Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced an agreement with Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES), to jointly develop next-generation vessel monitoring and support systems for practical applications and commercialization.
The joint development aims to encompass the next-generation vessel monitoring and support system, using data collecting units to provide real time data, for example from navigation and machinery. Short cycle data and big data will also be analyzed from various aspects.
In addition, through the integration of ICT related components such as AI (artificial intelligence), the agreement intends to boost efforts to prevention of marine incidents, the prevention of equipment failure, and optimized vessel routing.
MOL and MES also participate in an Autonomous Ocean Transport system R&D project, selected by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT) for its fiscal year 2017 Transportation Research and Technology Promotion Program. The purpose of this project is to establish road maps toward autonomous vessels, which is expected to deliver safer and more efficient marine transportation.