Japanese majors will accelerate the deployment of digital twins in the shipping sector

Japan’s maritime majors have completed the early phase of a cross-industry project to create a secure framework for data exchange between shipyards and shipowners to improve the use of digital twins throughout the ship’s lifecycle.

As previously announced, the aim of the project is to enable the use of unique ship design data to optimize performance and safety at sea, as well as to share operational data to leverage new designs.

It brings together shipowners, NYK Group’s MTI, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Marubeni Corporation, shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding, Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) and Usuki Shipyard, software and data services provider NAPA and the classification society ClassNK.

Initial results confirmed the feasibility of broader data sharing between shipyards, shipowners, ship managers and charterers, as well as other stakeholders, by overcoming obstacles to sharing sensitive design and operational data.

The first two phases of the project identified over 30 potential use cases where the data and 3D models used to design the ship can be shared and used to create a ship-specific digital twin that helps improve operational efficiency and safety throughout the lifecycle.

Further analysis confirmed the potential and value of digital twins in supporting loading calculations, monitoring ship health and assessing energy-saving devices.

Building on the success of the feasibility study, the next phase will develop a new platform that will enable 3D models created at the design stage to be shared in a secure and controlled digital environment, along with new business models to enable this innovative approach to be put into practice in commercial contracts.

This could create a new source of revenue for shipyards and solution providers, as well as mechanisms to share benefits between stakeholders. This phase of the project is led by ClassNK as an impartial entity to ensure the neutrality and fairness of the platform.

The project is expected to become operational in 2025, signaling a potential breakthrough in sharing design and operational data to overcome traditional barriers to the adoption of digital twins in the maritime sector.

The partnership also explored ways to provide operational data to shipyards to provide valuable insight into how their concepts are performing in practice, thereby enabling naval architects and engineers to improve future ship designs.

“Collaboration continues to be the basis for enabling the industry to develop new solutions and optimize existing operations for the energy transition. Our Digital Twin project captures the entrepreneurial spirit to achieve a new milestone: connecting design and operational data for safer, more efficient and greener shipping.” Naoki Mizutaniexecutive vice president of NAPA Studios, he said.

“This project also demonstrates that it is possible to build new kinds of partnerships with stakeholders across the value chain to fully leverage industry knowledge and maximize the potential of the technologies available at our fingertips.”

“Digital twins are a key asset for shipping, especially in the context of the energy transition. They offer unparalleled insight into a ship’s unique design profile and characteristics and open up new opportunities to use this data to optimize operations and maintenance, while expanding opportunities to implement innovative technologies on board.” Yoshimichi SasakiCEO of the Digital Transformation Center at ClassNK, stated.

“This project shows how we can break down data silos to support closer dialogue between shipyards and shipowners at a time of increasing design and operational complexity.” – he concluded.

NAPA recently joined forces with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to accelerate the digital transformation of the shipbuilding industry. The partnership will use advanced 3D models and the latest advances in information management technology to create intelligent solutions supporting the entire shipbuilding process.

This will help HD Hyundai Heavy Industries realize its vision of a “digital shipyard”, where intelligent data and digital twins support the optimization of the design process.