MEGURI2040 Announces Phase 2 Results: Four Demonstration Vessels Obtain Autonomous Ship Certification from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. announced that four demonstration vessels in the MEGURI2040 project have obtained Japan's first official certifications for autonomous ships from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. These ships, part of a 53-company consortium, are now in commercial operation, showcasing Level 4 autonomous capabilities. The system integrates onboard, communication, and shore-side support from two Fleet Operation Centers to enhance safety and efficiency in the maritime industry, addressing issues like labor shortages and human error.
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- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 22:54
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Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture; President & CEO: Yukio Furuno; hereinafter "the Company") is participating in the unmanned ship project "MEGURI2040" (*2), promoted by The Nippon Foundation. On March 27, 2026, the company announced that in the project's second stage, all four demonstration vessels passed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's ship inspection as autonomous vessels and have commenced commercial operation as such.
MEGURI2040 is a project promoted by The Nippon Foundation since 2020, aiming to realize unmanned ships and ensure the stable transport of people and goods. It tackles urgent issues facing the maritime industry, such as crew shortages due to a declining birthrate and aging population, and accidents caused by human error. A total of 53 domestic companies that support the project's purpose and social significance have formed the DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus *3) consortium, leveraging their respective strengths to advance technological development and social implementation.
The Company has participated in the DFFAS+ consortium, working on the development of an automatic navigation planning and control system and a fleet support system for the demonstration vessels "Genbu," "Mikage," and "Olympia Dream Seto."
**Demonstration Experiment and Development Points**
The DFFAS+ consortium designed and developed the autonomous navigation system not as a standalone technology, but as an integrated operational system combining shipboard systems, communication systems, and shore-side support systems. The demonstration vessels, which include multiple ship types such as cargo and passenger ships with different uses and operating conditions, possess autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 automation. This was achieved through both newbuilds and retrofitting existing vessels (adding new functions to existing equipment to improve performance). The design combines functions like peripheral recognition, integrated display of navigation status, prediction of future behavior, and formulation of collision avoidance and route plans, based on the premise of autonomous decision-making with human monitoring and intervention. These vessels ensure operational safety and redundancy by operating in conjunction with shore-side support centers (a two-base system with one permanent and one mobile center) that can simultaneously monitor and support multiple vessels via stable satellite and mobile communication lines.
**The Company's Development and Implementation**
In this demonstration, the Company equipped three of the four demonstration vessels with its self-developed autonomous navigation system, undertaking the technological development and demonstration for the social implementation of autonomous ships. As these three vessels differ in ship type, model, and operating conditions, the optimal configuration, including sensor arrangement and system redundancy, was individually designed and constructed for each ship's characteristics. Furthermore, with an eye toward commercial operation, a permanent Fleet Operation Center (FOC) capable of continuously monitoring and supporting multiple autonomous vessels was established within the Company's premises. By developing the shipboard systems and the shore-side support structure as an integrated whole, the Company is contributing to the improvement of safety and reliability in autonomous navigation under commercial operation.
**Four Demonstration Vessels**
In the second stage, the following four vessels, with different uses and navigation environments, verified autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 automation under commercial operation and passed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's ship inspection as autonomous vessels.
**Newbuild Domestic Container Ship "Genbu"**
"Genbu" is a 134-meter-long, 700 TEU domestic container ship managed by E-KO'S Co., Ltd. and operated by Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd. It is engaged in container cargo transport on a route from Kobe to Tokyo, via Osaka, Nagoya, Shimizu, and Yokohama. Envisioning the widespread adoption of unmanned ships, it was designed and built as a flagship equipped with all necessary functions for unmanned operation. On January 28, 2026, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship."
**Passenger Ship "Olympia Dream Seto"**
"Olympia Dream Seto" is a 66-meter-long passenger ship with a capacity of 500, operated by International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd., connecting Shin-Okayama Port in Okayama Prefecture to Tonosho Port in Kagawa Prefecture. In the Seto Inland Sea, an area with heavy vessel traffic and many obstacles like islands and reefs, safety assessments were conducted to verify the proper functioning of the autonomous navigation system. On December 5, 2025, it passed the national ship inspection as the first "autonomous ship" in the country.
