Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. - Experts & Thought Leaders

Japanese maritime experts have announced the successful completion of the early phases of a cross-industry project aimed at creating a secure data-sharing framework between shipyards and ship owners to advance the use of digital twins throughout a ship’s lifecycle. The project, which aims to enable the use of a vessel’s unique design data to optimise efficiency and safety at sea, as well as the sharing of operational data to inform new designs, brings together ship owners - NYK Group company, MTI Co. Ltd. (“MTI”), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Marubeni Corporation, and shipbuilders - Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan Marine United Corporation, and Usuki Shipyard, along with software and data services provider - NAPA, and classification society - ClassNK. Feasibility of increased data sharing Initial results have confirmed the feasibility of increased data sharing between shipyards, ship owners Initial results have confirmed the feasibility of increased data sharing between shipyards, ship owners, ship managers and charterers, among other stakeholders, by overcoming obstacles related to the sharing of sensitive design and operational data. The first two phases of the project identified over 30 potential use cases where the data and 3D models used to design the ship can be shared securely and used to create a vessel-specific digital twin that helps improve operational efficiency and safety throughout its lifecycle. Value of digital twins in supporting loading calculations Further analysis confirmed the potential and value of digital twins in supporting loading calculations, ship condition monitoring and energy-saving device evaluation. Building on the success of the feasibility study, the next phase will develop a new platform that will enable 3D models created during the design stage to be shared in a secure and access-controlled digital environment, together with new business models to implement this innovative approach in practice in commercial agreements. New revenue stream for shipyards and solution providers This could create a new revenue stream for shipyards and solution providers, as well as mechanisms to share benefits between stakeholders. This phase of the project is led by ClassNK as an impartial entity to ensure that the platform is neutral and fair. The project aims to start operation in 2025, signaling a potential breakthrough in the sharing of design and operational data to overcome traditional barriers to the adoption of digital twins in the maritime sector. Partnership to help improve future ship designs The partnership also explored ways in which operational data can be fed back to shipyards The partnership also explored ways in which operational data can be fed back to shipyards to provide valuable insights on how their concepts perform in real life, thereby enabling naval architects and engineers to improve future ship designs. Mr. Naoki Mizutani, Executive Vice President for NAPA Studios, said: “Collaboration continues to be the underpinning foundation enabling the industry to develop new solutions and optimise existing operations for the energy transition.” Bridging design and operational data for safer shipping Naoki Mizutani adds, “Our Digital Twin project captures this enterprising spirit to reach a new milestone: bridging design and operational data for safer, more efficient and greener shipping.” He continues, “This project also demonstrates that it is possible to build new types of partnerships with stakeholders across the value chain to make the most of industry expertise and maximise the potential of technologies at our fingertips.” Digital twins are a key asset for shipping Mr. Yoshimichi Sasaki, General Manager, Digital Transformation Center at ClassNK, said: “Digital twins are a key asset for shipping, particularly in the context of the energy transition.” He adds, “They offer unparalleled insight into a ship’s unique design profile and characteristics, and unlock new opportunities to use this data to optimise operations and maintenance, while also expanding possibilities to deploy innovative technologies on board.” Yoshimichi Sasaki continues, “This project demonstrates how we can break data silos to foster closer dialogue between shipyards and ship owners at a time of increasing design and operational complexity.”

