〜 Confirmed high accuracy on ship performance evaluation〜

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has decided to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed by Bearing, Inc. (Note 1) for the ship ICT system “Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions” (Note 2) on 300+ ships under our operation for the purpose of improving performance evaluation accuracy. By combining the high-quality data collection technology that we have made over 20 years with the world’s most advanced AI technology of Bearing, Inc., we will realize higher accuracy of performance evaluation and reduce environmental load by economical and safe navigation.

Accurate evaluation of vessel operational performance in the actual sea area is highly important for enhancing economical operations and environmental friendly measures. With existing IoT technologies, certain level of operational performance evaluation with a certain accuracy using big data obtained in real time is still possible, but further improvement in accuracy is necessary in the shipping, shipbuilding, and marine equipment industries.

For many years, we have focused on “collection of high-quality data” and “advanced data analysis technology” and have made various efforts to improve the accuracy of performance evaluation technology. As a part of this, from the end of 2019, we have conducted a demonstration experiment to verify and evaluate data analysis technology by AI developed by Bearing, Inc.. As a result, we have confirmed that we could see the result with significantly higher accuracy compared with existing performance evaluation technology.

According to Bearing, Inc. other reason of successful result by the AI adoption is high quality operational data which “K” LINE has been piling up as our long-standing efforts, which makes Bearing, Inc’s AI analysis more accurate, and it can be said that our long-standing efforts have paid off.

In the future, by utilizing Bearing, Inc.‘s technology and high quality operational data, we will not only accurately grasp the operational performance of each vessel in the actual sea area and use it for operational management, but also accurately evaluate various fuel reduction efforts in both software and hardware, improve operational performance and advance ship management.

“K” LINE pursues safety, environment and quality as priority initiatives for our value creation in the management plan and accelerate those issues by DX utilizing big data and AI technology.

(Note 1) Bearing, Inc.

Bearing, Inc is one of the portfolio companies backed by the AI Fund and MITSUI & CO. LTD. The AI Fund was founded by Dr. Andrew Ng who is a leading pioneer for AI in the world. Bearing, Inc has access to the latest AI technologies developed in the world’s most advanced AI research labs and the best-known machine learning practices used in the industry.

https://www.bearing.ai/

(Note 2) Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions

Announcement on June 28, 2016
Joint development project of “K-IMS”; Integrated vessel operation and performance management system

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/other/other3295047094663452046.html

On February 9^th, 2021, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and Ocean Network Express (ONE) conducted a joint crisis management drill as a part of optimum training on emergency response, preparedness for any kind of major maritime accidents.

The scenario of the drill developed when ONE’s chartered vessel from “K” LINE encountered

main engine failure and ran aground on the Elbe River in Germany after losing control. Containers on deck were collapsed and part of them including hazardous materials fell into the river. A small amount of fuel oil leaked from the ship was observed at the surface of the river.

Participants from “K” LINE, ONE headquarters in Singapore, ONE regional headquarters in London, and “K” Line Ship Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd confirmed executing procedures, reviewing possible responses, and examining emergency measures with utilizing online communication tools.

“K” LINE principle and vision calls for enhancing “Safety”, “Environment” and “Quality”. We are preparing for any unexpected and unforeseen circumstances through the “Emergency Response Drill”. Furthermore, we promote safety in navigation and environmental conservation and quality enhancement in corporation with charterer and concerned parties.

“K” LINE is pleased to announce that the company was recognized as ”Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” for three consecutive years, the top rating, on “Supplier Engagement Rating” from CDP, which is a non-profit global organization (NGO) engaging in activities for investigating and disclosing environmental information, on February 9.

“Supplier Engagement Rating” evaluates the companies initiatives for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain and ranks the companies in line with their efforts. Our strategies and initiatives were evaluated on “Supplier Engagement Rating”.

This year 396 companies, including 83 Japanese companies, out of 5,640 companies were awarded as ”Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” worldwide.  

Last June, we revised the “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 in order to further refine the Group’s strengths of “safety”, “environment”, and “quality” and tackle the initiatives for “Decarbonization” and “Reduce an environmental impact on the sea and air”.  As an environmental front runner, we will continue to provide environmentally low-impact and high-efficiency marine transportation to as many people as possible around the world, and aim at realizing a sustainable society.

Related Links:

Please see the following for details of our “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050.

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/csr/environment/management.html#002

December 9, 2020

“K” LINE Awarded CDP’ s “A List 2020” on Climate Change

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr3596442103013453625/main/0/link/201209EN.pdf

January 15, 2021

Posted CEO Message for CDP2020 “A List” award

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr-612440896952966589/main/0/link/210115EN%20.pdf

Please be advised that “K” Line Tokyo Head Office published the following press release today.

Please click the following addresses to read our reports.

・Financial Highlights for 3rd quarter FY2020 (Correction dated 5 February 2021)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/auto_20210204456344/pdfFile.pdf

・Notice on Differences between Consolidated Financial Forecasts for the Fiscal Year ending March 2021

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/auto_20210129452500/pdfFile.pdf

If you cannot open the URL please access the press release via the website:

http://www.kline.co.jp/en/

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. (ShipDC) have agreed to share operation data of all “K” LINE fleet equipped with “Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions”^*1 through IoS Open Platform (IoS-OP)^*2, the ship IoT data sharing platform promoted by ShipDC.

“K” LINE had so far stored operation data collected from several vessels equipped with Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions to IoS-OP, and has now agreed to expand the sharing for all its owned fleet of about 140 vessels.

Though the development of information and communication technology has made it possible to collect large and various data from ships in operation, approaches for data collection and analysis are still fragmented. For encouraging big data use in the maritime industry, ShipDC is working for the common platform for ship-related data.

This data sharing significantly increases the amount of ship operation data transferred in IoS-OP, and enables IoS-OP members to fully utilize the shared big data to enhance their corporate value, which includes the pursuit of ship safety and economic efficiency, environmental initiatives, and the creation of maritime innovations to strengthen their competitiveness.

Taking this occasion of expanding the data sharing, “K” LINE decided to upgrade its IoS-OP Consortium membership status to the highest rank of “Platinum” to extend its involvement.

“K” LINE and ShipDC aim for safety of ships, contribution to the environment, and economic rationality through the data utilization as well as further acceleration of the collection, distribution, and utilization of data in the maritime industry with IoS-OP at the core.

(*1) Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions
The ship ICT system which uses ship-shore intercommunication system and has functions of operation management of ships, condition monitoring of engine plant, and ship performance analysis from the office. Please see the link below for more information.
https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/other/other3295047094663452046.html

(*2) Internet of Ships Open Platform (IoS-OP)

A universal platform that enables the sharing of ship operation data among shipbuilders, manufacturers, and related service providers without compromising profits of data providers. 57 organizations joined the member association “IoS-OP Consortium” as of the end of 2020.