**Existing RORO Ship "Hokuren Maru No. 2"**
"Hokuren Maru No. 2" is a 173-meter-long, 11,413 gross tonnage domestic RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) ship operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., where trucks and trailers with cargo can self-propel on and off. It transports agricultural products, mainly fresh milk from Hokkaido, from Kushiro Port in Hokkaido to Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. On February 9, 2026, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship."
**Existing Domestic Container Ship "Mikage"**
"Mikage" is a 96.81-meter-long, 245 TEU, 749 gross ton domestic container ship operated by Imoto Lines, Ltd., the most common type of its kind in Japan. It supports domestic logistics by connecting various ports across Japan. Aiming to make a significant contribution to maintaining the soundness of domestic logistics by promoting automation in the most common type of domestic ship in Japan, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship" on March 25, 2026.
Note) The autonomous operation area is between Kobe and Nagoya.
**Two Shore-Side Support Centers for Autonomous Ships**
In addition to their onboard systems, these autonomous ships are supported for safe and efficient operation through monitoring and assistance from land-based shore-side support centers. These centers collect and visualize information in real-time, such as the navigation status, engine condition, and surrounding environment of multiple autonomous vessels. By providing navigation and decision-making support as needed, they aim to improve safety and reduce the burden on crew members. At a press conference, a world-first (*4) demonstration was unveiled, connecting multiple commercially operating autonomous vessels with the shore support center in real-time, showcasing simultaneous support for multiple ships.
**Permanent Fleet Operation Center**
Located within the Company's premises in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, this is the world's first system to provide simultaneous navigation support from land to multiple vessels with different uses and navigation environments. In addition to reducing crew burden and improving ship safety, it contributes to establishing an operational model for the future widespread adoption of unmanned vessels.
**Mobile Fleet Operation Center**
Developed mainly by Japan Radio Co., Ltd., the mobile fleet operation center is a cargo trailer-type shore support base. A major feature is its ability to be moved by towing, allowing it to relocate to a safe place and continue remote navigation support for multiple autonomous vessels even during disasters or power outages. It consolidates the necessary systems for navigation monitoring and decision support into a compact space of about 7 meters in length and is positioned as a realistic operational model for future expansion.
*1: Refers to the technological stage where fully autonomous operation is possible without human intervention in specific areas or under certain conditions. (The definition of autonomous ship operation is currently under discussion by the IMO and other bodies. The definition for automobiles is used for convenience.) Reference: https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001226541.pdf
*2: MEGURI2040 Unmanned Ship Project "Technology Development Grant Program for the Social Implementation of Unmanned Ships." A grant system to support technology development to promote the practical application of unmanned ships, foster further momentum for technological development in this field, and thereby promote the transformation of Japan's logistics and its economic and social infrastructure.
*3: DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus) is a consortium led by Japan Marine Science Inc. Participating companies include: Japan Marine Science Inc. (Representative), Akasaka Diesels, E-KO’S, Imoto Lines, Weathernews, Uyeno Transtech, EIZO, SK Winch, MTI, NX Kaiun, NTT Docomo Business Solutions, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kyokuyo Shipyard, Kinkai Yusen, International Ryobi Ferry, Sunflame, Sanwa Dock, JRCS, Japan Hamworthy, Japan Marine United, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, SKY Perfect JSAT, Suzuyo Marine, Space Compass, Tsuneishi Dock, Tsuneishi Solutions Tokyo Bay, Terasaki Electric, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Tokyo Keiki, Toyo Signal & Communications, Inland Navigation Future Research Association, Nakashima Propeller, Nabtesco, Nihon Shipyard, Japan Radio, NYK Line, Hanshin Diesel, BEMAC, pluszero, Fujiwara Shipbuilding, Furuno Electric, Honda Motor, Honda Heavy Industries, Marindows, Marubeni, Miura, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Mukaishima Dock, YDK Technologies.
