The Nippon Foundation announced on Wednesday that the world's first regular passenger ferry using autonomous navigation technology will begin commercial operations as soon as next March. The initiative seeks to address ship crew shortages and reduce accidents caused by human error. The ferry will connect Okayama city and Shodoshima island in Kagawa Prefecture, marking the first commercial operation of an autonomous ship carrying ordinary passengers.
The Nippon Foundation launched the autonomous ship project in 2020, collaborating with domestic shipping, shipbuilding, communications, and trading companies. As part of this effort, the Olympia Dream Seto ferry, operated by Kokusai Ryobi Ferry, has been equipped with a feature for fully automatic operation under specific conditions. It became the first ship certified by the Japanese government as an "autonomous ship."
The vessel will conduct familiarization voyages this week with passengers and system personnel, with full-scale commercial operations set to begin by the end of fiscal 2025. It uses sensors to recognize surrounding conditions, automatically adjusting its course to avoid obstacles and controlling the rudder and propeller. Manual control will activate in the event of danger.
According to the foundation, three additional vessels are slated to launch commercial operations using autonomous navigation by the end of March. "I think Japan is ahead of the rest of the world," said Mitsuyuki Unno, executive director of the foundation. "We hope to contribute to the creation of international rules as a leader."
This initiative represents a significant step toward alleviating labor shortages in the shipping industry and enhancing maritime safety.