The organization known as the Greener Ships Planning and Design Center, comprises nine shipbuilders and will undertake the development of advanced environmental performance-enhancing technologies aimed at near-zero carbon emissions for the age of carbon neutrality.

Members will concentrate on research and development related to the commercialization of greener ships for the next decade.

As a way forward for the industry, the drive to consolidate the technologies and know-how of Japanese shipbuilders has become a prevalent trend in order to improve the capacity of the yards to compete better with their counterparts in China and South Korea.

The development of the center was revealed during today's press conference in Yokohama.

One of the founders' messages was that the center is being launched in line with the current situation in which the global industrial society, including the maritime industry, is marked by major changes arising from the need to tackle global warming, the rapid development of digital technologies, etc., and in particular, the rising demands for zero carbon emissions.

One of the founders' messages was that the center is being launched in line with the current situation in which the global industrial society, including the maritime industry, is marked by major changes arising from the need to address global warming, the rapid development of digital technologies, etc., and in particular, the rising demands for zero carbon emissions.

Another consideration is that Japan's shipbuilding industry faces a critical situation largely due to the global shipbuilding market's supply-and-demand imbalance, so the future of the industry lies in accelerating efforts to play a leading role in incorporating diverse environmental technologies and building competitive ships.

In order to help build and evaluate these ships, the center aims to obtain funding from domestic companies involved in marine industry, shipping companies, trading houses and other agencies. The nine shipbuilding majors include Imabari Shipbuilding, Oshima Shipbuilding, Onomichi Dockyard; Sanoyas Shipbuilding Corporation, Japan Marine United Corporation, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering, Namura Shipbuilding, and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

The Center will initially aim to prepare a comprehensive plan for next-generation ships to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to achieve the medium to long-term goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (IMO).

Maritime Business World