Mitsui Osk Lines News

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Japan's second-largest shipping company, aims to capitalize on opportunities that emerge from a shift in trade routes driven by new U.S. tariffs, CEO Takeshi Hashimoto said.The highest U.S. tariffs in more than a hundred years came into force on Wednesday, roiling global markets."Trade routes will inevitably be reshuffled," Hashimoto told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday."We'll likely see increased trade from low-tariff countries and declines from high-tariff ones…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has completed a biodiesel-blended marine fuel (biofuel) bunkering on its capsize bulk carrier, Midnight Dream.In March 2025, the vessel was supplied with about 1,000 tons of biofuel in Singapore, initiating MOL’s first biofuel utilization in collaboration with BHP Group on a capesize bulk carrier.Biofuel is made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil.The biofuel bunkered in the most recent operation is a blend of about 24% biodiesel (B24) with Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)…

The popularity of ammonia as a fuel for shipping is likely to benefit from a growing number of green ammonia production projects. Shipowner confidence in the availability of ammonia was displayed this week by Belgian oil tanker group CMB.TECH and charterers Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and MOL Chemical Tankers as they signed deals for nine ammonia-powered bulk carriers and chemical tankers.Green hydrogen and ammonia projects around the world have advanced over the last few weeks. Last week…

Value Maritime (VM) has successfully installed its Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) and Carbon Capture unit aboard Nexus Victoria, an LR1 product tanker owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL).VM’s 15MW next-generation EGCS Filtree system can filter sulphur and (ultra)fine particulate matter and can capture 10% of the vessel’s CO2 emissions with potential scalability to 30% if needed. The system’s plug-and-play design includes onboard CO2 capture and storage capabilities, enabling captured CO2 to be offloaded onshore for reuse in greenhouse cultivation…

Belgian oil tanker group CMB.TECH has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and MOL Chemical Tankers (MOLCT) for nine ammonia-powered vessels.The vessels will be among the world's first ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers and chemical tankers. The delivery of these ships is expected between 2026 and 2029.The landmark agreement between MOL/MOLCT, and CMB.TECH involves nine ammonia-powered ships.Three ammonia-fitted 210.000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers, currently on order at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard…

MOL Energia, a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), has signed long-term charter contracts with SCG Chemicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Siam Cement Group (SCG), for two very large ethane carriers (VLECs), to be built in South Korea.The charter for two more VLECs comes in addition to three vessels already contracted by SCG Chemicals in January 2025.Of the approximately 90 dedicated liquefied ethane carriers currently in service or on order worldwide, this deal will…

Titan Clean Fuels and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have completed the first LNG and liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) bunkering operation in Belgium, as part of a new multi-delivery contract for MOL’s vehicle carrier fleet.On March 16, 2025, Titan’s Alice Cosulich LNG bunkering vessel delivered 500 tons of bio-LNG and 400 tons of conventional LNG to the Celeste Ace vehicle carrier. The simultaneous operation (SIMOPS) bunkering took place in the Port of Zeebrugge’s International Car…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its partners Namura Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have secured an approval in principle (AiP) from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for a large-size ammonia-powered ammonia carrier.The AiP was awarded for the ship’s ammonia fuel compatible design.The companies are developing the vessel in anticipation of wide use of ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel and hydrogen carrier, and in response to further demand for ammonia fuel transitions in power plants.The carrier…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has acquired 100% of the membership rights of LBC Tank Terminals Group Holding Netherlands Coöperatief (LBC), one of the world’s largest independent tank terminal operators primarily handling and storing chemicals in Europe and the United States.With the acquisition, MOL aims to strengthen its chemical logistics business.The sale and purchase agreement was signed on March 7, 2025, with the acquisition price expected to be approximately $1.7 billion.The…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that green hydrogen produced from offshore wind using the demonstration yacht Winz Maru was supplied onshore in the central breakwater area of Tokyo, as part of the Wind Hunter Project.This marks the first time in the world that a ship has supplied green hydrogen, produced on its own while underway, for use on shore, according to MOL.Between FY 2021 and FY2 023, MOL conducted a demonstration test in Omura Bay in Sasebo City with the Winz Maru…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has joined the e-NG Coalition, an international alliance that aims to accelerate the development and use of e-methane to accelerate the decarbonization of shipping industry.With the addition of MOL, the total number of participating companies of the e-NG alliance has increased to 20.Through its participation in the alliance, MOL will establish an international supply chain for next-generation fuels and accelerate its initiatives to reduce the environmental…

