Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has entered into an agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL), Lloyd’s Register Group (LR), and Regent Craft to jointly develop processes for vessel certification and operational approval, with the aim of commercialising Regent’s fully electric vessel ‘Seaglider’ in Japan.
This initiative marks the first collaboration in Japan with a classification society toward the commercialization of Seaglider vessels. Seagliders are fully electric next-generation vehicles that combine the characteristics of maritime vessels and aircraft. They are classified as wing-in-ground (WIG) craft that fly a few metres above the sea, taking advantage of ground effect. Designed to deliver high-speed transportation at speeds of up to 300 km/h, together with high energy efficiency and zero-emission operation, Seaglider vessels are being developed as an innovative and sustainable transportation infrastructure solution for both passenger and cargo services, particularly for coastal city connections and regional island routes.
In addition to the investments in Regent, MOL and JAL will combine their accumulated knowledge in safe operations with Regent’s technological expertise to ensure safety and reliability essential for commercialisation of Seaglider vessels. LR has partnered with Regent to act as the first international classification society to certify Seaglider vessels outside the US. Under this Joint Development Project, LR will act as an independent third-party advisor, providing technical, safety, and regulatory guidance, while MOL and JAL, in collaboration with Regent, aim to establish a comprehensive and systematic framework for certification and approval processes in Japan. Through collaboration among the four parties, MOL will further strengthen engagement with relevant government authorities and advance efforts toward the commercialisation of Seaglider operations in Japan around 2030.
Ted Lester, VP Certification, Regent Craft, said: “Bringing Seaglider operations to Japan represents a significant milestone for Regent and for the future of coastal mobility. Establishing clear certification pathways in Japan is the critical foundation that makes commercial deployment possible, and we couldn’t ask for stronger partners to do that work alongside us. MOL, JAL, and Lloyd’s Register each bring deep expertise in safety, certification, and operations as we move forward to bring Seaglider technology from vision to reality in one of the world’s most important maritime markets.”
Ryota Hayashi, GM Energy Business Strategy Division, MOL, added: “This partnership marks an important step forward in developing the market for Seaglider vessels. By combining MOL and JAL’s expertise in safe and reliable maritime and aviation operations with Regent’s innovative technology and Lloyd’s Register’s certification capabilities, we aim to pave the way for Seaglider operations in Japan. We believe this initiative will create new opportunities in passenger and cargo transportation and contribute to a sustainable and advanced transportation network.”
Image: Regent Seaglider (source: MOL)