*4: According to a Nippon Foundation survey (as of March 2026). It is a world first to provide navigation support from land to multiple commercially operating autonomous vessels simultaneously.
FURUNO MIRAI PULSE delivers various information about our new businesses, latest technologies, collaborations with partner companies, regional exchanges, and events. (*Pulse: a single, rapidly changing signal).
https://future-vision.furuno.co.jp/mirai-pulse/
MEGURI2040 is a project promoted by The Nippon Foundation since 2020, aiming to realize unmanned ships and ensure the stable transport of people and goods. It tackles urgent issues facing the maritime industry, such as crew shortages due to a declining birthrate and aging population, and accidents caused by human error. A total of 53 domestic companies that support the project's purpose and social significance have formed the DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus *3) consortium, leveraging their respective strengths to advance technological development and social implementation.
The Company has participated in the DFFAS+ consortium, working on the development of an automatic navigation planning and control system and a fleet support system for the demonstration vessels "Genbu," "Mikage," and "Olympia Dream Seto."
**Demonstration Experiment and Development Points**
The DFFAS+ consortium designed and developed the autonomous navigation system not as a standalone technology, but as an integrated operational system combining shipboard systems, communication systems, and shore-side support systems. The demonstration vessels, which include multiple ship types such as cargo and passenger ships with different uses and operating conditions, possess autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 automation. This was achieved through both newbuilds and retrofitting existing vessels (adding new functions to existing equipment to improve performance). The design combines functions like peripheral recognition, integrated display of navigation status, prediction of future behavior, and formulation of collision avoidance and route plans, based on the premise of autonomous decision-making with human monitoring and intervention. These vessels ensure operational safety and redundancy by operating in conjunction with shore-side support centers (a two-base system with one permanent and one mobile center) that can simultaneously monitor and support multiple vessels via stable satellite and mobile communication lines.
**The Company's Development and Implementation**
In this demonstration, the Company equipped three of the four demonstration vessels with its self-developed autonomous navigation system, undertaking the technological development and demonstration for the social implementation of autonomous ships. As these three vessels differ in ship type, model, and operating conditions, the optimal configuration, including sensor arrangement and system redundancy, was individually designed and constructed for each ship's characteristics. Furthermore, with an eye toward commercial operation, a permanent Fleet Operation Center (FOC) capable of continuously monitoring and supporting multiple autonomous vessels was established within the Company's premises. By developing the shipboard systems and the shore-side support structure as an integrated whole, the Company is contributing to the improvement of safety and reliability in autonomous navigation under commercial operation.
**Four Demonstration Vessels**
In the second stage, the following four vessels, with different uses and navigation environments, verified autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 automation under commercial operation and passed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's ship inspection as autonomous vessels.
**Newbuild Domestic Container Ship "Genbu"**
"Genbu" is a 134-meter-long, 700 TEU domestic container ship managed by E-KO'S Co., Ltd. and operated by Suzuyo Marine Co., Ltd. It is engaged in container cargo transport on a route from Kobe to Tokyo, via Osaka, Nagoya, Shimizu, and Yokohama. Envisioning the widespread adoption of unmanned ships, it was designed and built as a flagship equipped with all necessary functions for unmanned operation. On January 28, 2026, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship."
**Passenger Ship "Olympia Dream Seto"**
"Olympia Dream Seto" is a 66-meter-long passenger ship with a capacity of 500, operated by International Ryobi Ferry Co., Ltd., connecting Shin-Okayama Port in Okayama Prefecture to Tonosho Port in Kagawa Prefecture. In the Seto Inland Sea, an area with heavy vessel traffic and many obstacles like islands and reefs, safety assessments were conducted to verify the proper functioning of the autonomous navigation system. On December 5, 2025, it passed the national ship inspection as the first "autonomous ship" in the country.
**Existing RORO Ship "Hokuren Maru No. 2"**
"Hokuren Maru No. 2" is a 173-meter-long, 11,413 gross tonnage domestic RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) ship operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., where trucks and trailers with cargo can self-propel on and off. It transports agricultural products, mainly fresh milk from Hokkaido, from Kushiro Port in Hokkaido to Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. On February 9, 2026, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship."
