NYK and its group companies MTI Co., Ltd. and Japan Maritime Science Inc. have received approval in principle (AiP) for a fully autonomous ship framework that is currently being developed under the name of "APExS-auto." ClassNK and Bureau Veritas, classification societies based respectively in Japan and France, reviewed the safety of the framework and certified the concept design on March 1. In fact, this was the first time for a fully autonomous ship framework to be approved in Japan.

The Joint Technological Development Programme for the Demonstration of Fully Autonomous Ships under the fully autonomous ship project "MEGURI2040" administrated by The Nippon Foundation aims to address social issues such as labor shortages and the aging of domestic coastal seafarers, in addition to marine accidents caused by human error. The DFFAS (Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ship) consortium, comprising 30 Japanese companies including NYK and NYK Group companies Japan Marine Science Inc. and MTI Co., Ltd., is participating in the project and has proceeded with technological development with the aim of social implementation of fully autonomous ships.*

In this initiative, APExS-auto was developed as an expansion of the crewed autonomous ship framework (development code "APExS")** into the fully autonomous ship framework. In fact, APExS-auto contributed significantly to the success of the fully autonomous ship demonstration conducted by the DFFAS consortium from February 26 to March 1.

APExS-auto is an acronym for “Action Planning and Execution System for Full Autonomous.” The autonomous ship framework for the realization of a crewed autonomous ship (development code "APExS") includes high-speed computer-based information processing technology and risk analyses that support crew members' situational awareness and the decision-making (action planning) necessary for maneuvering. In fact, the computer (machine) will execute maneuvering operations only after receiving crew’s approval.

APExS-auto positions the computer (machine) as an active supporter of the crew and gives the functions more sophistication.

In developing APExS-auto, the NYK Group adopted a development method called model-based design, which is rare in the shipping industry. Model-based design is already a widespread development method in the automotive industry.
Model-based design expresses a complicated idea with a model, designs the model by determining its hierarchy, and repeats model simulations to advance development and verification in parallel. Compared to the conventional method of creating technical ideas, elements, and specifications first and then verifying them, we have achieved significant efficiency by minimizing development rework.

Since it is difficult to repeat verification under the actual condition the development of various functions of ships, it is expected that the development method of model-based design will be adopted in the shipping industry in the future. The NYK Group believes that it is of great significance to develop a model-based design ahead of other initiatives and pave the way for new development methods.

The NYK Group will continue to make full use of APExS-auto to develop autonomous ship technology that contributes to advancing safe operations by further deepening cooperation and collaboration with domestic and overseas partners.

* Announcement on March 15, 2022, “NYK Group Companies Participate in Trial to Simulate the Actual Operation of Fully Autonomous Ship”
https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2022/20220303_02.html

** Announcement on May 14, 2020, “Autonomous Ship Framework obtains AiP from ClassNK”
https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2020/20200514_01.html