Tokyo Bay News

Tel Aviv-based maritime technology company Orca AI is continuing its collaboration with NYK Group subsidiary MTI and partners in the second development stage of the MEGURI2040 project administered by the Nippon Foundation.MTI, alongside sister entity Japan Marine Science Inc, is spearheading the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus (DFFAS+) consortium comprising 51 Japan-based companies that will work together on the next phase of MEGURI2040.While the OECD projects that maritime trade volumes could triple by 2050, a skilled crew shortage is growing globally.

An autonomous ship initiative by a group of companies in Japan was recognized by Japan’s Cabinet Office at Fifth Japan Open Innovation Prize Ceremony on Wednesday.The companies receiving recognition are NYK and NYK Group companies Japan Marine Science Inc., MTI Co. Ltd., and Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd.The received Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award at a ceremony hosted by Japan’s Cabinet Office. The four NYK Group companies are participating in…

NYK finalized a contract with Keihin Dock Co., Ltd., an NYK Group company, to modify a tugboat to ammonia-fuel specifications. Sakigake, a tugboat currently fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and operated in Tokyo Bay by NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation will be converted to operate on ammonia fuel by a target completion year of 2024.This R&D was initiated in October 2021 by NYK and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd.

On July 31, the coal carrier Ushio, which NYK had ordered from Honda Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. was delivered at the Saiki Shipyard. A naming ceremony was attended by Masato Mizutani, executive officer, head of fuel operation management group of JERA Co., Inc.; Nobuhiro Kashima, managing executive officer of NYK; and a number of related parties.This vessel is the NYK Group’s first coal carrier for domestic coastal transport by JERA. The ship will be operated by the NYK Group's Asia Pacific Marine Corporation based on a transportation contract between JERA and NYK.

An autonomous containership was recently trialed in the congested waters off Japan's east coast, marking another stepping stone on the path toward full-scale commercial adoption of autonomous vessel technologies.The 749-gross-ton vessel Suzaku, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technologies from Israel-based Orca AI, completed 40 hours of navigation with full autonomy being activated 99% of time.The test run was performed by The Nippon Foundation in partnership with the Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ships (DFFAS) consortium…

Japan's Asahi Tanker said it will start using the world's first electric-powered tanker for ship fuelling, known as bunkering, later this month in an effort to cut carbon emissions.Japan, which is the world's fifth-biggest CO2 emitter, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, while the global shipping industry, which relies on oil to power its vessels, is trying to speed up efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases."The vessel's core energy system is completely electrified to achieve zero emissions of CO2…

An all-electric, battery-powered tanker—said to be the world's first—has been launched at the Koa Sangyo  Co., Ltd. shipyard in Japan.The new vessel, named Asahi, was built for Japanese shipping company Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd. and is scheduled to enter service in Tokyo Bay as a bunker fuel supply ship following completion and delivery in late March 2022. The 62-meter-long vessel has a tank capacity of 1,280 cubic meters.The battery-powered vessel was designed by e5 Lab Inc., a…

The past decade has seen tight restrictions on emissions from vessels, notably with a 2015 move to a .10% sulfur maximum in Emission Control Areas (ECA) in North America and in northern Europe. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) now shapes shipping’s decarbonization future, shipowners are looking at transitions away from fossil fuels. Among the myriad of alternatives are lithium ion batteries and some early forays into hydrogen fuel cells.To date, large batteries are used on short runs…

Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries has ordered a Corvus Energy battery-based energy storage system (ESS) to integrate it into the zero-emissions all-electric propulsion and electrical systems aboard the “e5 tanker” under construction for Asahi Tanker.The battery-powered vessel was designed by e5 Lab Inc., a consortium of leading Japanese shipping and maritime services companies, including Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., set up to build infrastructure services focused on electrically powered vessels.

As maritime barrels toward an autonomous future, the ROBOSHIP Joint Value Creation Project is one that is making waves, literally and figuratively, as a proof of concept (PoC) test using two actual surface vessels was jointly conducted on November 11.This PoC test held in the sea off Toyosu in Tokyo is using a passenger vessel owned by Tokyo Cruise Ship Co., Ltd., and is intended to demonstrate the technologies with the aim of supporting the development and widespread adoption of a navigational support system for coastal vessels.Putting ROBOSHIP to the TestThe PoC was led by e5 Lab Inc.…

A group of Japanese partner companies have signed onto a project initiated by Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd. to build the world's first zero-emission, fully electric-propulsion bunker supply vessel.The so-called e5 Consortium, including Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., Tokyo Electric Power Company, and Mitsubishi Corporation, say they will work toward developing, realizing and commercializing zero-emission electric vessels.

Several companies within Japan's NYK Group have partnered to test the remote navigation of a tugboat in Tokyo Bay.The tugboat, operated by NYK's Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation, was equipped with a manned remotely controlled system and put to the test by NYK and its group companies MTI Co. Ltd., Keihin Dock Co. Ltd., and Japan Marine Science Inc. (JMS).During the trials, the tug was operated remotely from an operation center in the city of Nishinomiya, approximately 400 kilometers away.

