Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Pilots Quantum-Assisted Route Optimization to Cut Maritime Emissions
February 29, 2024
In a groundbreaking move toward sustainable ocean transport, Japanese shipping leader Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has launched a pilot project applying quantum-assisted computing to optimize vessel routes across the Pacific Ocean. The initiative, in partnership with D-Wave Systems and Japan’s National Institute of Maritime Technology, aims to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by reimagining how ships navigate long-haul voyages under dynamic weather and traffic conditions.
Early results from the pilot indicate fuel burn reductions of up to 6.5% on select trans-Pacific routes, particularly between Yokohama, Japan, and Long Beach, California. The pilot reflects a new convergence of quantum computing and maritime logistics, offering a glimpse into the future of environmentally conscious shipping.
The Challenge: Emissions and Efficiency in Ocean Freight
The maritime industry is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipping accounted for approximately 2.9% of global GHG emissions in 2022—more than many countries. The sector faces increasing regulatory and market pressure to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and adopt cleaner technologies.
One of the primary ways to reduce a ship’s carbon footprint is through optimal routing—calculating the most efficient path based on ocean currents, wind patterns, port schedules, and weather disruptions. Traditional routing algorithms often rely on heuristics and static models, which are limited in their ability to handle the real-time, high-dimensional nature of ocean data.
This is where quantum-assisted computing steps in. MOL’s pilot project uses D-Wave’s hybrid quantum solver to process complex routing variables and identify more precise and adaptive solutions to path optimization.
“We are testing quantum-assisted optimization as a core tool for decarbonization,” said Takahiro Ikeda, Chief Digital Officer at MOL. “Every percentage gain in fuel efficiency translates directly into both cost savings and emission reductions.”
The Quantum Advantage: Hybrid Solvers in Real-World Deployment
The core technology used in the pilot is D-Wave’s hybrid quantum-classical solver, a system that blends quantum annealing techniques with classical computing to solve combinatorial optimization problems at scale.
In this context, the system analyzes:
Real-time wind forecasts from meteorological satellites
Dynamic ocean current data
Bunker fuel price models
Projected port congestion or delays
Seasonal weather anomaly patterns
Route safety thresholds (e.g., storm zones, piracy zones)
The quantum component handles the search space explosion—where billions of possible route permutations must be considered in seconds. The classical components refine, interpret, and deliver actionable results to MOL’s shipboard navigation systems and fleet operations center.
Onboard navigation terminals receive a dynamically updated route map, with overlay data on fuel projections, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and emission impact under different routing strategies. Crews can manually approve or adjust the suggested path or allow the system to operate semi-autonomously in low-risk zones.
“We’re using quantum technology to run live, operational simulations that would take classical systems hours—or even days—to fully compute,” said Dr. Jun Sato, lead engineer at the National Institute of Maritime Technology.
Early Results: A 6.5% Fuel Efficiency Boost
Since late 2023, the quantum-optimized routing system has been tested on several voyages between Asia and North America, primarily across the busy Yokohama–Long Beach corridor, one of the highest-volume maritime trade lanes in the world.
Initial voyages demonstrated:
Fuel savings of up to 6.5% on trips optimized using the quantum-assisted solver
Slightly reduced voyage times (averaging 0.8 to 1.2 days saved)
Lower CO₂ and SOx emissions across optimized paths
Increased route stability in moderate weather anomalies
These results are especially promising considering the scale of bunker fuel usage on large containerships, where even a 1% improvement in efficiency can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings per year per vessel—not to mention reduced environmental impact.
MOL currently operates a fleet of over 700 vessels, including container ships, LNG carriers, bulkers, and tankers. If scaled fleet-wide, the projected impact of this optimization system could be transformative.
Regulatory Alignment: Japan’s Green Shipping Goals
This project is not occurring in isolation. It is part of Japan’s broader commitment to maritime decarbonization under both national and international frameworks. The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has outlined a goal to cut shipping GHG emissions by 50% by 2050, in line with the IMO’s Revised GHG Strategy adopted in 2023.
MOL has pledged to make quantum-based route optimization a cornerstone of its "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2," which includes investment in digital navigation, alternative fuels (e.g., LNG, methanol, ammonia), and next-gen propulsion systems.
“This pilot brings us closer to carbon-smart shipping,” said Kaori Yamamoto, MOL’s Head of Sustainability Strategy. “It shows how technology can bridge our environmental commitments and commercial performance.”
Partnerships and Technology Stack
The success of this initiative stems from close collaboration between MOL, D-Wave (headquartered in Canada), and Japan’s National Institute of Maritime Technology.
Key technology components include:
D-Wave Advantage Quantum System, accessed via cloud API
Hybrid solver platform optimized for logistics and route planning
Integration with MOL’s fleet operations software (including weather-routing dashboards and AIS-based vessel tracking)
Support from real-time maritime data feeds from international weather and oceanography services
While the system is designed to run on quantum annealing hardware, it is cloud-deployable and can deliver value even through quantum-inspired classical solvers, making the technology available today without waiting for universal fault-tolerant quantum systems.
“This is one of the first real-world maritime deployments of hybrid quantum optimization,” said Mark Johnson, SVP of Commercial Strategy at D-Wave. “We’re seeing quantum’s impact not years from now—but right now.”
Looking Ahead: Fleet-Wide Integration by 2025
Pending further validation and refinements throughout 2024, MOL plans to integrate the quantum route optimization system fleet-wide by the end of Q4 2025. The company will prioritize implementation on long-haul container and LNG carriers, where fuel costs and emission risks are highest.
Additional goals for future development include:
Integration with alternative fuel systems, to model how methanol or LNG performance interacts with routing
Expansion to cover Arctic and Indian Ocean routes, where weather unpredictability is higher
Collaboration with port authorities for dockside emissions prediction and berthing slot optimization
Coupling with autonomous navigation systems under development for next-generation ships
By integrating quantum computing into its routing workflow, MOL is laying the foundation for a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable fleet in the years ahead.
The Bigger Picture: Quantum Enters the Shipping Lane
The MOL pilot is one of the most advanced and publicly visible efforts to apply quantum computing in commercial maritime operations. While financial services and pharmaceuticals have led early quantum adoption, logistics—and especially maritime logistics—is emerging as a high-impact frontier due to its combinatorial complexity, data richness, and global scale.
The application of quantum computing in this domain offers several broader benefits:
Environmental: Reduction in GHG emissions, bunker fuel consumption, and port congestion
Operational: Improved scheduling accuracy, voyage planning, and cost predictability
Economic: Lower operational costs and improved compliance with emissions regulations
Strategic: Enhanced supply chain resilience in the face of climate volatility and geopolitical shifts
MOL’s efforts could spur other global carriers—including Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd—to explore similar quantum strategies, potentially accelerating industry-wide transformation.
Conclusion: A Quantum Turn Toward Sustainable Shipping
The use of quantum-assisted route optimization by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines represents more than just a technology pilot—it’s a signal that the shipping industry is entering a new phase of digitally enabled, climate-conscious operations. By leveraging the strengths of hybrid quantum computing, MOL is showing how emissions reduction and efficiency gains can go hand-in-hand.
As climate regulations tighten and customer demands for sustainable logistics increase, solutions like this could become standard operating tools, embedded into the very way ships plan and execute their voyages.
In short, quantum computing is no longer anchored in theory—it’s navigating the seas.