Following last month's announcement, the autonomous passenger ship Olympia Dream Seto began commercial operations on January 1, 2026, connecting Shin-Okayama Port in Okayama City with Tonosho Port on Shodoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. Crew members monitor trips for safety, marking a milestone in addressing shipping crew shortages and reducing human-error accidents.
Operated by the Okayama-based Ryobi Group, the 65.56-meter vessel with 942 gross tons and capacity for 500 passengers makes four round trips daily. It uses synthesized data from AIS, radar, and sensors for autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, docking, and undocking.
The ship passed ministry screening on December 5 and aced a December 10 demonstration, where the captain only monitored screens as it autonomously navigated obstacles and handled berthing. A land-based Fleet Operation Center at Shin-Okayama Port provides real-time weather analysis and equipment monitoring via multiple screens.
The Nippon Foundation highlighted that human error causes 80% of maritime accidents, noting autonomous systems maintain consistent performance unlike fatigued crews. The consortium of 53 organizations, including shipping and shipbuilding firms, plans three more autonomous vessels by March, aiming to shape international rules based on operational data.
