NYK has ordered a next-generation pure car carrier with an AI-enabled autonomous navigation suite and other Marine DX systems from Shinkai Toyohashi Shipbuilding in Japan, according to the company’s statement.
The 199.95-meter vessel, 38 meters abeam, is scheduled for delivery on 31 March 2026 and will serve as a test platform for advanced navigation and safety technologies during regular commercial voyages.
The ship will use an autonomous navigation system developed under the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 fully autonomous ship program.
Operating under crew supervision, the system employs AI-based image recognition and automatic radar target analysis to assess surrounding traffic, evaluate collision and grounding risks, generate avoidance plans and execute automatic steering.
The aim is to reduce navigator workload and mitigate human-error incidents, which it attributes to nearly 70% of marine accidents.
Japan Marine Science (JMS), part of the NYK Group, will supply routing intelligence through its Advanced Routing Simulation and Planning software, which predicts the behavior of the NYK vessel and nearby ships to calculate an optimal route and speed. The software runs continuously and can be overridden at any time in favor of manual steering.
Furuno Electric will provide a collision-avoidance support package integrated into the autonomous navigation suite. Its system combines radar and other sensor data, calculates collision risk and, in cooperation with JMS’s software, creates and controls optimal avoidance routes. Furuno will also deliver key navigation equipment, including radar and ECDIS, as part of a broader Marine DX package intended to enhance safety and operational efficiency.
The vessel will also feature a large-motion mitigation system that uses real-time wave radar data and ship conditions to simulate motion and recommend course and speed adjustments to reduce rolling and protect vehicle cargo in adverse weather.
NYK plans to install a shipwide Wi-Fi network to extend reliable connectivity into areas such as engine rooms, decks and cargo holds, supporting access to digital manuals, real-time video troubleshooting, remote medical consultation and compensating for signal shadow zones created by the steel hull.
The order aligns with Japan’s MEGURI2040 initiative to commercialise autonomous and semi-autonomous coastal shipping in response to safety needs and crew shortages. By applying MEGURI2040 technologies in a working car carrier operating on commercial routes, NYK, JMS and Furuno seek to advance autonomous navigation toward routine use.
NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) is a Japanese shipping and logistics group founded in 1885 and headquartered in Tokyo. It operates a diversified global fleet spanning container transport, energy logistics, dry bulk shipping and automotive logistics, with long-established international liner and terminal operations.
Shinkai Toyohashi Shipbuilding is a Japan-based shipbuilder engaged in constructing commercial vessels. The company specializes in building mid-size ships for domestic and regional clients and provides design and construction services for various vessel types.
Japan Marine Science (JMS) is a maritime technology and consultancy firm within the NYK Group. It develops operational planning tools, simulation systems and navigational support technologies used by shipping companies and training institutions.
