Japan's latest energy-efficient ferry sees light of day

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of Japan’s heavyweight Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has launched the first of two eco-friendly large car ferries booked by compatriot Shinnihonkai Ferry and Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT).

As disclosed, the newbuilding hit the water for the first time on April 29, 2025, at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture. A christening ceremony was held on the same day as the launch, and the vessel was named Keyaki.

The unit possesses a length of approximately 199 meters, a beam of roughly 25.5 meters and a gross tonnage of around 14,300 tonnes.

The new environmentally friendly ferry, which is set to operate a shipping route between the city of Otaru in Hokkaido, northern Japan, and Maizuru in Kyoto prefecture, is expected to be handed over in December this year, following completion of outfitting work and sea trials, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has shared.

According to the Tokyo-headquartered shipbuilding player, Keyaki—the ninth unit built by the company for Shinnihonkai Ferry—isJapan’s inaugural vessel boasting a novel energy-saving hull form, including a Katana bow, said to minimize