Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) said it has conducted the first successful sea trial of an unmanned coastal container ship across the Sea of Japan.
The Imoto Lines 194-teu Mikage (built 2015) boxship autonomously sailed from Tsuruga Port in Japan’s Fukui Prefecture to Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture, a distance approaching 300km, on 24-25 January.
Elements considered in the trial included the accurate grasp of ship location information, wind, tides and currents plus handling performance specific to manoeuvrability, acceleration and deceleration as well as navigational rules.
A drone was used in a mooring test aimed at moving toward automated operation during the trial which is part of the MEGURI2040 project led by The Nippon Foundation that includes a consortium of partner companies.
Information on ships and obstacles on the route was gathered by the Furuno Electric-developed autonomous surrounding information integration system, and in October 2021, MOL Marine & Engineering Co conducted a safety verification test using its 3D simulator.
Consortium partner Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding was also involved in preparing the ship.
The consortium next plans an autonomous sea trial of the 11,410-gt coastal car ferry Sunflower Shiretoko (built 2001) from Tomakomai to Oarai in February to consider the ropax’s different sailing characteristics from the boxship.
The MEGURI2040 project was set in motion in 2020 when MOL said its main aims are to enhance safe operation and reduce crew workload.
Coastal shipping is key to Japan’s logistics system, transporting about 40% of domestic cargo and 80% of basic industrial commodities on a tonne-kilometre basis. The sector is heavily dependent on ageing ships.
