Japan Marine United (JMU) is to launch its first big reorganisation since it formed in 2013.
Shinjiro Mishima, CEO of the country's biggest yard group, said it plans to bring together its yards' design units at its head office in April to boost competitiveness.
According to the Asiasis website, Japanese media cited Mishima as saying: "The market will continue to be difficult for the time being, but there is likely to be signs of recovery in the latter half of the year or at the end of the year.
"The
