Japan is considering using a high-speed ship developed jointly for commercial use by Japanese shipbuilders to transport U.S. forces, sources said Wednesday.
The move is being made as part of the interim report on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. It is, however, unclear whether the Techno Super Liner will actually be used because details of Japan's obligation in mutual logistics support activities -- including the transportation of U.S. Marines -- have not been decided, the sources said.
It is also unclear whether the high-speed vessel is capable of handling the logistics support activities, they said.
The Techno Super Liner was initially designed to connect Tokyo with Chichijima Island, some 1,000 km away. The new ship cuts one-way travel time from 26 hours to 17 hours.
However, the plan by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry was canceled because of high fuel prices.
Developed at a cost of about 11.5 billion yen, the ship is one of the world's largest aluminum vessels and can transport 740 passengers. Its maximum speed is 70 kph.
The interim realignment report, adopted on Oct. 29 by foreign and defense affairs ministers of Japan and the United States, includes shifting 6,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam.
The interim report also calls for strengthening cooperation in logistics support activities, including transport of marines.
A transport ministry official welcomed the plan to use the Techno Super Liner to transport marines, but added that the central government cannot decide alone how to use the ship, which is owned by private companies.
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