World’s 1st Automated Passenger Ferry (MASS) Enters Commercial Service‘Olympia Dream Seto’ connects Okayama and Shodoshima

The Nippon Foundation launched the MEGURI2040 Fully Autonomous Ship Program in February 2020 with the aims of addressing the issue of crew shortages from population decline and reducing accidents caused by human error by achieving autonomous navigation and implementing stable transport of people and goods.
On December 5, the project’s remote island passenger ferry Olympia Dream Seto was certified by the Japanese government as an “autonomous vessel” (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)).This launch of commercial navigation using autonomous navigation functions (equivalent to Level 4 of the SAE Levels of Driving Automation*¹) is the world’s*² first for a passenger ferry engaged in regular service. Japan has more than 400 inhabited remote islands, and issues including ship crew shortages have made it difficult to maintain sea routes that are vital for people’s daily lives. The launch of this service will therefore accelerate ship automation, which is expected to ensure the stable transport of people and goods to and from these remote islands.

Demonstration navigation in Stage 1 of the project, carried out from January to March 2022, successfully carried out autonomous navigation in the congested waterways of Tokyo Bay and of long-distance (roughly 750 kilometers), long-time (more than 18 hours) navigation from Tomakomai, Hokkaido, to Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Stage 2, which is currently underway, is using the knowledge gained from Stage 1 to carry out commercial navigation of various types of vessels – a passenger ferry, container vessels, and a Ro-Ro (roll on, roll off) vessel – as part of a modal shift toward more environmentally friendly shipping, with the aim of social implementation. The Olympia Dream Seto is the first of the four fully autonomous vessels scheduled to enter commercial service during fiscal 2025, and the only passenger ferry. The Nippon Foundation continues to pursue technological development including testing of autonomous navigation functions on the remaining three vessels, while also promoting the establishment of rules and laws related to automated and autonomous navigation as well as social understanding, with the aim of having autonomous navigation account for 50% of domestic shipping by 2040.

The most important thing for social implementation of autonomous navigation is to produce a solid track record of success. I am very happy that we have been able to take this first step. The next challenge will be to use the knowledge gained from this commercial navigation to achieve stable logistics and safe navigation by reducing the burden placed on ships’ crews, but we also want to contribute to the creation of international rules.

Having this ferry linking remote islands certified as an MASS able to conduct commercial navigation is a very significant first step toward a new age of marine transport. This technology will create value by enhancing safety, reducing accidents at sea, and reducing crews’ workloads. I look forward to social implementation and working with the industry to create the future of marine transport.

Operated by Kokusai Ryobi Ferry, this roughly 66-meter-long remote island ferry with a capacity of 500 passengers links Shin-Okayama Port (Okayama City) and Tonosho Port (Shodoshima, Kagawa Prefecture). The vessel is being used in MEGURI2040 for demonstration voyages to verify automation on remote island routes. Shipping routes in the Seto Inland Sea are congested and have many islands, reefs, and other obstacles. After safety evaluations confirmed that the system’s sensors, planners, and other components operated appropriately in this environment, on December 5 the ferry received certification from the Japanese government as the country’s first MASS.

For the vessel to operate, it needs to be certified as meeting technological standards stipulated by the government. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) established an Advisory Committee on MASS in June 2024 to consider things like safety standards and inspection methods related to MASS, and the group published its findings in June 2025. To be certified as an MASS, a ship needs to undergo two inspections. The first is carried out at the design stage before equipment is installed, similar to a conventional vessel, and if the vessel meets the criteria it is certified as an “initial MASS” (human intervention is required for all of the tasks performed by the automated navigation system). If the vessel clears the second inspection, it is able to operate as a MASS. The Olympia Dream Seto passed these two inspections in July and December 2025.

Although demonstration testing for automated driving is moving forward focusing on the automobile sector, given the technological difficulties in areas including ship-to-shore telecommunications environments and instantaneous obstacle avoidance, and the large amount of funds required for development, there has been almost no development to date for automated seagoing vessels that navigate autonomously. At the same time, Japan is a world leader in information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), and image analysis technology. The Nippon Foundation launched the MEGURI2040 project for autonomous vessels recognizing the possibilities for using these technologies for joint technological development with private sector companies to make dramatic advances in technological development related to autonomous navigation. Stage 1 involved six vessels and carried out automated navigation demonstrations from January to March 2022. Stage 2 began in fiscal 2022 and involves four vessels, with the aim of “commercial navigation” (social implementation). In addition to technological development targeting Level 4 automated operation, the project is promoting the development of Japanese and international rules and safety standards, and the development of peripheral environments in line with the evolving needs of users.