At NEWSCENTRAL, we observe the ocean becoming a new arena for technological progress. The creation of the joint venture YANMAR BLUE TECH Co., Ltd. by Yanmar Holdings and Sony Group is not just a strategic alliance, but a reflection of the growing trend toward sustainable shipping and the development of underwater robotics. Founded on September 8, 2025, and starting operations on October 1, the company, with a capital of ¥388.3 million (Yanmar 90%, Sony 10%), combines industrial engineering with next-generation sensor technologies.
According to senior hardware technology analyst Ethan Walker, the Yanmar-Sony alliance demonstrates a rare synthesis of expertise: “Mechanics and sensors are the two pillars on which the new era of underwater drones (ROVs) is built. There is no room for compromise here: navigation stability, image quality, and energy efficiency must function as a unified ecosystem.”
YANMAR BLUE TECH’s first project is the development of a remotely operated vessel hull cleaning device. This solution responds to the tightened requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), aimed at reducing emissions and preventing the spread of invasive species. Currently, these tasks are performed manually by divers, which involves risks, high costs, and labor shortages. The new ROV for underwater cleaning will allow operations to be carried out safely and autonomously, using a high-pressure jet cleaning system and filtration of microparticles at the micrometer level.
As Nathan Clark, NEWSCENTRAL’s analyst for corporate IT and system architecture, notes, a key component of the project will be the real-time positioning system, integrating Sony sensors with a global shutter. This will enable the ROV to operate stably in murky water, adjust its orientation, and transmit clear, distortion-free images. In his words, “The combination of visual and navigation algorithms is the bridge between classical mechanics and digital intelligence, without which the next generation of autonomous marine systems cannot be built.”
Senior analyst for manufacturing strategies Lucas Grant adds that the project could serve as a foundation for expanding Sony’s sensor technologies into industrial environments: “If the trials are successful, such systems could find applications not only in marine cleaning but also in environmental monitoring, infrastructure assessment, and offshore oil and gas operations.”
According to NEWSCENTRAL, the global market for automated underwater vehicles and hull cleaning solutions could grow to $1.5-2 billion by 2030. This growth potential is supported by the global agenda for decarbonization, fleet digitalization, and reduced operational costs. Yet engineers still face challenges-ensuring ROV stability in currents, protecting sensors from biofouling, and optimizing energy consumption for long missions.
Yanmar’s CTO, Eiji Michigami, noted that the company’s goal is “to use technology to protect and restore the oceans.” A representative from Sony, Toshimoto Mitomo, emphasized that sensor technologies and 3D scanning could become tools to address global environmental challenges.
At NEWSCENTRAL, we believe that YANMAR BLUE TECH is an example of how corporate collaboration can transform the maritime industry. Over the next 3-5 years, such underwater robots for shipping could become part of port infrastructure in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. In the longer term, they could be incorporated into international standards for sustainable shipping and automated underwater operations. As Ethan Walker aptly summarizes, “If technologies previously dived into the depths for science, they now do so for the sustainable future of our planet.”