Japan’s three major shipping companies (Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) have partnered with Japan’s leading shipyards in an effort to revitalize Japan’s shipbuilding industry.
According to Nikkei Asia, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) will jointly invest in MILES, a Tokyo-based ship design company jointly owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (51%) and Imabari Shipbuilding (49%).
The move aims to promote standardized designs for bulk carriers and revitalize the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, a business that has largely shifted overseas.
Observers have noted that the collaborative investment by Japan’s major shipowners in a ship design company mirrors the approach taken by China’s Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI). Both models leverage government-backed centralized ship design systems to accelerate standardization and enhance efficiency.
Moreover, this investment aligns with the Japanese government’s shipyard modernization initiative. Following an inspection of Japan’s largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Yasuyuki Kaneko, emphasized: “Unless shipyards expand their facilities, Japan’s shipbuilding industry will continue to lag behind China and South Korea.”
Earlier, in its comprehensive economic plan approved on November 21, the Japanese government announced it would establish a shipbuilding industry revitalization roadmap by the end of 2025. The plan involves investing approximately ¥1 trillion in public and private funds, with the goal of doubling Japan’s shipbuilding capacity from the current level of about 9.08 million gross tons by 2035.
AloJapan.com