TOKYO, Aug 6, 2019 - (JCN Newswire) - Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno
Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., and Mitsubishi
Corporation today announced their agreement to create a strategic
partnership to provide new infrastructure services in the marine
shipping industry that focus on electrically powered vessels. Their
newly established company, e5 Lab. Inc. (e5 Lab) will work to develop
and promote the greater use of these relatively clean modes of marine
transport.
There are a number of challenges facing Japan's
shipping industry (see below), which e5 Lab will seek to address by
consolidating the technologies, know-how and networks of its four major
shareholders. The new company will develop a platform to provide a
lineup of services that takes advantage of electrically powered vessels
and other cutting-edge technologies. The aim is to leverage this
platform to encourage sustainable growth and development within the
marine shipping industry.
7 Challenges To Be Addressed by e5 Lab
1. Control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and help to combat the adverse
impacts of climate change by converting vessels to electric propulsion.
2. Improve working environments and mitigate crew shortages by upgrading onboard communications systems.
3. Leverage sophisticated sensor technologies to improve ship maintenance
and management, thereby ensuring that aging vessels can be operated as
safely as possible
4. Leverage autonomous sailing technologies and
big data to provide onshore support for crews and contribute to safe,
reliable and efficient ship operations.
5. Offer an electric-vessel
platform to all stakeholders in the marine shipping industry (including
shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers, ship owners and operators, and
cargo owners), standardize vessels and otherwise help to develop a
sustainable growth model within the industry.
6. Propose standards on the swift and broader application of next-generation technologies.
7. Leverage large-capacity, rechargeable batteries to provide emergency
backup power and otherwise assist with the business continuity planning
of local communities.
The first objective for e5 Lab will be to
build the world's first zero-emission tanker by mid 2021. The tanker
will be a coastal vessel powered by large-capacity batteries and will
operate in Tokyo Bay. The company will also develop other kinds of
electrically powered vessels to address the abovementioned challenges.
Furthermore, e5 Lab will actively promote the electrification of both coastal and
ocean-going vessels, and pool the technologies, human resources and
operational know-how needed to achieve the 50% GHG reduction target of
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as soon as possible (the
IMO wants to see annual emissions drop to half of their 2008 levels by
the year 2025).
By delivering five kinds of e-value
("Electrification," "Environment," "Evolution," "Efficiency," and
"Economics") e5 Lab will offer new innovation to society.
About Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is a global integrated business
enterprise that develops and operates business across virtually every
industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery,
chemicals, foods, and environmental business. Mitsubishi Corporation's
current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading
operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources
development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial
products and manufacturing of industrial goods.
For more information on Mitsubishi Corporation, please visit the company's website at https://www.mitsubishicorp.