Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (‘K’ Line), Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering have joined a cross-industry Digital Twin Project in Japan, expanding the initiative’s efforts to improve data sharing in ship design and operations.
Now in its third phase, the project aims to create a secure data-sharing framework between shipyards and shipowners to support digital twin adoption throughout a vessel’s lifecycle. Participants are working to address challenges related to sharing sensitive design and operational data for mutual benefit without compromising organisations’ own privacy requirements.
The initiative is focused on developing a platform that allows 3D models from the ship design phase to be shared, while also enabling operational data to be fed back to shipyards to underpin further development.
The project already includes shipowners, shipbuilders, software providers, and classification societies such as NYK, MTI, MOL, Marubeni, Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan Marine United Corporation, Usuki Shipyard, NAPA, and ClassNK.
“Through this endeavour, we aspire to create innovation by integrating existing maritime technologies, such as wind propulsion, with cutting-edge ICT and digitalisation techniques, with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to the industry,” said Akihiko Masutani, Director and Chief General Manager of the Business & Technical Division at Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering
The project is aiming for a commercial launch in 2025.
