committee+report+released+in+2016+set+out+a+policy+of+withdrawing+from+the+large+passenger+ship+business+while+continuing+operations+involving+small+and+medium-sized+passenger+ships+under+certain+conditions.+Are+there+any+plans+to+resume+building+small+and+medium-sized+passenger+ships%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+still+retain+the+expertise+and+technology%2C+and+we+would+like+to+continue+related+businesses.+Although+the+newbuild+area+of+Mitsubishi+Heavy+Industries%E2%80%99+Nagasaki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works+Koyagi+Plant+%28in+Nagasaki+City%29+was+transferred+to+Oshima+Shipbuilding%2C+the+Mitsubishi+Heavy+Industries+Group+continues+to+own+the+repair+area.+Work+on+the+%E2%80%99MITSUI+OCEAN+SAKURA%2C%E2%80%99+recently+put+into+service+by+MOL+Cruises%2C+was+carried+out+at+Koyagi.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+our+passenger+ship+business%2C+we+first+want+to+build+a+track+record+through+refurbishment+and+repair+projects+like+this+one.+The+ferries+we+build+for+the+domestic+market+at+Shimonoseki+Shipyard+%26+Machinery+Works+are+also+becoming+more+sophisticated+year+by+year.+With+more+passenger-focused+ships+expected+in+the+future%2C+we+dream+of+building+newbuilds+if+a+project+comes+along+with+a+delivery+schedule+we+can+meet+and+a+price+acceptable+to+the+customer%2C+provided+the+conditions+allow+us+to+take+it+on.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+view+the+attention+being+paid+to+the+shipbuilding+industry+in+Japan%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+am+very+grateful.+Attention+is+increasingly+turning+to+industries%E2%80%94not+just+shipbuilding%E2%80%94that+maintain+substantial+facilities+and+equipment+and+support+the+industrial+base.+The+risks+of+disruptions+to+the+supply+of+products+and+other+goods+have+been+recognized%2C+and+manufacturing+industries%2C+including+shipbuilding%2C+have+come+into+the+spotlight+from+the+perspective+of+economic+security.+I+think+it+is+a+good+thing+that+the+importance+of+industries+that+previously+had+little+public+recognition+has+been+reaffirmed.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+for+shipbuilding%2C+I+was+struck+by+how+customers%2C+including+shipowners+and+operators%2C+also+spoke+up+about+its+importance.+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+cluster+is+strong%2C+and+the+shipowners+and+operators+within+it+have+had+a+significant+impact+by+speaking+out+about+the+%E2%80%99need+for+shipbuilding.%E2%80%99+We+will+meet+these+stakeholders%E2%80%99+expectations.+Now+is+a+critical+juncture.+In+addition+to+investing+in+facilities%2C+we+want+to+learn+about+the+latest+technologies+and+apply+our+ingenuity+to+keep+building+high-quality+ships+at+reasonable+prices.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%28Published+as+needed%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Shin+Ueda+completed+his+graduate+studies+at+the+University+of+Tokyo+in+1996+and+joined+Mitsubishi+Heavy+Industries+that+year.+He+became+Senior+Deputy+Director-General+of+the+Ship+%26+Ocean+Engineering+Department+at+%3Cb%3EMitsubishi+Shipbuilding%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+Marine+Engineering+Center+in+2020%2C+then+General+Manager+of+the+same+department+in+April+2022%2C+before+assuming+his+current+position+in+April+2024.+He+is+56+years+old+and+hails+from+Saitama+City.+%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

【インタビュー　国内造船再起動】(1)三菱造船社長・上田伸氏、建造能力を倍増

2026/10/26(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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