MEGURI2040 Stage 2 Achievements Announced
Four Demonstration Ships Obtain Japanese Government Certification as Autonomous Ships
— Achieving Level 4* Autonomous Navigation under Commercial Operations. The social implementation of autonomous ships enters a new stage —
MTI is participating in the Fully Autonomous Ship Project “MEGURI2040”, promoted by The Nippon Foundation (“MEGURI2040**”). On 27 March 2026, the Company announced that, in Stage 2 of the project, all four demonstration ships successfully passed ship inspections conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) as autonomous ships, and commenced commercial operations as such.
MEGURI2040 is a project launched by The Nippon Foundation in 2020, aiming to realize fully autonomous ships and ensure stable transportation of people and goods. The project addresses urgent issues facing the maritime industry, including crew shortages and aging population, as well as accidents attributable to human error.
Fifty-three domestic companies that share the project’s vision and social significance have formed the DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus***) Consortium, through which they have promoted technological development and social implementation by leveraging their respective strengths. MTI is a member of the DFFAS+ Consortium and has been engaged in the concept design and risk assessment of autonomous ships, with a particular focus on coastal ships. In addition, we have led the standardization working group, advancing the standardization of key technologies required for autonomous ships using the demonstration ship “GENBU”.
Key Points of the Demonstration and Development
The DFFAS+ Consortium has designed and developed autonomous ships not as standalone technologies, but as integrated operational systems that combine onboard systems, communication systems, and land-based support systems. The demonstration program covered both newly built and retrofitted ships, including cargo ships and passenger ships with varying operational requirements. All ships incorporate Level 4–equivalent autonomous navigation capabilities. These systems integrate functions such as surrounding environment recognition, integrated display of navigation status, prediction of future ship behaviour, and the formulation of collision avoidance manoeuvres and route planning. The design is based on autonomous decision-making, with human monitoring and intervention assumed when necessary.
The ships operate in coordination with land-based Fleet Operation Centers —one permanent and one mobile—that are capable of simultaneously monitoring and supporting multiple ships via stable satellite and mobile communication links. This configuration ensures both operational safety and redundancy.
Development and Implementation
In MEGURI2040, together with Japan Marine Science Inc. (an NYK-Group company) and Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. MTI acts as the PMO (Project Management Office) of the DFFAS+ Consortium (referred to as the “DFFAS” Consortium in Stage 1). We are vigorously leading and driving the development and practical implementation of autonomous ship technologies, focusing particularly on the concept design and risk assessment of autonomous ships targeting coastal ships.
As the working group leader of the demonstration working group****, MTI acted as the system integrator in collaboration with participating companies for the newly built container ship GENBU, which is equipped with a full suite of autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 autonomous navigation for automobiles. During the verification phase, we established the simulation platform for shore verification, coordinated land-based testing, and conducted verification at sea. As a result of these efforts, GENBU received the world’s first certification for autonomous ships from ClassNK and a certificate of inspection as an autonomous ship from MLIT, enabling autonomous operation in commercial service. We plan to address the evaluation and verification of post-operation safety and the reduction of crew workload going forward.
In addition to these initiatives for oceangoing ships, MTI is leading the standardization working group to help establish a common framework of essential technologies for autonomous ships and promote their market adoption.
Four Demonstration Ships
In Stage 2, the following four ships—operating under different conditions and in different navigation environments—were verified for Level 4-equivalent autonomous navigation functions under commercial operations and successfully passed MLIT inspections as autonomous ships.
■Newly Built Coastal Container Ship “GENBU”
GENBU is a coastal container ship measuring approximately 134 meters in length, with a capacity of 700 TEU, maintained by IKOUS Corporation and operated by Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd., engaged in container cargo transport on a route between Kobe and Tokyo by way of Osaka, Nagoya, Shimizu, and Yokohama. With a view to the widespread adoption of autonomous ships, the ship was designed and constructed as a flagship equipped with all functions required for autonomous operations, and on 28 January 2026, it passed inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and was certified as an “autonomous ship”.
■Passenger Ferry “Olympia Dream Seto”
Olympia Dream Seto is operated by International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd. It is approximately 66 meters in length and serves as a remote island ferry with a capacity of 500 passengers, linking Shin-Okayama Port (Okayama City) and Tonosho Port (Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture). Shipping routes in the Seto Inland Sea are congested and have many islands, reefs, and other obstacles. After safety evaluations confirmed that the system’s sensors, planners, and other components operated appropriately in this environment, on December 5 the ferry received certification as an autonomous ship, becoming the first passenger ferry in Japan to do so.
