Japan Certifies Its First Remote Support Facility
Overview
On September 11, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism certified Wärtsilä Japan Co., Ltd. as the first facility for remote support services under Article 6-4 of the Ship Safety Act. Under this system, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism certifies facilities that remotely monitor the condition of ships and support their operation. When proper maintenance is carried out based on support from a certified facility, periodic ship inspections and other procedures can be simplified. Wärtsilä Japan Co., Ltd. covers the main engines of the passenger ferries "Sunflower Kurenai" and "Sunflower Murasaki".
Key points
- Wärtsilä Japan Co., Ltd. was certified as the first facility for remote support services.
- The facility remotely monitors and analyzes engine conditions and supports vessel operations.
- When proper maintenance is carried out, the system can help simplify ship inspections.
- The subject is the main engines installed on two passenger ferries.
Overview
To strengthen the foundation of the maritime industry, the Maritime Bureau partially revised the Ship Safety Act in conjunction with revisions to the Maritime Transport Act and other laws on May 21, 2021, establishing a certification system for facilities providing remote support services.
The certification on September 11, 2026, identified the first facility certified under the system.
Impact
When proper maintenance is carried out based on support from a certified facility, periodic ship inspections and other procedures can be simplified.
Details
Under the system, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism certifies facilities that remotely monitor the condition of ships and support their operation.
Facilities providing remote support services remotely monitor and analyze engine conditions and carry out proper maintenance.
As the first certified facility, Wärtsilä Japan Co., Ltd. provides remote support services for the main engines, or internal combustion engines, installed on the passenger ferries "Sunflower Kurenai" and "Sunflower Murasaki".