In order to appropriately cope with the intensifying international competition in shipbuilding and to maintain Japan's position as a leading country in the shipbuilding and shipping industries of the world, it is necessary to clearly define the desirable orientation of the shipbuilding industry as a whole and to address various challenges in a strategic perspective. In view of this need, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport set up the Competitive Strategy Conference for the Shipbuilding Industry in its Maritime Bureau, to discuss the future orientation and specific competitive strategies for the Japanese shipbuilding industry. The report released in June 2003 specifies strategies concerning individual aspects including the handing-down of skills, research and development, and international competition with 2010 as the target year.

　

　

Smaller Japanese shipbuilders, mainly serving the market for coasting vessels and fishing boats, are suffering depressed demand due to successive fleet cutbacks ensuing from structural changes in coastal shipping reflecting the situation of the national economy and changes in the international fishing situation. On the other hand, both qualitative and quantitative requirements regarding coasting ships are substantially changing under the impacts of transformations in the nation's economic and employment structures. Against this background, the following measures are implemented in an integrated way to strengthen the industrial basis of smaller shipbuilders and to reinforce their technological and management bases to enable them to continue to supply vessels adequately adapted to the requirements of society.

The Techno Superliner (TSL) is a revolutionary high speed vessel developed with state support, capable of carrying large volumes of cargo twice as fast as, or even faster than, a conventional cargo-ship. If and when TSLs enter commercial service and high-speed marine transport networks are created, the new means of transport will have significant social and economic impacts by contributing to the vitalization of regional economies, providing an alternative transport route in the event of a major disaster, and helping create new industries and new job opportunities.

At the same time, because of its entirely new technological features, the TSL has been anticipated to involve specific problems including higher construction, operating and maintenance costs than conventional ships. To overcome these problems, it was decided to develop a scheme to support the commercialization of TSLs by (1) setting up a new ship holding and managing company by the name of Techno-Seaways Inc. (TSW) to lease out TSLs to operators, (2) developing a system for integrated technical support pertaining to the operation of TSLs including optimal operation management and maintenance among other factors, and (3) facilitating the raising of shipbuilding funds.

The first Techno Superliner (TSL) for commercial service is scheduled to start plying between Tokyo and the Ogasawara Islands in the spring of 2005. In this connection, TSW was established in June 2002. TSW entered into a shipbuilding contract and a charter agreement in January 2003, and the construction of the vessel was begun. The entrance of this first TSL into commercial service will greatly improve access from mainland Japan to the Ogasawara Islands (from 26 hours one way at present to about 16 hours in terms of transit time), and is expected to make great contributions to the convenience of the island population and the vitalization of their socio-economic activities. TSW is planning to launch commercial operation of the second and subsequent TSLs on domestic cargo transport routes and short-haul routes in Asia.

　

　

Whereas the past development of Japan more or less concentrated in coastal areas, the utilization of ocean space is expected to be required even more in the future.

However, since shallow waters including inland bays are already utilized in high density, the increasing requirement will have to be met by expanding the available ocean space to include deep waters and seas with relatively soft beds. To complement reclamation in such waters, research and development work on huge floating offshore structures, i.e. Mega-Floats, has been under way since 1995.

The R&D work on the Mega-Float concept began with studies on underlying technologies needed for design and construction, undertaken from 1995 through 1997. During the following three years from 1998 through 2000, a floating airport model of 1,000 m in length was used for the next R&D phase to apply the Mega-Float concept to floating airports. The research endeavors over those six years resulted in the establishment of a basic technology for Mega-Floats, in particular the conclusion that a huge offshore airport of 4,000 m class would be technically feasible. At the same time in 2000, along with the work in the above-described direction, R&W attempts were also made on semisubmersible and other types adaptable to open seas with high waves, and contributed to expanding the range of seas where a Mega-Float can be used.

The 1,000 m floating airport model was disassembled after the completion of the experiment, and the segments are already used in various localities for a demonstration test of an information backup center and as a fishing park, a ferry wharf and a movable earthquake-proof mooring facility. In addition, for the currently contemplated re-expansion of the Haneda Airport, the Mega-Float structure has been nominated as one of eligible options.

　

　

Many conceivable applications of the Mega-Float structure include port facilities such as container terminals, energy supply bases and amusement facilities in addition to airports and information backup centers.

　

Shipbuilders worldwide share a single international market to achieve harmonious development, so it is indispensable to pursue international cooperation through developing a common perception of the status of newbuilding supply and demand and establishing a competitive discipline. As a leading shipbuilding nation, Japan has committed to international cooperation by taking initiatives in the OECD framework and elsewhere. (For further details, see "International Cooperation" on page 18.)