NYK Invests in Ocean-Tech Startup Oceanic Constellations

Strengthening the Company's Business Foundation in the Marine and Space Field

Feb. 05, 2026

On February 5, NYK made an equity investment in Oceanic Constellations Inc. (Headquarters: Kamakura, Japan; "OC") through a third-party allotment of new shares. The funds from this investment are expected to support OC's efforts to establish a mass-production framework for unmanned surface vehicles ("USVs"), among other initiatives. Background

OC, an ocean-tech startup, aims to establish a mass-production framework for USVs within the next few years. The large-scale production and social implementation of USVs will enable the creation of new marine infrastructure that contributes to addressing societal challenges such as ocean surveillance, disaster prevention, and communications, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the entire maritime industry.


USV at sea (Provided by OC).   Image by NYK.


USV being assembled at Keihin Dock Co., Ltd..   Image by NYK.

In addition to its USV technologies, OC possesses strong capabilities in integrated environmental simulation technologies that realistically reproduce the marine environment, essential for USV operations. These technologies can also be leveraged to verify feasibility and improve accuracy in developing an offshore recovery system for reusable rockets, a project for which NYK has been selected under the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Space Strategy Fund initiative.

In December 2025, we concluded a service agreement with OC for software development of integrated simulations and scenario validation utilizing such simulations for the Space Strategy Fund initiative.

Furthermore, in October 2025, Keihin Dock Co., Ltd., an NYK Group company, concluded a joint demonstration agreement with OC. Through these and other initiatives, the NYK Group has been strengthening its relationship with OC. By acquiring technical expertise through collaboration, we aim to strengthen our business foundation in both the marine and space fields.

Through this investment, we will further deepen our partnership with OC, accelerate the development of our space-related businesses, and, as a group, promote co-creation to address societal challenges related to the oceans.

About Oceanic Constellations Inc. (OC)
Founded in November 2023 by a team with diverse backgrounds in space, IT, academia, and the automotive industry, OC is a groundbreaking marine startup based in Kamakura, Japan. Through a network of numerous USVs, it aims to implement advanced swarm-control technology integrating oceanic communication network management and energy management, collectively known as "oceanic constellations." To date, the company has filed 25 patents essential for the construction of its USV constellations, securing rights to 18 of them. Aligning with central government agencies, local authorities, marine-related industries, and academia, OC is pushing toward full-scale commercialization and integrated development by 2027. Website: https://www.oceanic-constellations.com/　(Japanese only)

NYK Group, press release