Innovative ‘Wall Climbing Robot’ for Ship Inspection Earns ClassNK Endorsement
The wall climbing robot for steel structures - developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, and MOL Ship Management to support ship inspection and maintenance - has completed a demonstration test and earned the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) Innovation Endorsement.The Innovation Endorsement is ClassNK's third-party certification program. It certifies and supports initiatives that contribute to the sustainable evolution of maritime and offshore businesses.The robot developed by Japanese partners is characterized by its high traversability not only on vertical walls but also on
Three Winners for Japan's 2nd Offshore Wind Power Tender
2030, and up to 45 GW by 2040, as part of its decarbonisation push.The winner of a 315-megawatt (MW) wind farm off the coast of Oga-Katagami-Akita in Akita prefecture in northern Japan was a consortium of JERA, Electric Power Development (J-Power), Itochu and Tohoku Electric Power.Another consortium of Mitsui & Co., RWE and Osaka Gas won a 684 MW wind farm off the coast of Murakami-Tainai in Niigata prefecture in northern Japan.A third group of Sumitomo Corp and Tokyo Electric Power's renewable power unit won a 420 MW wind farm off the coast of Enoshima in Nagasaki prefecture in southwestern Japan
Subsea Cable Laying, Protection Innovation Funded in Japan
NYK, as a member of a consortium of four companies (also including: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.; Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.; and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.) has been selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in an open call for applications related to the "Development of basic technologies for a multi-purpose and multi-terminal high voltage direct current transmission system,” in addition to the “development of construction methods for the installation of cable protecting system, etc.” and the “development
Rovco, HOM Partner Up for Offshore Wind Work in Japan
UK-based subsea robotic services firm Rovco, has signed an agreement with Japan's Horizon Ocean Management (HOM) for through-life subsea asset integrity and balance of plant survey solutions for the Japanese offshore wind market.HOM is a subsidiary joint venture between Japanese conglomerate Mitsui and Hokutaku, a Japan-based wind turbine maintenance company.HOM and Rovco will work together to study the Japanese offshore wind market and learn more about demand in the country. They will also create asset integrity programs to support the maintenance of critical infrastructure.The two companies'
MOL, Bombora Targeting Wave Energy Opportunities in Japan
Wave energy converter developer Bombora has entered into an agreement with Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to identify wave energy potential in Japan and across the region.MOL has recently said it has completed a detailed internal technical review of Bombora’s mWave wave energy converter. Bombora has developed a membrane style wave energy converter. The 1.5MW Demonstration Project of the converter in Wales is in the final assembly phase and is scheduled to be installed in mid-2021. A membrane style wave energy converter developed by Bombora is located 10 meters beneath the
Japanese Wind Fans Bank Interest
and harbours have already begun to attract interest from domestic and international lenders.In February, Akita Offshore Wind, a special purpose vehicle of a Marubeni-led, all-Japanese consortium, became the first borrower in the sector, agreeing a ¥80bn 20-year financing.MUFG, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp led the transaction, which funded 140MW of generating capacity in the Akita and Noshiro ports in Akita prefecture at a cost of about ¥100bn.A Green Power Investment Corp-led 104MW offshore wind farm in Ishikari Bay, Hokkaido, could be the next project to reach financial close as
MOL Intros Lighthouse Information Platform
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has begun operation of a new data platform called ‘Lighthouse’, to provide real time transport information to dry bulk shipping customers and stakeholders.The platform is a service that allows those involved in the transport process, such as shippers and vessel operators, to safely, unitarily, and in real time, share and monitor various kinds of information related to ocean transport, such as vessel schedules ,weather, ocean conditions, as well as data related to cargoes and contracts, on a customized basis for each customer.By establishing
MOL Develops Engine Diagnosis Application
Japan's largest carriers of containerized and other cargo Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced an agreement for joint development of the next-generation engine failure sign diagnosis application, in partnership with ClassNK Consulting Service, IHI Power Systems, and Mitsui E&S Machinery.The four companies are looking to develop the application by fusing ClassNK's "CMAXS LC-A/e-GICSX"(CMAXS) and MOL's FOCUS "Fleet Optimal Control Unified System", which is intended to enhance safe operation and reduce environmental impact through advanced information and communications
MOL Tests FOCUS EYE Project
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the joint development, along with SenseTime Japan, of a new vessel image recognition and recording system, and the system’s installation for demonstration testing aboard the cruise ship "Nippon Maru" operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line.The system’s graphic recognition engine was developed by incorporating MOL’s knowledge and applying artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technology, allowing it to recognize surrounding vessels.The system recognizes and automatically records vessels with high accuracy using a
February 2024
