Japan shipbuilders unite to design decarbonised ships

They plan to use alternative fuels and technology.

Leading Japanese shipbuilding and shipping companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on designing and building ships that use alternative fuels and technologies to decarbonise the shipping industry.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., "K" LINE, MOL, NYK Line, JMU, and NSY announced the MoU in a joint statement.

The companies are aiming to create a standard design framework of ships, specifically on Liquefied CO2 carriers and alternative fuel ships to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry.

The seven companies tapped MILES Co., Ltd. for the initial design of these next-generation ships. Other shipyards will then use these designs to ensure consistency across ship designs and efficiency in production.

"K" LINE, MOL, and NYK Line have decided to invest in MILES to accelerate this cross-industry collaboration in Japan and to implement the standard design in multiple shipyards.

JMU and NSY have also decided to invest in MILES in order to strengthen such collaboration so that the standard specifications and designs provided can be widely used in the domestic shipbuilding industry, thereby regaining global competitiveness.

“Through this MoU, the companies will aim to contribute to the further progress of a sustainable carbon neutral society,” the statement read.