NYK Orders New Car Carrier with Autonomous Tech Features

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) has placed an order with Shinkai Toyohashi Shipbuilding for a new car carrier equipped with the latest digital marine DX technologies.

The vessel will include an advanced autonomous navigation system, a large-motion mitigation system, and a full-ship Wi-Fi network designed to provide coverage throughout all areas on board.

According to NYK, the ship will undergo trials during regular commercial operations to test and validate the performance of these new systems.

The carrier will be 199.95 meters long with a beam of 38 meters and is scheduled for delivery on March 31, 2026.

NYK noted that as vessels grow in size and maritime traffic continues to rise, ship maneuvering has become increasingly complex. Despite technological progress, nearly 70% of maritime accidents are still attributed to human error.

The autonomous navigation system on this newbuild will operate with crew oversight and is intended to enhance navigational safety by automatically avoiding collisions and groundings. Developed under the Nippon Foundation’s Fully Autonomous Ship Program, MEGURI2040, the system uses AI-based image recognition and automated radar target analysis to collect environmental data, assess risks, display potential hazards, create avoidance plans, and execute automatic steering. Crew members can switch to manual navigation at any point.

To address severe rolling that can cause cargo movement, the vessel will also feature a large-motion mitigation system. This technology simulates ship motion using current operating conditions and radar wave information, then advises the operator on the safest course and speed to reduce rolling.

In addition, the ship will be outfitted with Wi-Fi access points across all sections to improve communication and connectivity on board.