Eight Knot Inc. (Location: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, CEO: Yujin Kimura, henceforth: Our Company) is pleased to announce the signing of a capital and business alliance contract (henceforth, this alliance) with Seika Daiya Engine Co., Ltd. (Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo, CEO: Toru Shibasaki, henceforth: Seika Daiya Engine), aiming to solve various challenges in maritime and fisheries sectors and enhance sustainability through autonomous navigation technology. Seika Daiya Engine, possessing a sales and service network across 25 national locations and catering to fishing boats, industrial vessels, passenger ships, etc., will cooperate to offer next-generation solutions focused on our autonomous navigation platform "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN".
■Background of this alliance:
Seika Daiya Engine, which upholds the company slogan "Go for the sea", and our company, aiming to create safer and more comfortable water mobility through robotics and AI, share the same goals. This alliance is agreed upon to provide advanced navigation assistance equipment to the many people working in Japan's seas to solve various problems. Collaborating with Seika Daiya Engine, including capital relationships, we will address safety issues that maritime and fisheries businesses face and work towards resolving the expected future shortage of ship crew.
■Synergy:
Our company has comprehensively developed the autonomous navigation platform for small vessels "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN" and related products, aiming for the automation of water mobility and future unmanned navigation. Seika Daiya Engine operates as the domestic general agent mainly for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger marine engines, possessing a sales and service network in 25 locations nationwide. In this alliance, we will combine our unique small vessel autonomous navigation technology with the Seika Daiya Engine's strength in selling and servicing marine products to expedite business development in Japan.
Related URL: https://8kt.jp/en/solution
■About Seika Daiya Engine: https://www.daiyaeng.co.jp/
Seika Daiya Engine conducts business as the domestic general agent mainly for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger marine engines, possessing a sales and service network in 25 locations nationwide. The company, with its customer base primarily composed of business vessels such as fishing boats, commercial boats, and passenger ships, conducts sales of high-quality and reliable marine diesel engines and navigation assistance equipment.
■About Eight Knot:
Eight Knot, a consortium of experts in robotics and AI, specializes in the development of autonomous navigation technology for small vessels. Our mission is to drive digital transformation and automation in the maritime sector, providing innovative solutions to address pressing societal issues. Our goal is to enhance accessibility in water transportation by leveraging autonomous navigation technology. This enables us to provide crew support, improve vessel safety, and optimize operating costs. Our vision is to pave the way for a new era of maritime operations, where automation and safety are not mutually exclusive, but collaboratively lead to improved efficiency and sustainability.
■Company Information
Company Name: Eight Knot Inc.
Established: March 8, 2021
Officers: Representative Director CEO Yujin Kimura, Director CTO Tomoaki Yokoyama, External Director Kazutaka Yomogita
Head Office : Room 313, S-Cube Main Building, 130-42 Nagasone-cho, Kita Ward, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture 591-8025
Tokyo Office : Center of Garage, 1-16-3, Yokokawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0003
Business Content: Development of autonomous navigation technology for small vessels, development of on-demand water transportation systems.
Website: https://8kt.jp
Twitter: @8ktjp