NS United Naiko will install Japan Marine United’s JAVC-C autonomous navigation system on its self-unloading limestone carrier Kimitetsu Maru, with installation scheduled for around December 2026.
JAVC-C is designed for autonomous operation in coastal waters under the supervision of a single crew member and has received Approval in Principle from ClassNK under its Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation of Ships.
The system combines multiple subsystems to carry out navigation tasks traditionally performed by crew, including steering, collision avoidance, and acceleration and deceleration under crew supervision.
System status, vessel position and planned routes will also be transmitted via ship-to-shore communications to a cloud-based server, allowing the vessel to be monitored from shore.
NS United Naiko will use the installation to assess whether the system’s route-planning and vessel-control functions can improve operational efficiency as part of a Japanese government demonstration project.
