TOKYO - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. plans to restart its shipbuilding line in the western Japanese prefecture of Okayama in fiscal 2027, with an eye on building a defense vessel for the Defense Ministry, a source close to the matter said Monday.
The planned resumption is aimed at boosting construction capacity amid rising demand for ships, driven by the government's increased defense spending and efforts to promote overseas exports of naval vessels.
Located at the main plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems Ltd., a subsidiary in Tamano in the prefecture, the parent company will reactivate a slipway used to build ship hulls on land and increase staffing.
The plant was formerly owned by Mitsui Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., now Mitsui E&S Co. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries took it over in 2021 after Mitsui E&S decided to withdraw from its naval ship business.
