Oceanic Constellations has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sagami Transportation & Warehouse and NYK-owned shipbuilder Keihin Dock to study the establishment and joint operation of a facility for maritime uncrewed vessels in Yokosuka, Japan.
The proposed Yokosuka Constellations Centre would be located in the Nagaura waterfront district of Taura Port and provide research and development, repair and operational services for uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).
The companies will also study joint operational guidelines for the facility and make proposals for government initiatives supporting the commercialisation of maritime uncrewed vehicles.
The agreement follows a regulatory change announced by Yokosuka City on 25 August which permits facilities supporting port management or the public interest to conduct research, repair and operational services for maritime uncrewed vehicles in Taura Port.
Sagami Transportation & Warehouse and Oceanic Constellations signed a separate strategic partnership MoU in June 2026, covering port logistics and vessel chartering for the transport, storage and sea trials of uncrewed vehicle hulls.
Keihin Dock and Oceanic Constellations have also been conducting joint verification work at Keihin Dock’s Koyasu Plant since October 2025 to establish a mass production system for maritime uncrewed vehicles using digital engineering.
Keihin Dock has built small and medium-sized vessels and undertaken vessel repair since 1968, while also conducting R&D into next-generation fuel vessels for the NYK Group. The shipyard built the ammonia-fuelled vessel Sakigake and is currently constructing an electric propulsion tugboat equipped with a domestically manufactured motor drive system.
Oceanic Constellations, founded in November 2023, is developing uncrewed surface vessels integrating communications, swarm control and energy management technologies.
The company says it has secured 22 patents related to maritime swarm control and is targeting full-scale commercialisation of its technology in 2027.
