Sanwa Dock, a specialized repair and maintenance yard located on an island near Onomichi in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, is currently struggling to meet the growing demand for ship repairs. The yard, which has the capability to handle large ocean-going vessels, has seen a significant decrease in the number of ships it can accommodate for periodic dry docking due to labor hour regulations. The majority of its workload now comes from Japan's more than 5,000 domestic coastal vessels, which require frequent and involved repairs that cannot be performed at sea. As the global fleet ages, the demand for repairs is expected to increase, raising concerns that repair yards like Sanwa Dock may become unable to cope. Additionally, limited ship scrapping capacity could force further life extension of aging vessels, further burdening repair facilities. Experts highlight the need for greater recognition of repair and scrapping activities, alongside shipbuilding, to ensure the maritime industry's sustainability in Japan.