Imabari Shipbuilding will install an MAN B&W 7S60ME-Ammonia engine with SCR in connection with the construction of a 200,000 dwt class bulk carrier for a joint venture between K Line, NS United and Itochu Corporation. The business represents one of the first projects for MAN Energy Solutions’ ammonia-powered engine that is currently under development in Denmark. MITSUI E&S will build the engine in Japan. MAN B&W 7S60ME-Ammonia engine installation Brian Østergaard Sørensen, Vice President and Head of Research & Development, Two-Stroke at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “This project marks another important milestone in our ammonia-engine development and indeed for the maritime industry in general.” He adds, “It also confirms that we are on the right track in relation to our dual-fuel ammonia concept where we have gained a great understanding of ammonia’s unique characteristics as a marine fuel via our two-stroke engine testing, which we started in early June 2023. Equally as important, we are confident of how to handle it safely; it is very satisfying to see our hard work beginning to pay off.” High interest in this revolutionary engine Bjarne Foldager – Country Manager, Denmark – MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The interest in this revolutionary engine had been overwhelming, even prior to our two-stroke ammonia-engine testing, but has even intensified after the important lessons learnt from ammonia-combustion testing on the test engine here in Copenhagen.” He adds, “While the current growth in shipping will increase greenhouse-gas emissions, alternative fuels like e-methanol, e-methane and green ammonia will eventually come to compete with fossil fuels, but we need regulation to encourage their adoption in the industry.” Carbon neutrality goal for 2050 Bjarne Foldager continues, “Regulatory clarity from the EU and IMO is improving, but now we need the right market-based tools to be introduced, in order to bring the industry towards carbon neutrality for 2050.” Thomas S. Hansen, Head of Sales and Promotion, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “MAN Energy Solutions has developed this engine since 2019 with over 100,000 man-hours recorded in that time. This first MAN B&W ammonia engine is a 60-bore type, which is applicable to a broad range of vessel segments. We believe that the success of ammonia as a marine fuel strongly relies on a safe introduction to the market.” He adds, “We will, therefore, monitor a number of engines entering operation at sea to ensure that the engine design and functionality of the auxiliary systems meet our expectations, before the engine is formally introduced to our marine-engine programme, as part of a full sales release.” Fast uptake of ammonia-fuelled engines expected Thomas S. Hansen continues, “In the short term, we expect a fast uptake of ammonia-fuelled engines towards the end of the decade, as we obtain positive seagoing experience from the first engines. In the long term, we expect ammonia to comprise around 35% of fuel used onboard large merchant-marine vessels by 2050, due to lower production cost compared to other e-fuels relevant for large merchant-marine vessels.”

  Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation, have signed an MOU with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation on the collaborative study for ocean-going liquified CO2 (LCO2) carriers to realise large-scale international transportation in Japan initiated CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) from 2028 onwards. The four companies will proceed with this initiative aiming to apply it at the future commencement of CCS business led by the Japanese government. Specification and design of LCO2 Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) launched a feasibility study on the Japanese Advanced CCS Project, as a publicly offered project in FY2023. Demand for LCO2 carriers is expected to increase in the near future to transport captured CO2 from Japan to storage areas in various CCS projects. JOGMEC cast a feasibility study on Japanese Advanced CCS Project, as a publicly shown task in FY2023 It is very important to standardise the specification and design of LCO2 carriers across each project as well as to establish a realistic production supply chain so that LCO2 carriers will be constructed and supplied stably in Japan and the CCS value chain will be achieved with improved economic efficiency. The signed MOU suggests that four companies have agreed to collaboration to solve these issues related to the construction of LCO2 carriers and marine transportation, starting with Japan-initiated CCS projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Launch of the CCS business Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard have already begun joint studies to build LCO2 carriers, demands for which are expected to increase in the near future, by making the most of their strengths while mutually complementing each other. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nihon Shipyard have already begun joint studies to build LCO2 carriers Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation, who are now advancing business development for the early launch of the CCS business, are selected as pioneering companies in the Japanese Advanced CCS Project by JOGMEC aiming for overseas CO2 storage. Advance of the maritime industry MHI Group is pursuing strategic measures to strengthen its business for the energy transition. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, for its role in this initiative, efforts to contribute to the advance of the maritime industry in Japan and around the world by utilising its shipbuilding-based marine engineering technologies in addition to conventional shipbuilding. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will actively promote the development of LCO2 carriers and the establishment of a CCS value chain through collaboration with various domestic/overseas companies, and also the construction of a demonstration ship for the transport of LCO2 for New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO). Nihon Shipyard is actively working on the commercialisation of LNG and ammonia-fueled ships in preparation for the upcoming strengthening of GHG emission regulations. As the next initiative, the company is contributing to realising a sustainable carbon-neutral society by delivering LCO2 carriers essential for the establishment of the CCS value chain.