TOKYO KEIKI Releases Partial Findings in Study on Avoiding Collisions
December 26, 2017

On December 26, 2017, TOKYO KEIKI released partial findings of a study on collision risk
judgement and the autonomous operation of vessels, in cooperation with Nippon Yusen Kaisha(NYK) (head office: Tokyo; president: Tadaaki Naito), and NYK Group companies MTI Co. Ltd.
(head office: Tokyo; president: Yasuo Tanaka) and Japan Marine Science Inc. (head office:Kanagawa; president: Koichi Akamine), Japan Radio Co., Ltd. (head office: Tokyo; president:Kenji Ara), and Furuno Electric Co., LTD. (head office: Hyogo; president: Yukio Furuno). The
representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) andNippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) were in attendance when the findings were released.
This study, selected by MLIT for its “2016 Support Projects for R&D in Advanced Safety
Technology of Vessels”, has been conducted by NYK, the proponent of the study project, and fiveabovementioned co-implementers. The entire study includes development of functions tofacilitate judgement related to avoiding risk of collision with other vessels; remote operations byland operators; and devices related to AR (augmented reality)* of nautical instrument
information, with the aim to pursue safe operations and reduce officer workload.
The study was reported on its process in developing functions to facilitate judgement related to
avoiding risk of collision. Data on how experienced captains of large merchant vessels avoid therisk of collision were accumulated and then digitalized, by means of the large ship-handlingsimulator at Japan Marine Science Inc.
Usually, officers make a prediction, a judgment of the risk of collision based on their own
experience, but each person’s sense of danger differs. The usage of accumulated data to develop
common standards will help officers to appropriately judge risk and prevent collisions.
TOKYO KEIKI, boasting its outstanding maritime autopilots, will continue to bolster
navigational safety by the use of its leading-edge technologies relating to automatic steeringand navigation assisting.
* AR (augmented reality)
A live view of physical, real-world environments, the elements of which are augmented by computer-generated sensory input.

- Reference
Announcement on July 6, 2016, “NYK and MTI Participating Projects Selected as Support
Projects for R&D in Advanced Safety Technology of Vessels by MLIT,”
http://www.nyk.com/english/release/4208/004366.html

Study on Collision Risk Judgement and the Autonomous Operation of Vessels

Accumulating data during a simulation led
by an experienced captain

Simulated operation room for the approachingship

Photo from left,
Satoru Kuwahara, Consultant Group, Japan Marine Science Inc. (Project Manager, from NYK)
Akihiro Tamura, Director of Engineering Policy Pplanning Office, Ocean Development andEnvironment Policy Division, Maritime Bureau, MLIT
Toshiyuki Matsumoto, Director of Research Institute, ClassNK
Motoji Kondo, Head in Charge, Products Planning & Marketing Department, Marine Electronic
Products Division, Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
Tadashige Hakoyama, Staff Manager of Marine Systems Company Engineering Dept., Tokyo
keiki Inc.
Shintaro Inoue, Maritime Solution Group Leader, Marine Solution Engineering Department,
Marine Systems Division, Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
Minoru Taguchi, Manager of Marine Technology team, Marine Group of NYK