From February 26 to March 1, the DFFAS (Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ship) consortium* conducted a trial simulating the actual operation of a fully autonomous ship at a distance of approximately 790 kilometers between Tokyo Bay and Ise Bay.

The DFFAS project comprises 30 Japanese companies including NYK and NYK Group companies Japan Marine Science Inc., MTI Co. Ltd., and Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd. The consortium is participating in the Joint Technological Development Programme for the Demonstration of Fully Autonomous Ships under the fully autonomous ship project "MEGURI 2040" administrated by The Nippon Foundation.

In the trial, the container ship Suzaku was equipped with an autonomous navigation function and connected by satellite and a ground communication line to a fleet operation center that had functions such as remote maneuvering and engine-abnormality prediction to support the operation of a fully autonomous ship from shore.

The trial was then conducted in a manner that simulated the actual operation of future fully autonomous ships, successfully completing a series of voyages that amounted to about a 790-kilometer round-trip between Tokyo Bay and Ise Bay, including offshore maneuvering, bay navigation, coastal navigation, and berthing maneuvering, using a comprehensive fully autonomous navigation system (DFFAS system).**

The DFFAS consortium is made up of about 60 domestic and overseas cooperating companies and organizations, including 30 companies from diverse fields. The consortium has developed its DFFAS system using an open innovation framework. In the trial, Suzaku (95 meters, 749 gross tons) navigated a 790-kilometer round-trip route departing from and returning to Tokyo Bay by way of Ise Bay using a DFFAS system, including remote operation from the fleet operation center in Chiba prefecture. This successful trial in the highly congested area of Tokyo Bay, which has roughly 500 ships passing through each day, verifies a high level of technological development that represents a significant step toward practical implementation. In addition to addressing the issues of aging crew and crew shortages facing the domestic coastal shipping industry and the social issue of accident reduction, remote operation from shore can be expected to introduce new work styles and increase labor capacity for crews.

With an eye toward full-scale implementation, the DFFAS consortium developed a DFFAS system with repeated risk assessments carried out from the design stage. The system has three primary components: (1) a ship-side navigation system that controls autonomous functions from the ship; (2) a shore-side system that monitors and supports the ship from shore, including remote ship-handling functions; and (3) an information and communications system that enables stable communication between the ship and shore.

The fleet operation center marks a particular advance, allowing fully autonomous navigation at sea with tracking from shore of functions normally performed by crew, including the monitoring of weather and sea conditions, traffic flow, and the ship’s equipment. In emergency situations, the system can switch to remote operation from the fleet operation center, ensuring the overall system’s safety and stability.

On February 3, 2021, NYK released the NYK Group ESG Story, which aims to further integrate ESG into the company’s management strategy and promotes activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through business activities. To strongly promote ESG management, the NYK Group will actively develop technologies for crewed autonomous ships and fully autonomous ships and encourage new value creation as a sustainable solution provider.

<NYK Group ESG Story>
A guideline detailing concrete efforts to integrate ESG into management strategies of the NYK Group. Details: https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2021/esg-story_01.html

* Companies participating in the DFFAS project include Japan Marine Science Inc. (project leader); MTI Co., Ltd.; Ikous Corporation; BEMAC Corporation; Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd.; SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation; Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.; Tokyo Keiki Inc.; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation; NTT DOCOMO, Inc.; Japan Radio Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Research Institute Inc.; Sunflame Co., Ltd.; Sanwa Dock Co., Ltd.; Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd.; Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.; Weathernews Inc.; EIZO Corporation; Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited; NTT Communications Corporation; Japan Hamworthy Co., Ltd.; Japan Marine United Corporation; Nabtesco Corporation; NX Shipping Co., Ltd.; pluszero Inc.; Honda Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.; Miura Co., Ltd.; Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd.; YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.; and NYK.

** The comprehensive fully autonomous navigation system developed by the DFFAS consortium adopts a fully autonomous ship framework that is currently being developed under the name of "APExS-auto." APExS-auto is applying for approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK and the French classification society Bureau Veritas.

Japan Marine Science Inc.
Head Office: Kanagawa, Japan
Chief Executive Officer: Koichi Akamine
Website: https://www.jms-inc.jp/en/

MTI Co., Ltd.
Head Office: Tokyo, Japan
President: Kazuo Ishizuka
Website: https://www.monohakobi.com/en/

Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd.
Head Office: Tokyo, Japan
President: Kotaro Seki