Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Sign MoU for Collaboration on Transportation and Installation Vessels for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

February 14, 2025

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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd
Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) and Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd (Fukada; President: Toshio Yamamoto, Headquarters: Osaka-shi, Osaka) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration on transportation and installation vessels for floating offshore wind turbines.

by courtesy of First Marine Solutions

As the adoption of offshore wind power progresses towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, there is a strong expectation to accelerate the technological development and the expansion of floating offshore wind in Japan, which has limited shallow coastal areas. This expansion is anticipated to cover deep sea areas, including the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and greatly contribute to the improvement of Japan's energy self-sufficiency ratio and the realization of a sustainable society. Floating offshore wind turbines are normally assembled at a port and then towed to the installation site. After being towed to the installation site, their position is maintained by a mooring system consisting of anchors and mooring lines. This series of towing and mooring operations requires work vessels such as anchor handling vessels.
These efforts aim to provide not only construction services by vessels but also comprehensive services including the procurement of mooring systems through domestic and international cooperation. We will continue to support power generation companies so that they can proceed with ease without the interface risks associated with the procurement of construction vessels and mooring systems.
MOL and Fukada will commence the 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, we aim to establish a joint ownership and operation system for new vessels suitable for transportation and installation of floating offshore wind turbines, as well as a procurement framework for mooring systems.

About MOL

MOL was founded in 1884, and its business centers on the ocean shipping industry. Operating a fleet of over 800 vessels, it develops a variety of social infrastructure businesses. MOL is the first company in the ocean shipping industry to set a target of achieving net zero GHG emissions by 2050, and the entire MOL Group is engaged in wind power projects and committed to reducing GHG emissions. For details, please visit: Offshore Wind Power Energy Business | MOL Business | Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

About Fukada

Fukada Salvage & Marine Works was founded in 1910 as Fukada Marine Operations. Initially established with a focus on marine salvage business, the company expanded its activities to include the construction of long-span bridges and the development of ports and airports in line with the country's growth. Today, it has introduced deep-sea exploration equipment and offshore survey vessels and is leveraging its experience in survey operation for deepwater resources and salvage operations to participate in fields such as offshore wind power construction. For details, please visit: FUKADA SALVAGE & MARINE WORKS CO., LTD.