Japan and Singapore Collaborate to Conduct MASS Trials
Source: Offshore Energy
A port-to-port maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) trial has been announced as a collaboration between significant maritime entities from Japan and Singapore. This initiative is a joint effort by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Japan's Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and NYK Group’s Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI). The MASS trials will be conducted in the Port of Singapore and deemed a strategic endeavour towards developing autonomous ships.
As per NYK, the MASS trials will test the interoperability of autonomous ships with port-based systems, like the MPA's Vessel Traffic Information System, paving the way to develop and enhance best practices in the sector. It shall look into navigation safety, route planning, fuel consumption, AI-based decision-making, and cybersecurity.
MASS technologies are expected to yield great benefits for the maritime industry, especially in shipping, as they leverage personnel expertise coupled with AI-powered software. This then elevates onboard safety, vessel sustainability, and reduced fuel consumption. Additionally, with the possibility of a mandatory MASS Code coming into fruition by 2028, made by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), developing such advancements earlier on can help alleviate future challenges.
This collaborative project is an extension of the MPA-NYK memorandum of understanding (MoU) from July 2024, which strengthened the partnership between the two groups for supporting decarbonisation, digitalisation, and talent development efforts. Hideki Suzuki, President of MTI, highlighted, “This joint workshop marks an important step forward in the development of autonomous navigation systems.”
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