The UP World LNG Shipping Index (UPI) rose 0.67% to 168.40 points, while markets remained quiet despite geopolitical shifts made by the new U.S. administration, reports UPI analyst Tomas Novotny. “This can potentially increase LNG market competition, leading to lower prices but higher sales.”The UPI saw moderate growth, with Awilco LNG (+9.1%), BP (+8.5%), and Cool Company (+6.8%) among the top gainers, while Tsakos Energy (-5.2%) and Capital Clean Energy (-4.9%) declined. Many stocks are nearing key resistance levels, hinting at possible breakouts.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk, Furukawa Electric, and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, have tested the InfraLaser system on the outer hull of an actual vessel, successfully stripping down rust and coatings with industrial laser technology.Furukawa Electric, with the cooperation of MOL and MOL Drybulk, has been developing a rust and coating removal system for onboard maintenance since 2021, utilizing the surface treatment solution InfraLaser based on technology cultivated in industrial lasers.Since 2022…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Fukada Salvage & Marine Works have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration on transportation and installation (T&I) vessels for floating offshore wind turbines.Under the MoU, MOL and Fukada will launch a study of efficient transportation and installation methods for floating offshore wind turbines.In anticipation of accelerating the introduction of floating offshore wind turbines in the Japanese market in the 2030s, the companies…

The multi-purpose vessel Prima Verde, said to be the world’s first vessel able to run on marine gas oil (MGO) and wind assisted propulsion simultaneously, has been delivered.Operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) company MOL Drybulk and owned by Daishin Shipping, the vessel), was delivered at Onomichi Dockyard.The vessel has a range of environmentally friendly features, and is the world's first vessel of any type to use green steel materials, an engine that can run exclusively on marine gas oil (MGO) and a wind assisted vessel propulsion system.JGreeX…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a long-term charter contract for three newbuilding very large ethane carriers (VLECs) with SCG Chemicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG).The 100,000 m3 VLECs, spanning 230 meters in lengths and with breadths of 36.6 meters, will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries, and are scheduled for delivery in 2027.The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel ethane propulsion engines, which will reduce greenhouse gas, sulfur oxide…

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has received ABS approval in principle (AIP) for a tank design that enables large-scale hydrogen transport and storage.The vacuum insulation system from HD KSOE is designed to reduce the time required to create a vacuum in large tanks, essential for transportation. The new technology allows maintaining a vacuum state at –253℃, which KSOE says enables safer and loss-free transport of large quantities of liquid hydrogen.ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has completed the acquisition of 72% shares in Gearbulk, growing its fleet of dry bulk carriers to 338 vessels.The completion of acquisition means Gearbulk is now MOL’s consolidated subsidiary.Gearbulk has a proven track record of growth through the transport of semi-finished products such as pulp. MOL has had a 34-year partnership with Gearbulk since its equity participation in 1991.With the consolidation, the MOL Group's fleet of dry bulk carriers will total 338 vessels…

DNV awarded an AiP to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for its innovative vacuum-insulated large-scale liquefied hydrogen tank, another advancement in providing practical storage solutions for liquefied hydrogen (LH2).Developing cost-effective and flexible large-scale liquid hydrogen storage with higher safety, and lower operational and capital cost is essential if LH2 is to realize its promise for decarbonizing industries such as transportation, shipping, and power generation.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a long-term charter contract for a newbuilding LNG carrier with a vessel operation management company funded by JERA.This is the eighth contract for LNG carrier signed with JERA. The vessel will be built at the Geoje Shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries, and is scheduled for delivery in 2026.It will be 290 meters long, with a breadth of 45.8 meters. It will feature a membrane tank of 174,000 m3.The vessel will be managed by MOL and will transport LNG for JERA.

Lloyd's Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for its pioneering vacuum-insulated large-scale liquid hydrogen (LH₂) tank system. The successful testing of a large-scale vacuum chamber for this AiP marked the world’s first technical validation of large-scale LH₂ tank insulation design.The vacuum insulation system addresses some of the most pressing challenges of using hydrogen in the maritime industry: the scalability of liquefied hydrogen storage and transportation of the fuel, says LR.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has named its newbuilding LNG carrier MOL Azure, set to sail for TotalEnergies under a time-charter contract.The MOL Azure vessel was ordered by a wholly owned subsidiary of MOL and is slated to sail under a time charter contract with TotalEnergies Gas & Power Limited (TGPL), a subsidiary of TotalEnergies.Upon delivery on January 14, the vessel will be the second LNG carrier to be chartered by TGPL under a time charter contract, and will depart for its…

Two bulk carriers collided in China's Yangtze river, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Tuesday, adding that no injuries to the crew were reported.Vega Dream, owned and operated by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, collided with Yangze 22, the bulk carrier sailing under the Singaporean flag, on Dec. 30, although the vessels were in stable condition, the MPA said.Yangze 22, whose hull was damaged by the collision, was reported to have spilled about 9 metric tons of fuel oil. It is currently stationed at Hengsha East Anchorage for damage assessment, Singapore's port authority said.Officials from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines were not immediately available for comment.