Japan is fully reviving its shipbuilding industry and is constructing a large dock for liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships for the first time in 18 years. This project is being launched by Namura Shipbuilding in Imari Bay, Saga Prefecture, and is expected to be operational by 2035, aiming to restore Japan's ship production capacity in the global market.
Details of the New Dock Construction
The new dock is located in Imari Bay and will serve as the main production base for Namura Works. The company also has a large dock measuring 450 meters in length and 70 meters in width, but due to the increasing demand for ship construction, it has decided to expand its production capacity. The investment cost for this project may reach around 100 billion yen (650 million dollars), which will be funded through government subsidies.
Goals and Challenges
The main goal of this project is to revive the construction of Japanese LNG ships, which had halted since 2019 due to intense competition with South Korea and China. Companies like Namura, Imabari Shipbuilding, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are working to establish a system to produce 3 to 5 LNG ships per year starting around 2035. Meanwhile, securing related technologies and supply chains has become a challenge due to prolonged construction delays.
Developments in the Military Ship Sector
In the military ship sector, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is also expanding its production base. The company will reactivate a 250-meter construction dock at its facility in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in 2027. This dock is expected to build a new support ship for Japan's self-sufficient navy and is anticipated to be the largest ship in this fleet.
Economic and Security Impacts
The increase in Japan's defense spending since 2023 due to regional security threats has heightened the necessity for production capacity. While Japan has been able to compete in the new generation military ship project with Australia, existing challenges in the supply chain and technology will continue to face the country.