■RORO Ship “HOKUREN MARU No.2”
HOKUREN MARU No. 2 is a coastal Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) ship operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Co., Ltd., measuring approximately 173 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 11,413 tons. The ship is engaged in the transportation of agricultural products, primarily fresh milk from Hokkaido, operating on the route between Kushiro Port in Hokkaido and Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. On 9 February 2026, the ship successfully passed the inspection as an “autonomous ship”.
■Coastal Container Ship “MIKAGE”
MIKAGE is a coastal container ship operated by Imoto Shipping Co., Ltd., measuring 96.81 meters in length with a capacity of 245 TEU. As the most widely used 749 GT coastal container ship type in Japan, the ship supports domestic logistics by connecting ports throughout the country. To promote the widespread adoption of automation in commonly used coastal ships and contribute to the sustainable maintenance of domestic logistics, MIKAGE successfully passed the inspection as an “autonomous ship” on 25 March 2026.
*The autonomous navigation operational area is between Kobe and Nagoya.
Land-based Fleet Operation Centers Supporting Autonomous Ships
In addition to onboard systems, these autonomous ships are operated safely and efficiently through monitoring and support provided by land-based Fleet Operation Centers (FOCs).
At the FOCs, real-time information such as navigational status, machinery conditions, and surrounding environmental data from multiple autonomous ships is aggregated and visualized for continuous monitoring. When necessary, navigational, and decision-making support is provided, contributing to enhanced safety and reduced workload for seafarers.
At the press conference, a world-first demonstration***** was presented, in which multiple autonomous ships under commercial operation were connected in real time with the land-based Fleet Operation Centers (FOCs), enabling simultaneous support for multiple ships.
■Permanent land-based Fleet Operation Center
This is located within the headquarters of Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. It represents the world’s first operational framework that enables simultaneous navigational support from land for multiple autonomous ships operating under different purposes and navigation environments. In addition to reducing the workload of seafarers and enhancing ship safety, the FOC contributes to the establishment of an operational model designed to support the future widespread adoption of autonomous ships.
■Mobile Fleet Operation Center
This is a cargo trailer-type FOC developed primarily by Japan Radio Co., Ltd. A key feature of the mobile FOC is its ability to be relocated by towing, allowing it to move to safe locations and continue providing remote navigational support to multiple autonomous ships, even during emergencies such as natural disasters or power outages. Despite its compact size of approximately 7 meters in length, it integrates the systems required for navigation monitoring and decision-making support. It is positioned as a practical operational model designed with the future widespread adoption of autonomous ships in mind.
*A technological level where fully autonomous navigation is partially available, Level 4 autonomy refers to fully automated operation in a designated area under specific conditions without human intervention.(The definition of automated operation for ships is currently being discussed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). For convenience, the definition for automobiles is used.)
Cf. https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001226541.pdf (external link, in Japanese only).
** The Fully Autonomous Ship Project MEGURI2040 “Technology Development Grant Program for the Social Implementation of Fully Autonomous Ships”
This grant program supports technology development aimed at accelerating the practical deployment of fully autonomous ships. By fostering further momentum in this field, the program seeks to drive transformation across Japan’s logistics sector as well as its broader economic and social infrastructure.
*** The Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ships Plus (DFFAS+) Consortium is led by Japan Marine Science Inc. Participating companies include; Akasaka Diesels Limited, IKOUS Corporation, Imoto Lines,Ltd., Weathernews Inc., Uyeno Transtech Ltd., EIZO Corporation, SK WINCH CO.,LTD., MTI Co., Ltd., NX Shipping Co.,Ltd., NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., KAWASAKI KINKAI KISEN KAISHA,LTD., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., KYOKUYO SHIPYARD CORPORATION, Kinkai Yusen Co., Ltd., International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd., Sunflame Co., Ltd., Sanwa Dock Co., Ltd., JAPAN HAMWORTHY CO.,LTD., Japan Marine United Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd., Space Compass Corporation, Tsuneishi Kure Dockyard Co., Ltd., TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd., TERASAKI ELECTRIC CO.,LTD, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., TOKYO KEIKI INC., TST Corporation, NAIKEN R&D., Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., Nabtesco Corporation, NIHON SHIPYARD CO.,LTD., Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, The Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd., BEMAC Corporation, pluszero, Inc., FUJIWARA SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD., FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Marindows Inc., Marubeni Corporation, MIURA CO., LTD., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., MUKAISHIMA DOCK YARD CO., LTD, YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.
**** A collective term for the working groups within the DFFAS+ project responsible for the practical development of the autonomous navigation system and the implementation of autonomous operations on actual ships. It consists of four sub-working groups: newly built container ship, existing container ship, remote island passenger ferry, and Ro-Ro ship. Among these, the NYK Group participates in the newly built container ship and remote island passenger ferry working groups.
***** According to The Nippon Foundation (as of March 2026), this is the world’s first instance of land-based navigational support for multiple autonomous ships under commercial operation.