JRC has been granted Approval in Principle (AiP) *¹ from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for joint development of Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System, which is being developed in cooperation with KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, Ltd., KAWASAKI KINKAI KISEN KAISHA, Ltd. (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.

JRC has been in progress in the Joint Technological Development Program for the Demonstration test of Fully Autonomous Ships under the MEGURI 2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project*² (MEGURI2040) administrated by the Nippon Foundation.
Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System, the core technology of the autonomous navigation system, has been granted AiP from ClassNK.

Active human in the loop

AiP certificate

Background of approach

From 2021, JRC has been conducting joint research and development with KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, Ltd. and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd. for the Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System to assist the navigation in making accurate maneuvering decisions, and we are currently working on MEGURI 2040 using technology developed through joint research and development.
In 2022, we have been conducting the system design targeting the existing large RORO cargo ship "HOKUREN MARU No. 2" operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen. We have been collaborating with ClassNK in verification and validation for safety of the system, including the conditions of use and backup systems.

System summary

The Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System automatically generates some routes for avoiding a collision with other ships on a monitored route when a collision with another ship due to OZT *³ is predicted and assists the operator in avoiding the collision. The system will consider COLREGs*⁴ and suggest up to two avoidance routes that will allow the ship to return to its original course line within 1 hour. In addition, track control is performed for the selected avoidance route by linking the system with Auto Pilot and ECDIS*⁵.

Scene of proposing avoidance routes

JRC will continue to work with KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, Ltd., Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd. to develop a comprehensive system that will contribute to the improvement of fully autonomous ships technology as the core technology with the Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System in order to realize the autonomous navigation system on the existing RORO cargo ship "HOKUREN MARU No. 2".

*1 AiP, which stands for Approval in Principle, is a scheme for the examination of plans and documents based on the rules for products in the early design stage to confirm their technical feasibility from the viewpoint of the rules.
Source : ClassNK

*2 A subsidization scheme to cultivate further momentum for technological development in the field of fully autonomous ships, promoting changes in logistics, economies, and social infrastructure in Japan, and supporting such technological development through the success of the world's first fully autonomous operation trials by domestic coastal vessels. We are participating as a member of the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus consortium (DFFAS+).

MEGURI2040 logo
DFFAS+ logo

*3 OZT : Obstacle Zone by Target

*4 COLREGs : International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

*5 ECDIS : Electronic Chart Display and Information System

Related Information

News（28 November 2023）
The Nippon Foundation MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project Demonstration test of autonomous navigation system on large RORO cargo

News（24 July 2023）
Participating in the Second Stage of the Nippon Foundation MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project for Social Implementation

News（2 November 2021）
JRC Starts Joint R&D on Integrated Navigation Support System Using AI and Other Cutting-edge Technologies - Initiative for Expediting Implementation of Autonomous Ships -

News（3 September 2021）
Japan Radio Completes Installation of Fleet Operation Center for Support of Autonomous Ships from Shore - DFFAS Project under Autonomous Ship Development Program Led by Nippon Foundation -

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