Furuno announced that, in Stage 2 of the Fully Autonomous Ship Project “MEGURI2040” *1, promoted by The Nippon Foundation, all four demonstration vessels passed ship inspections conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), obtained certification as autonomous ships, and commenced commercial operations as such.
MEGURI2040 is a project launched in 2020 with the aim of realizing fully autonomous vessels and ensuring the stable transportation of people and goods. The project addresses pressing challenges facing the maritime industry, including crew shortages caused by demographic changes and maritime accidents attributable to human error. A total of 53 Japanese companies sharing the project’s vision and social significance have formed the DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus) Consortium*2, through which technological development and social implementation have been promoted by leveraging the strengths of each participant.
Furuno is a member of the DFFAS+ Consortium and, in Stage 2, developed and implemented autonomous navigation systems as well as fleet support systems for three of the four demonstration vessels: the newly built domestic coastal container vessel “GENBU,” the coastal container vessel “MIKAGE,” and the passenger ferry “Olympia Dream Seto.”
Key points of the demonstration and development
The DFFAS+ Consortium has designed and developed autonomous ships not as standalone technologies, but as integrated operational systems that combine onboard systems, communication systems, and land-based support systems.
The demonstration program covered both newly built and retrofitted vessels, including cargo ships and passenger ships with varying operational requirements. All vessels incorporate Level 4–equivalent autonomous navigation*3 capabilities.
These systems integrate functions such as surrounding environment recognition, integrated display of navigation status, prediction of future vessel behavior, and the formulation of collision avoidance maneuvers and route planning. The design is based on autonomous decision-making, with human monitoring and intervention assumed when necessary.
The vessels operate in coordination with land-based Fleet Operation Centers —one permanent and one mobile—that are capable of simultaneously monitoring and supporting multiple vessels via stable satellite and mobile communication links. This configuration ensures both operational safety and redundancy.
Four demonstration vessels
In Stage 2, the following four vessels—operating under different conditions and in different navigation environments—were verified for Level 4-equivalent autonomous navigation functions under commercial operations and successfully passed MLIT inspections as autonomous ships.
-
Newly built coastal container vessel “GENBU”
GENBU is a coastal container vessel measuring approximately 134 meters in length, with a capacity of 700 TEU, maintained by IKOUS Corporation and operated by Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd., engaged in container cargo transport on a route between Kobe and Tokyo by way of Osaka, Nagoya, Shimizu, and Yokohama. With a view to the widespread adoption of autonomous ships, the vessel was designed and constructed as a flagship equipped with all functions required for autonomous operations, and on 28 January 2026, it passed inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and was certified as an “autonomous ship”.
-
-
Passenger ferry “Olympia Dream Seto”
Olympia Dream Seto is operated by International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd. It is approximately 66 meters in length and serves as a remote island ferry with a capacity of 500 passengers, linking Shin-Okayama Port (Okayama City) and Tonosho Port (Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture). Shipping routes in the Seto Inland Sea are congested and have many islands, reefs, and other obstacles. After safety evaluations confirmed that the system’s sensors, planners, and other components operated appropriately in this environment, on December 5 the ferry received certification as an autonomous ship, becoming the first passenger ferry in Japan to do so.
-
-
RORO vessel “HOKUREN MARU No.2”
HOKUREN MARU No. 2 is a coastal Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) vessel operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Co., Ltd., measuring approximately 173 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 11,413 tons. The vessel is engaged in the transportation of agricultural products, primarily fresh milk from Hokkaido, operating on the route between Kushiro Port in Hokkaido and Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. On 9 February 2026, the vessel successfully passed the inspection as an “autonomous ship.”
-
-
Coastal container vessel “MIKAGE”
MIKAGE is a coastal container vessel operated by Imoto Shipping Co., Ltd., measuring 96.81 meters in length with a capacity of 245 TEU. As the most widely used 749 GT coastal container ship type in Japan, the vessel supports domestic logistics by connecting ports throughout the country.
