Japan Revives Shipbuilding with New LNG Dock
Japan has embarked on a full-scale revival of its shipbuilding industry. To resume the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, the country is establishing a new large-scale dock for the first time in 18 years, and it is reactivating halted shipbuilding lines in response to defense budg
Japan is reviving its shipbuilding industry with a new large-scale dock for constructing liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. This comes after an 18-year hiatus in large dock construction, as the country reactivates halted shipbuilding lines. The move is driven by defense budget increases and expanded naval vessel exports, with an aim to enhance energy security and defense capabilities.
Namura Shipbuilding is constructing the new dock in Imari Bay, Saga Prefecture, by 2035. This will be the first such facility in Japan since 2017. The dock will be capable of building LNG carriers and other vessels, as Imari Works already has a large dock. The investment amount for the new dock is estimated at around 100 billion yen ($650 million), with subsidies from central and local governments.
The goal is to revive Japanese-made LNG carrier construction, which has been dormant since 2019. Namura Shipbuilding, along with Imabari Shipbuilding and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, plans to produce 3 to 5 LNG carriers annually from around 2035. The new dock will also build next-generation energy carriers, such as ammonia carriers.
Energy security is a key factor in Japan's efforts to revive LNG carriers, with about 100 LNG carriers deployed annually for imports. To maintain stable transport capacity, approximately 5 vessels must be built domestically each year. The shipbuilding industry is facing challenges in securing manufacturing capacity for membrane-type LNG tanks, which are standard in the global LNG carrier market.
In the naval vessel sector, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is expanding its production base by reactivating a building berth in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in 2027. This berth will build a new supply ship for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, making it the largest in the fleet. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to increase its construction workforce and utilize existing cranes to reduce investment costs. The company is also considering technological cooperation or technology transfer with South Korean shipbuilders.
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