Sakura Ocean Corporation, a new shipowner established less than six months ago, has officially launched its fleet expansion plan by placing orders for three bulk carriers with three Japanese shipyards.
Specifically, Sakura Ocean has signed construction contracts with Imabari Shipbuilding for one 40,000 DWT bulk carrier, with Onomichi Dockyard for one 40,000 DWT bulk carrier, and with Tsuneishi Shipbuilding for one 42,000 DWT bulk carrier. All of these new vessels are scheduled for delivery by 2030 and will be put into service under long-term charter agreements with Japanese domestic shipping companies.
Sakura Ocean is a new shipowner established in January 2026, jointly formed by SOMEC, a ship trading subsidiary of the Japanese financial and trading company ORIX, Onomichi Dockyard, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, a subsidiary of Imabari Shipbuilding, and Kambara Kisen, a subsidiary of Tsuneishi Group, with respective shareholding ratios of 10%, 30%, 30%, and 30%.
Sakura Ocean is Japan’s first industry platform to integrate a shipowner, shipyards, and a shipbroker, aiming to develop and own vessels serving the domestic Japanese shipping market while supporting the renewal of Japan’s merchant fleet. The three bulk carriers covered by this contract represent the joint venture’s first newbuilding project, marking the official launch of the long-term fleet development strategy envisioned by the partners.