Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sompo Japan Partner with SoftBank to Support Safe Vessel Operation
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Sompo Japan Insurance, and SoftBank Corp. have signed a basic agreement to provide solutions supporting safe vessel operation. They will leverage their respective strengths to develop and offer new solutions, including a maneuvering support system, high-precision positioning service, and new marine insurance products, with a view to the social implementation of autonomous vessel operation.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
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Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yasuhiko Hashimoto; hereinafter "Kawasaki Heavy Industries"), Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Ishikawa; hereinafter "Sompo Japan"), and SoftBank Corp. (hereinafter "SoftBank") have concluded a basic agreement aimed at providing solutions to support the safe operation of vessels. Moving forward, they will leverage their respective strengths to develop new solutions with a view to the social implementation of autonomous vessel operation.
In recent years, the shipping industry has faced a growing shortage of personnel and an excessive reliance on skilled seafarers, making the securement of safe vessel navigation and further improvement of operational efficiency critical issues. Particularly in situations requiring advanced maneuvering skills, such as berthing and unberthing, it is essential to provide technology that accurately supports maneuvering and to simultaneously address the risks involved in safely implementing that technology in society.
Against this backdrop, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System," which provides advanced assistance for vessel berthing and unberthing operations, will be combined with Sompo Japan's specialized knowledge in marine insurance and risk management expertise to study and develop solutions. Additionally, SoftBank's centimeter-level high-precision positioning service "ichimill" will be utilized within the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System." By leveraging maneuvering support technology, high-precision positioning services, and risk countermeasures, the aim is to promote labor-saving in vessel operations and provide a comprehensive range of support, including preparations for accident risks and potential social impacts.
■ Roles of Each Company and Overview of the Solution
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Will provide the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System," which supports vessel berthing and unberthing operations according to planned routes. By minimizing the cognitive, judgment, and execution load during maneuvering, it helps achieve stable and highly reproducible operations.
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Will support risk management, including responding to social impacts in the event of an accident, through the development of new marine insurance products based on advanced maneuvering technology, thereby promoting the social implementation of the technology.
SoftBank Corp.
Will provide the high-precision positioning service "ichimill" and communication networks for the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System."
■ Future Outlook
Based on this basic agreement, the companies will proceed with the social implementation of the solution, leveraging accumulated technological achievements and knowledge, with a view to expanding its introduction to domestic and international ports and vessel operators. Furthermore, by establishing a new framework that balances technology introduction and risk management, they will accelerate the social implementation of autonomous vessel operation and contribute to the formation of a safe and sustainable maritime infrastructure.
In recent years, the shipping industry has faced a growing shortage of personnel and an excessive reliance on skilled seafarers, making the securement of safe vessel navigation and further improvement of operational efficiency critical issues. Particularly in situations requiring advanced maneuvering skills, such as berthing and unberthing, it is essential to provide technology that accurately supports maneuvering and to simultaneously address the risks involved in safely implementing that technology in society.
Against this backdrop, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System," which provides advanced assistance for vessel berthing and unberthing operations, will be combined with Sompo Japan's specialized knowledge in marine insurance and risk management expertise to study and develop solutions. Additionally, SoftBank's centimeter-level high-precision positioning service "ichimill" will be utilized within the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System." By leveraging maneuvering support technology, high-precision positioning services, and risk countermeasures, the aim is to promote labor-saving in vessel operations and provide a comprehensive range of support, including preparations for accident risks and potential social impacts.
■ Roles of Each Company and Overview of the Solution
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Will provide the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System," which supports vessel berthing and unberthing operations according to planned routes. By minimizing the cognitive, judgment, and execution load during maneuvering, it helps achieve stable and highly reproducible operations.
Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
Will support risk management, including responding to social impacts in the event of an accident, through the development of new marine insurance products based on advanced maneuvering technology, thereby promoting the social implementation of the technology.
SoftBank Corp.
Will provide the high-precision positioning service "ichimill" and communication networks for the "Safe Berthing/Unberthing Support System."
■ Future Outlook
Based on this basic agreement, the companies will proceed with the social implementation of the solution, leveraging accumulated technological achievements and knowledge, with a view to expanding its introduction to domestic and international ports and vessel operators. Furthermore, by establishing a new framework that balances technology introduction and risk management, they will accelerate the social implementation of autonomous vessel operation and contribute to the formation of a safe and sustainable maritime infrastructure.