- Nippon Yusen has conducted the world’s first trials of a self-navigating vessel from Okinawa to Kochi Prefecture, and the other from Nagoya to Yokohama.
- The self-navigating vessel is expected to ease crew workloads and improve safety.
- It uses radar and automatic identification system signals generated by ships to set courses that avoid collisions
According to an article published by Nikkei Asian Review, Japanese marine shipper Nippon Yusen has operated the world’s first trials of a self-navigating vessel.
World’s first self-navigating vessel
Touted as the world’s first trials of a self-navigating vessel, a technology expected to ease crew workloads and improve safety.
Technology developed by group company Japan Marine Science uses radar and automatic identification system signals generated by ships to set courses that avoid collisions. Human error is said to cause about 70% of ship collisions.
The tech will be shared outside the group, Nippon Yusen executive Tomoyuki Koyama told reporters Monday. “I want to create [a system] that will support Japanese logistics,“ he said.
Manned trials conducted
Nippon Yusen conducted the manned trials with a car carrier in Japanese waters this September: one from Okinawa to Kochi Prefecture, and the other from Nagoya to Yokohama.
More trials are slated for next year to assess the impact of such factors as waves and wind bursts. The system will also incorporate the judgment of experienced sailors.
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Source: NikkeiAsianReview
