Mitsubishi Shipbuilding invests in Marindows

The partnership aims to accelerate efforts to achieve a carbon neutral world through electrification and autonomous marine operations. The investment will provide a network within the small and mid-sized coastal vessel market, fishing boat market, and pleasure boat market that will support Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s efforts for the commercialisation of standard electric propulsion vessels. It is also expected to further the adoption of safe and efficient navigation support systems using real-time data.

Marindows Inc. was established in March 2021 by e5 Lab Inc., a firm jointly founded by four companies representing shipping firms and a trading company to promote the electric propulsion and digitalization of ships. The company aims to create a better work environment for crews and all personnel in the marine industry by providing a range of applications using the “Marindows” marine operating system it provides as a platform.

The launch of marine broadband in 2022 will support the platform by making ship to shore communications and crew support services possible in real time.

In recent years, as a marine systems integrator, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has been pursuing initiatives that go beyond the conventional shipbuilding business model of just building and selling products. Last year, e5 Lab and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding designed a biomass carrier with a standardised hybrid electric propulsion system – ROBOSHIP.