Announced details
97% positive assessment of safety (N=67)
95% positive assessment of reduced workload for vessel crews (N=65)
100 trial participants in total. The survey covered 77 people, excluding children. Four demonstration vessels began commercial operations.
MRI participates in MEGURI2040 and the DFFAS+ consortium, and is responsible for risk assessment, concept design, implementation planning and project management for the unmanned vessel operation system.
The Nippon Foundation has promoted an unmanned vessel project since 2020. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is the government agency responsible for conducting vessel inspections. DFFAS+ is a consortium comprising 53 Japanese companies.
Passing of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's vessel inspection as autonomous vessels
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture (permanent shore support center)
In this announcement the company addresses none of Contract Value / Offering price / Impact on Business Performance.
The Nippon Foundation press release (27 March 2026)
The Nippon Foundation research (as of March 2026)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Names of Products / Services Covered | MEGURI2040, Autonomous vessels, Unmanned vessel operation system, Shore support center |
| Counterparty | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, The Nippon Foundation, Companies participating in the DFFAS+ consortium |
| Counterparty overview | The Nippon Foundation has promoted an unmanned vessel project since 2020. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is the government agency responsible for conducting vessel inspections. DFFAS+ is a consortium comprising 53 Japanese companies. |
| Relationship with the Company | MRI participates in MEGURI2040 and the DFFAS+ consortium, and is responsible for risk assessment, concept design, implementation planning and project management for the unmanned vessel operation system. |
| Launch date | 27 March 2026 (announcement of the start of commercial operations by four vessels. The dates on which each vessel passed the government's vessel inspection were 28 January 2026 for げんぶ, 5 December 2025 for おりんぴあどりーむせと, 9 February 2026 for 第二ほくれん丸, and 25 March 2026 for みかげ.) |
| Applicable area | Domestic container freight transport, Passenger transportation, Agricultural product transport by roll-on/roll-off vessels, Remote-island routes, Domestic Logistics |
| Award/certification name | Passing of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's vessel inspection as autonomous vessels |
| Awarding / certifying body | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism |
| Location | Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture (permanent shore support center) |
| Location scale | The mobile shore support center is approximately 7 meters long. The operating structure comprises two facilities, one permanent and one mobile. |
| Quantitative Effects | 97% positive assessment of safety (N=67), 95% positive assessment of reduced workload for vessel crews (N=65) |
| Usage history | 100 trial participants in total. The survey covered 77 people, excluding children. Four demonstration vessels began commercial operations. |
| Source | The Nippon Foundation press release (27 March 2026), The Nippon Foundation research (as of March 2026) |
Items this document does not state (5)
These are items the company does not state in this document. We do not leave them blank, nor fill them in from other sources or by inference.
The reasons the company gives
The company's own explanation, not something inferred from the numbers.To achieve unmanned vessel operations, ensure stable transportation of people and goods, and address challenges facing the maritime industry, including crew shortages and accidents caused by human error.