Nihon Shipyard, a new joint venture shipbuilding company to be established between Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United (JMU), has won approval from Taiwanese and Japanese competition authorities.

The two Japanese shipbuilders are optimistic they will shortly win approval from other major competition authorities, which will pave the way for the company to start business this autumn.

The joint venture will potentially create Japan’s largest shipbuilder and the third largest shipbuilder in the word.