Four major Japanese shipbuilders are in discussions to form an alliance in hopes of riding out the industry slump.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) announced in a press release today that it has entered talks with Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. toward forming new domestic alliances in order to leverage “mutually complementary, synergy-generating [partnerships] that would collectively provide Japan's commercial ship industry with robust global competitive strength.”
“The move toward forming these alliances targets the integration of MHI's strengths in shipbuilding technology and engineering with the three prospective partners' manufacturing capabilities and cost competitiveness,” MHI said. “By combining these strengths, the alliances would boost ship development capabilities, enhance negotiation response, and enable further cost reductions, thereby accelerating the buildup of competitive strength in the global market.”
MHI said it is also considering establishing a new facility for shipbuilding technology development and education, with the aim of creating new technology and developing human resources to disseminate Japan's commercial ship technologies globally. The shipbuilder plans to issue a broad call for participation in the technology center by Japanese shipbuilders, marine transport companies, etc.