Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
JRCS Co., Ltd.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)
Nabtesco Corporation
Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Terasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
Tsuneishi shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

Announcements

The University of Tokyo and a group of Japanese technology leaders (Note 1) established a cooperation program called "Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering" (MODE) on October 1, 2022. The program aims to promote and enhance digital engineering technology and skills for the maritime sector by building cooperative simulation platforms.

Six new companies; JRCS Corporation, MOL Corporation, Nabtesco Corporation, Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation, Terasaki Electric Industry Corporation, and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Corporation joined Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering (MODE) on April 3, 2023.

1. Progress in the use of digital engineering in the maritime sector

The importance of maritime logistics for people's lives, economy, and social activities is remarkable, as ships carry approximately 80% of the world's cargo and more than 99% of Japan's cargo.

In the context of global decarbonization, developing and implementing new technologies to utilize renewable energy or alternative fuels, and carrying out other decarbonization activities to prevent global warming by reducing CO2 and other emissions from ships, is crucial. In addition, there is a need to introduce digitalization and automation more effectively and extensively in order to promote safety improvements and workstyle reforms in shipping services and manufacturing.

Since its establishment, MODE has launched specific research projects on low-carbon and decarbonized ships and automated vessels, which are the key to next-generation sustainable marine logistics. MODE has addressed the challenges of the maritime industry by using model-based development (MBD) (Note 2) and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) (Note 3), which are increasingly being introduced in the automobile industry.

Welcoming six new companies (two shipyards, three marine equipment manufacturers, and one shipping company) to MODE is expected to further expand and strengthen the formation of a center for research and development, practical implementation, and human resource development for decarbonization and automation in the maritime sector. The program will continue to expand its activities by inviting more participants from Japan and abroad.

2. announcement of new participating members

(in alphabetical order) As of August 30, 2023

JRCS Co., Ltd.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)
Nabtesco Corporation
Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Terasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
Tsuneishi shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

About MODE

This is a social collaboration program established at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo on October 1, 2022, to address issues faced by the Japanese maritime industry, such as "development of new technologies and their social implementation in the global trend toward decarbonization," "introduction of automated vessels to improve safety and work styles to maintain shipping services," and "ensuring overwhelming productivity in the increasingly sophisticated ship design and manufacturing processes.

Name of the participating organizations

As of August 30, 2023

The University of Tokyo National University Corporation
BEMAC Corporation
ClassNK
Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
Japan Marine United Corporation
Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
JRCS Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)
MTI Co., Ltd.
Nabtesco Corporation
NAPA Ltd.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK)
Shin Kurushima Sanoyas Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Terasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
Tsuneishi shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

Note 1: NYK Group company MTI Co., Ltd., Japan Marine United Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Furuno Electric Co., Ltd., Japan Radio Co., Ltd., BEMAC Corporation, ClassNK and NAPA Ltd.

Note 2: Model-Based Development (MBD). A development method to reduce total development man-hours and man-days by utilizing simulation models in design and development and significantly reducing improvements through prototyping and testing of actual products.

Note 3: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). A method of systems engineering that uses a modeling language to describe a system by defining the concept of operation and clarifying functional requirements based on the goals to be achieved by the system, and then designing, verifying, and managing the system.

Related Press release

*1 "Establishment of the "Maritime Digital Engineering" Social Cooperation Course at the University of Tokyo - Toward the construction of a common infrastructure for simulation to realize sustainable maritime logistics" (2022/8/8)
https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/information/category/press/9621.html

Related Website
Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering Laboratory (MODE Lab)
https://mode.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/