Japan Underwater Drone Association Announces Establishment of New "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" License
The Japan Underwater Drone Association, in collaboration with Kunimori Co., Ltd., has announced the establishment of a new skill license, "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot," for the shipping and maritime sectors. Scheduled for service launch in 2027, this initiative aims to promote the safe operation of underwater drones, human resource development, and skill standardization.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 18:10
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The Japan Underwater Drone Association (Secretariat: Taito-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yasuhiro Kobayashi; Secretariat Management: Space One Co., Ltd.) has announced the establishment of a new license, "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot," in collaboration with Kunimori Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; President & CEO: Toshiki Ishihara).
Toshiki Ishihara, President & CEO of Kunimori Co., Ltd. (left) / Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Representative Director of Japan Underwater Drone Association (right)
■ New Applied Skill Certification for the Shipping and Maritime Sector
The "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" is a new skill license being developed with a view to utilizing underwater drones in the shipping and maritime sectors. Positioned as the Japan Underwater Drone Association's first applied skill certification, it aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and operational skills required for ship inspection sites, with service scheduled to begin in 2027.
New License "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" Announcement Flyer
In recent years, interest in the use of underwater drones in the shipping and maritime sectors has been growing from the perspectives of improving safety during inspections, reducing workload, streamlining verification operations, and visualizing video records. This license establishment initiative goes beyond just utilizing the equipment; it also aims to foster personnel who can operate safely on-site and standardize their skills.
■ Joint Development with Kunimori Co., Ltd. to Build a System Tailored to On-Site Needs
The system development will be jointly promoted by the Japan Underwater Drone Association and Kunimori Co., Ltd. By combining Kunimori Co., Ltd.'s expertise in the maritime field with the Japan Underwater Drone Association's knowledge of training and licensing systems developed to date, the aim is to create a system tailored to the practical needs of ship inspection.
The new license will cover safety management, basic inspection procedures, operational skills, and inspection methodologies, all based on practical application in ship inspection. As the utilization of underwater drones is increasingly sought after in the shipping and maritime industry, this initiative is positioned as a new effort to establish a framework for human resource development to support their operation.
■ Full-Scale Preparation for 2027 Service Launch
To date, the Japan Underwater Drone Association has promoted the development of licensing systems and accredited schools with the aim of ensuring the safe operation and widespread adoption of underwater drones. The newly announced "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" is a new applied license that further extends these efforts into practical fields.
Moving forward, we will accelerate preparations for the 2027 service launch while developing the system design and training content. Through this announcement, it is expected that the movement towards underwater drone utilization and human resource development in the shipping and maritime sectors will become more concrete in the future.
■ Sea Japan 2026 is Open Until April 24th
"Sea Japan 2026" is being held at Tokyo Big Sight until Friday, April 24th. During the exhibition, in addition to the newly announced license concept, proposals for underwater drone utilization in the shipping and maritime sectors and related initiatives are being introduced.
Those interested in new applications and human resource development in the field of ship inspection are encouraged to visit the Japan Underwater Drone Association's booth at the venue.
Sea Japan 2026 First Day Booth Scene - Sea Japan is until the 24th
Exhibition Name: Sea Japan 2026
Dates: April 22 (Wed) - 24 (Fri), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
Booth Number: 1C-24
Official Website: https://www.seajapan.ne.jp/
Admission: Free (Pre-registration required)
■ Organization/Company Overview
Japan Underwater Drone Association
Representative: Representative Director Yasuhiro Kobayashi
Location: 1-20-1-5F Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://japan-underwaterdrone.com/
Business Overview: An organization dedicated to establishing an operating environment for underwater drones and underwater robots, promoting their widespread adoption, human resource development, and social implementation. Through licensing systems based on safe operation, accredited school development, various training courses, events, information dissemination, and collaboration with public and private sectors, it aims to expand the market for underwater drone utilization and develop industry infrastructure.
Kunimori Co., Ltd.
