Japanese shipping major, “K” Line, has announced that demonstration tests of autonomous navigation have been completed for the domestic ro-ro vessel “HOKUREN MARU No.2”, which will sail the Kushiro–Hitachi route.
The vessel, operated by “K” Line, obtained certification related to autonomous ships from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClasssNK) dated January 27, 2026, and subsequently passed the statutory ship inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) as an “autonomous vessel” on February 9, 2026.
This is the first case in Japan of a ro-ro vessel passing such inspections. As a result, “HOKUREN MARU No.2” can use autonomous navigation functions equivalent to Level 4 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation even during commercial voyages.
“HOKUREN MARU No.2” is a domestic coastal ro-ro vessel (approximately 173 meters in length and 11,413 gross tons) operated by Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen. The vessel is engaged in transporting agricultural products, mainly raw milk, from Kushiro Port in Hokkaido to Hitachi Port in Ibaraki Prefecture. The vessel is one of the four demonstration ships in the Nippon Foundation unmanned autonomous ship project and aims to realize autonomous navigation through retrofit of an existing domestic coastal ro-ro vessel (i.e., enhancing performance by adding new functions to existing equipment).
To sail a vessel, it is necessary to pass statutory ship inspections that confirm compliance with technical standards prescribed by the government. In June 2024, MLIT established the “the Advisory Committee on MASS” to examine safety standards and inspection methods for autonomous vessels, and published the study results in June 2025. In order to operate as an “autonomous vessel,” a ship must undergo inspections to confirm, among other matters, that systems such as sensors and planners (which automatically plan collision-avoidance routes) operate properly. “HOKUREN MARU No.2” passed the national statutory ship inspection as an “autonomous vessel” on February 9, 2026.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has been participating in the MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Project (MEGURI2040), which aims to realize fully autonomous ships and ensure stable transportation of people and goods, administrated by the Nippon Foundation. Through this participation, “K” LINE is advancing initiatives to address urgent issues facing the maritime industry, including the crew from population decline and accidents resulting from human error.