To promote the widespread adoption of automation in commonly used coastal vessels and contribute to the sustainable maintenance of domestic logistics, MIKAGE successfully passed the inspection as an “autonomous ship” on 25 March 2026.
The autonomous navigation operational area is between Kobe and Nagoya.
-
Land-based Fleet Operation Centers supporting autonomous ships
In addition to onboard systems, these autonomous ships are operated safely and efficiently through monitoring and support provided by land-based Fleet Operation Centers (FOCs).
At the FOCs, real-time information such as navigational status, machinery conditions, and surrounding environmental data from multiple autonomous ships is aggregated and visualized for continuous monitoring. When necessary, navigational, and decision-making support is provided, contributing to enhanced safety and reduced workload for seafarers.
At the press conference, a world-first*4 demonstration was presented, in which multiple autonomous ships under commercial operation were connected in real time with the land-based FOCs, enabling simultaneous support for multiple vessels.
-
Permanent land-based Fleet Operation Center
This is located within the headquarters of Furuno in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. It represents the world’s first operational framework that enables simultaneous navigational support from land for multiple autonomous ships operating under different purposes and navigation environments.
In addition to reducing the workload of seafarers and enhancing vessel safety, the FOC contributes to the establishment of an operational model designed to support the future widespread adoption of autonomous ships.
-
-
Mobile Fleet Operation Center
This is a cargo trailer-type FOC developed primarily by Japan Radio Co., Ltd. A key feature of the mobile FOC is its ability to be relocated by towing, allowing it to move to safe locations and continue providing remote navigational support to multiple autonomous ships, even during emergencies such as natural disasters or power outages. Despite its compact size of approximately 7 meters in length, it integrates the systems required for navigation monitoring and decision-making support. It is positioned as a practical operational model designed with the future widespread adoption of autonomous ships in mind.
-
*1: The Fully Autonomous Ship Project MEGURI2040, led by The Nippon Foundation. This grant program supports technology development aimed at accelerating the practical deployment of fully autonomous ships. By fostering further momentum in this field, the program seeks to drive transformation across Japan’s logistics sector as well as its broader economic and social infrastructure.
*2: The Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus (DFFAS+) Consortium is led by Japan Marine Science Inc. Participating companies include; Akasaka Diesels Limited, IKOUS Corporation, Imoto Lines,Ltd., Weathernews Inc., Uyeno Transtech Ltd., EIZO Corporation, SK WINCH CO.,LTD., MTI Co., Ltd., NX Shipping Co.,Ltd., NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., KAWASAKI KINKAI KISEN KAISHA,LTD., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., KYOKUYO SHIPYARD CORPORATION, Kinkai Yusen Co., Ltd., International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd., Sunflame Co., Ltd., Sanwa Dock Co., Ltd., JAPAN HAMWORTHY CO.,LTD., Japan Marine United Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd., Space Compass Corporation, Tsuneishi Kure Dockyard Co., Ltd., TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd., TERASAKI ELECTRIC CO.,LTD, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., TOKYO KEIKI INC., TST Corporation, NAIKEN R&D., Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., Nabtesco Corporation, NIHON SHIPYARD CO.,LTD., Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, The Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd., BEMAC Corporation, pluszero, Inc., FUJIWARA SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD., FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Marindows Inc., Marubeni Corporation, MIURA CO., LTD., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., MUKAISHIMA DOCK YARD CO., LTD, YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.,
*3: Level 4–equivalent autonomous navigation is a technological level where fully autonomous navigation is partially available, Level 4 autonomy refers to fully automated operation in a designated area under specific conditions without human intervention. (The definition of automated operation for ships is currently being discussed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). For convenience, the definition for automobiles is used.)
Cf. https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001226541.pdf (external link, in Japanese only).
*4: According to The Nippon Foundation (as of March 2026), this is the world’s first instance of land-based navigational support for multiple autonomous ships under commercial operation.
Related Links:
Announced on March 31, 2026:World’s first commercial operation of autonomous container ship with level 4 capability
https://www.furuno.co.jp/en/news/general/general_category.html?itemid=1790&dispmid=961