Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has completed autonomous navigation demonstration tests for the domestic RORO vessel HOKUREN MARU No.2, which operates between Kushiro and Hitachi.
The vessel, operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, received autonomous ship certification from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai on 27 January 2026 and passed Japan’s statutory ship inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on 9 February 2026. According to “K” LINE, this marks the first case in Japan of a RORO vessel passing inspection as an autonomous vessel.
Supporting Autonomous Coastal Shipping
HOKUREN MARU No.2 is a domestic coastal RORO vessel measuring approximately 173 metres in length and 11,413 gross tonnes. It transports agricultural products, mainly raw milk, from Kushiro Port in Hokkaido to Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The vessel is one of the demonstration ships under the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project, which aims to advance autonomous shipping technologies and support the stable transport of people and goods.
Following the inspection, the vessel can use autonomous navigation functions during commercial voyages. These functions are equivalent to Level 4 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation, according to the company.
Developing Retrofit Autonomous Systems
“K” LINE has participated in MEGURI2040 through the RORO Vessel Working Group, together with Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen, Japan Radio Co., Ltd. and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.
The group has been developing the Advanced Manoeuvring Assistant System (AMASYS), an integrated bridge officer support system designed to support autonomous operations through retrofit solutions for existing vessels.
“K” LINE said the project is intended to help address labour shortages, reduce crew workload, prevent maritime accidents and maintain domestic coastal shipping routes, including services to remote islands.
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