'Eco' is a key issue for future shipbuilding industry.
'Eco-ship' is a energy-efficient ship, which is improved fuel efficiency of engines or wind or tide resistant ship.
Mitsui Shipbuilding of Japan has already booked two bulkers from Japanese owners, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, along with IHI, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, etc., are devoting all their strengths to upgrade fuel efficiency.
Japanese shipbuilders expect that they would be able to create new demand for eco-ship and dominate the market, advancing South Korea or China, since Japanese high-end products take with customers. Even with higher newbuilding price by 10-20% than the market, if Japanese ships cut fuel consumption, customers would still seek for Japanese yards.
Strengthening human resources by company restructuring or M&A would help reinforcing R&D, to conduct rapid development of new ship.
However, it is unlikely that every Japanese builder would take an aggressive move.
Mitsubishi sold its shipbuilding technology to overseas company, saying "With our existing business model, we can not survive recent crisis."
Mitsubishi went into partnership with L&T group of India in the end of 2011, cultivating human resources by providing shipbuilding technology. Also, it is looking for joint-contracts for newbuildings.