Yokohama-based Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co has launched a cargo-passenger ship currently under construction for Tokai Kisen Co., Ltd.The new vessel will inherit the name Salvia Maru, replacing the second ship bearing the name that is currently operated by the company.The formal christening was conducted by Tokai Kisen President Junichi Yamazaki, with a ceremonial rope cutting by the fourth Tokai Kisen Mascot Girl, Natsumi Koike.The handover is scheduled for June 2020 upon completion of rigging work, after which the vessel will enter service on a regular route connecting Tokyo with the Tokyo Islands of Oshima, Toshima, Niijima, Shikineshima…

Japan's Tokyo Gas rejected delivery of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker on Thursday after the vessel suffered a power outage after entering Tokyo Bay, a company spokesman told Reuters on Friday.The 157,000 cubic metres tanker, Energy Atlantic, loaded a cargo from Corpus Christi LNG Terminal on Sept. 3 and was due to deliver the cargo to Negishi terminal, Refinitiv Eikon ship-tracking data showed.The carrier regained power but Tokyo Gas did not take delivery for safety reasons because the carrier operator did not know the reason for the outage, the spokesman said.He added that there is no supply issue because the company has sufficient stockpiles.Reporting by Yuka Obayashi

Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., and Mitsubishi Corporation today announced their agreement to create a strategic partnership to provide new infrastructure services in the marine shipping industry that focus on electrically powered vessels. Their newly established company, e5 Lab. Inc. (e5 Lab) will work to develop and promote the greater use of these relatively clean modes of marine transport.There are a number of challenges facing Japan's shipping industry (see below)…

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and three other compatriot firms have joined hands to establish a new company that will develop and promote zero-emission fully electric vessels.Asahi Tanker Co, a shipping company to transport petroleum, Japan's largest trading company  Mitsubishi Corp, and the shipping & marine supplier  Exeno Yamamizu Corp have joined MOL to set up e5 Lab Inc that will consolidate the technologies, know-how and network of the four major shareholders.e5 Lab will work to develop and promote the greater use of these relatively clean modes of marine transport, MOL said in a press release.There are a number of challenges facing Japan's shipping industry (see below)…

Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen (NYK Line) announced that its two subsidiaries Wing Maritime Service Corporation and Kaiyo Kogyo Corporation that provide harbor tugboat and other related services, merged today to form Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation.The 100percent NYK owned Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation officially began operations yesterday (July 1, 2019), said the statement.Shin-Nippon president Yukihiro Tatara said: “Wing Maritime Service Corporation has mainly provided tugboat services and escort services in the Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Chiba areas.

Innovative Electric Tanker design from Japan coming to local waterways by 2020The global push to dramatically reduce emissions from the world’s fleet of ships continues to drive innovation across the sector, including the introduction of a new Pure Electric Tanker concept released today from Japan. With ClassNK in place to make technical advice on the ship design and electric propulsion package, Asahi Tanker Co. Ltd. and its partner Exeno-Yamamizu Corporation Tokyo jointly developed the new domestic shipping tanker design which incorporates “zero emission electric propulsion.”Dubbed e5…

Arkas Bunkering have signed a protocol with Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as bunker fuel in Turkish and nearby seas. As environmentally-friendly buildings, vessels and fuels have become more popular than ever, new applications acting as reminders for both states and civil initiatives of their environmental responsibilities continue to emerge. With International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) global sulphur cap set to enter into force in 2020, the maximum amount of sulphur allowed to be contained in bunker fuel will be reduced worldwide. In this regard, Arkas Bunkering, Turkey’s top bunker supplier for three consecutive years according to Energy Market Regulatory Authority data…

Japanese LNG imports reach 8.7 mln T in January, pressuring regional LNG market with China also hoovering up cargoes. Japanese imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) hit their highest in at least five years in January, with shipments expected to continue at a brisk pace this month as freezing weather keeps its grip on the world's top buyer of the fuel. Japan's imports of LNG rose to nearly 8.7 million tonnes last month, up 8 percent from December and the largest volume since at least January, 2013, according to ship tracking data on Thomson Reuters Eikon that stretches back five years. That upturn is piling further pressure on the region's spot markets for the commodity…

A series of mishaps at sea has prompted the U.S. Navy to examine the way it conducts business. The accidents shared some similar contributing causes such as fundamental watchstanding and seamanship, and each of these incidents were preventable. The four incidents involved surface combatants in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility. • On January 31, 2017, the Yokosuka-based Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Antietam, while anchored in high winds, dragged anchor and ran aground in Tokyo Bay. 1,100 gallons of hydraulic fluid spilled into Tokyo Bay.

U.S. warship USS John S. McCain, which was involved in a collision with a cargo ship east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore in August, has arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for repair. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer DDG 56 arrived in Tokyo Bay aboard heavy lift transport vessel MV Treasure on December 5, and arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka on December 13 following several days of preparations. The vessel will be repaired by U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility-Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka before returning to service in U.S. 7th Fleet.

Commanders of U.S. warship removed after cargo ship collision; seven sailors killed in June collision. The U.S. Navy has removed the two senior officers and the senior enlisted sailor on a U.S. warship that almost sank off the coast of Japan in June after it was struck by a Philippine container ship, the Navy said on Friday. Multiple investigations have yet to apportion blame for the accident that killed seven U.S. sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer the USS Fitzgerald. However, the punishments are the first public admission by the U.S. Navy that mistakes by the crew contributed to the deadliest incident on a U.S. warship since Islamist extremists bombed the USS Cole in Yemen's Aden harbour in 2000. "The collision was avoidable and both ships demonstrated poor seamanship.