The government has decided on investment of around ¥900 billion in shipyard facilities and is expected to expand total investment to more than ¥1 trillion. It aims to double domestic shipbuilding capacity through the introduction of large cranes, dock restoration and the use of AI robots at sites including Imabari Shipbuilding and Hakodate Dock.
Investment by the public and private sectors is gathering pace as the government works to implement its policy of doubling shipbuilding volume. Investment of around ¥900 billion has already been decided, with the outlook for further expansion toward a target of more than ¥1 trillion.
Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan’s largest shipbuilder, plans to introduce large jib cranes at its Marugame Business Division and Saijo Factory and deploy robots to increase steel-plate welding capacity. It will receive approximately ¥113.8 billion in subsidies from the government’s shipbuilding revitalisation fund. The support is expected to amount to around ¥300 billion at most for the overall investment, and the company has indicated that it will respond while continuously assessing production volumes.
Hakodate Dock has begun restoring No. 4 Dock, which was damaged in the 1993 earthquake. After checking its current condition, including by draining the water, restoration work will proceed, with construction expected to resume around 2032. Restoration is expected to increase the number of small bulkers built, and the company plans to invest up to approximately ¥150 billion over the next 10 years, including investment in its parent company’s Imari facility.
The government has positioned shipbuilding as one of 17 strategic investment sectors. By 2035, it aims to invest approximately ¥1 trillion through the public and private sectors, double domestic shipbuilding volume from 2024 levels and reach 18 million gross tons. However, equipment costs, including those for cranes, are trending upward, and the validity and feasibility of the plan are seen as issues requiring examination.