Japan: Large car ferry completes demo test of auto berthing, un-berthing at actual pier May 24, 2021, by Naida Hakirevic Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMST), Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen), and MOL Ferry have announced the success of a demonstration test of their jointly developed auto berthing and un-berthing system at an actual pier in Oarai Port, Ibaraki Prefecture, using the large-size car ferry Sunflower Shiretoko. Back in August 2018, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT) selected this joint initiative for its autonomous vessel demonstration project. As explained, this demonstration test is a world first from two aspects — the use of a large car ferry with a gross tonnage of 11,410 tons on one of its service routes and conducting the test using an actual pier.