Representative: President & CEO Toshiki Ishihara
Location: 2-2-15 Meiwa-dori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
URL: https://www.kunimori.co.jp/
Business Overview: As a specialized trading company for marine parts, it sells essential components for safe ship operation and supplies parts to ships sailing worldwide. It also provides engineering services as a technical trading company. In recent years, it has been working to create new value in the maritime sector by utilizing advanced technologies such as drones.
Toshiki Ishihara, President & CEO of Kunimori Co., Ltd. (left) / Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Representative Director of Japan Underwater Drone Association (right)
■ New Applied Skill Certification for the Shipping and Maritime Sector
The "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" is a new skill license being developed with a view to utilizing underwater drones in the shipping and maritime sectors. Positioned as the Japan Underwater Drone Association's first applied skill certification, it aims to equip individuals with the knowledge and operational skills required for ship inspection sites, with service scheduled to begin in 2027.
New License "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" Announcement Flyer
In recent years, interest in the use of underwater drones in the shipping and maritime sectors has been growing from the perspectives of improving safety during inspections, reducing workload, streamlining verification operations, and visualizing video records. This license establishment initiative goes beyond just utilizing the equipment; it also aims to foster personnel who can operate safely on-site and standardize their skills.
■ Joint Development with Kunimori Co., Ltd. to Build a System Tailored to On-Site Needs
The system development will be jointly promoted by the Japan Underwater Drone Association and Kunimori Co., Ltd. By combining Kunimori Co., Ltd.'s expertise in the maritime field with the Japan Underwater Drone Association's knowledge of training and licensing systems developed to date, the aim is to create a system tailored to the practical needs of ship inspection.
The new license will cover safety management, basic inspection procedures, operational skills, and inspection methodologies, all based on practical application in ship inspection. As the utilization of underwater drones is increasingly sought after in the shipping and maritime industry, this initiative is positioned as a new effort to establish a framework for human resource development to support their operation.
■ Full-Scale Preparation for 2027 Service Launch
To date, the Japan Underwater Drone Association has promoted the development of licensing systems and accredited schools with the aim of ensuring the safe operation and widespread adoption of underwater drones. The newly announced "Underwater Drone Ship Inspection Pilot" is a new applied license that further extends these efforts into practical fields.
Moving forward, we will accelerate preparations for the 2027 service launch while developing the system design and training content. Through this announcement, it is expected that the movement towards underwater drone utilization and human resource development in the shipping and maritime sectors will become more concrete in the future.
■ Sea Japan 2026 is Open Until April 24th
"Sea Japan 2026" is being held at Tokyo Big Sight until Friday, April 24th. During the exhibition, in addition to the newly announced license concept, proposals for underwater drone utilization in the shipping and maritime sectors and related initiatives are being introduced.
Those interested in new applications and human resource development in the field of ship inspection are encouraged to visit the Japan Underwater Drone Association's booth at the venue.
Sea Japan 2026 First Day Booth Scene - Sea Japan is until the 24th
Exhibition Name: Sea Japan 2026
Dates: April 22 (Wed) - 24 (Fri), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight
Booth Number: 1C-24
Official Website: https://www.seajapan.ne.jp/
Admission: Free (Pre-registration required)
■ Organization/Company Overview
Japan Underwater Drone Association
Representative: Representative Director Yasuhiro Kobayashi
Location: 1-20-1-5F Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
URL: https://japan-underwaterdrone.com/
Business Overview: An organization dedicated to establishing an operating environment for underwater drones and underwater robots, promoting their widespread adoption, human resource development, and social implementation. Through licensing systems based on safe operation, accredited school development, various training courses, events, information dissemination, and collaboration with public and private sectors, it aims to expand the market for underwater drone utilization and develop industry infrastructure.
Kunimori Co., Ltd.
Representative: President & CEO Toshiki Ishihara
Location: 2-2-15 Meiwa-dori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
URL: https://www.kunimori.co.jp/
Business Overview: As a specialized trading company for marine parts, it sells essential components for safe ship operation and supplies parts to ships sailing worldwide. It also provides engineering services as a technical trading company. In recent years, it has been working to create new value in the maritime sector by utilizing advanced technologies such as drones.