Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has completed a sea demonstration test, using an autonomous navigation system as part of the Meguri 2040 fully autonomous ship project administrated by the Nippon Foundation.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha has demonstrated autonomous navigation on a roro cargo ship for a round-trip route of approximately 1,600km between Hitachi Port and Kushiro Port.
The autonomous navigation system was installed on the 11,413 gross-ton large roro cargo ship “Hokuren Maru No. 2” operated by K Line for a total of three voyages starting on October 1, 2023.
“We confirmed that recognition, analysis, and decision making by the autonomous navigation system are executed with a high degree of accuracy in coastal navigation,” the Japanese giant said in a statement.
“In the experimental route, the autonomous navigation system was used to navigate while maintaining the normal crew navigation tasks, and in situations where avoidance was necessary, the autonomous navigation system proposed avoidance routes and controlled steering to safely avoid other vessels. The autonomous navigation system has achieved an average system operation rate of approximately 96% in the sea area set as operational design domain.”
The company notes that data obtained from the sea demonstration tests will be used to further enhance the autonomous navigation system.
K Line will continue to collaborate with Japan Radio, YDK Technologies, and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen to further develop a comprehensive system that contributes to the improvement of fully autonomous ships technology.
“We will continue to enhance the onboard system based on the research and development achievements thus far and develop an automatic vessel speed control system in preparation for the 2025 sea demonstration test. Our goal is to create an autonomous navigation system with high versatility that can be implemented in various types of vessels.”
Furthermore, it will work on the development of off board system and ship-to-shore communication systems, with the aim of establishing continuous monitoring of vessel conditions from shore and providing navigational assistance.