**Existing Domestic Container Ship "Mikage"**
"Mikage" is a 96.81-meter-long, 245 TEU, 749 gross ton domestic container ship operated by Imoto Lines, Ltd., the most common type of its kind in Japan. It supports domestic logistics by connecting various ports across Japan. Aiming to make a significant contribution to maintaining the soundness of domestic logistics by promoting automation in the most common type of domestic ship in Japan, it passed the national ship inspection as an "autonomous ship" on March 25, 2026.
Note) The autonomous operation area is between Kobe and Nagoya.
**Two Shore-Side Support Centers for Autonomous Ships**
In addition to their onboard systems, these autonomous ships are supported for safe and efficient operation through monitoring and assistance from land-based shore-side support centers. These centers collect and visualize information in real-time, such as the navigation status, engine condition, and surrounding environment of multiple autonomous vessels. By providing navigation and decision-making support as needed, they aim to improve safety and reduce the burden on crew members. At a press conference, a world-first (*4) demonstration was unveiled, connecting multiple commercially operating autonomous vessels with the shore support center in real-time, showcasing simultaneous support for multiple ships.
**Permanent Fleet Operation Center**
Located within the Company's premises in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, this is the world's first system to provide simultaneous navigation support from land to multiple vessels with different uses and navigation environments. In addition to reducing crew burden and improving ship safety, it contributes to establishing an operational model for the future widespread adoption of unmanned vessels.
**Mobile Fleet Operation Center**
Developed mainly by Japan Radio Co., Ltd., the mobile fleet operation center is a cargo trailer-type shore support base. A major feature is its ability to be moved by towing, allowing it to relocate to a safe place and continue remote navigation support for multiple autonomous vessels even during disasters or power outages. It consolidates the necessary systems for navigation monitoring and decision support into a compact space of about 7 meters in length and is positioned as a realistic operational model for future expansion.
*1: Refers to the technological stage where fully autonomous operation is possible without human intervention in specific areas or under certain conditions. (The definition of autonomous ship operation is currently under discussion by the IMO and other bodies. The definition for automobiles is used for convenience.) Reference: https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001226541.pdf
*2: MEGURI2040 Unmanned Ship Project "Technology Development Grant Program for the Social Implementation of Unmanned Ships." A grant system to support technology development to promote the practical application of unmanned ships, foster further momentum for technological development in this field, and thereby promote the transformation of Japan's logistics and its economic and social infrastructure.
*3: DFFAS+ (Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus) is a consortium led by Japan Marine Science Inc. Participating companies include: Japan Marine Science Inc. (Representative), Akasaka Diesels, E-KO’S, Imoto Lines, Weathernews, Uyeno Transtech, EIZO, SK Winch, MTI, NX Kaiun, NTT Docomo Business Solutions, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kyokuyo Shipyard, Kinkai Yusen, International Ryobi Ferry, Sunflame, Sanwa Dock, JRCS, Japan Hamworthy, Japan Marine United, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, SKY Perfect JSAT, Suzuyo Marine, Space Compass, Tsuneishi Dock, Tsuneishi Solutions Tokyo Bay, Terasaki Electric, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Tokyo Keiki, Toyo Signal & Communications, Inland Navigation Future Research Association, Nakashima Propeller, Nabtesco, Nihon Shipyard, Japan Radio, NYK Line, Hanshin Diesel, BEMAC, pluszero, Fujiwara Shipbuilding, Furuno Electric, Honda Motor, Honda Heavy Industries, Marindows, Marubeni, Miura, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Mukaishima Dock, YDK Technologies.
*4: According to a Nippon Foundation survey (as of March 2026). It is a world first to provide navigation support from land to multiple commercially operating autonomous vessels simultaneously.
FURUNO MIRAI PULSE delivers various information about our new businesses, latest technologies, collaborations with partner companies, regional exchanges, and events. (*Pulse: a single, rapidly changing signal).
https://future-vision.furuno.co.jp/mirai-pulse/