MOL plots further cruise expansion as second ship enters service
Entry into service of the former Seabourn Odyssey follows purchase of the 32,000 gt ship from Carnival Corporation in March 2023
Expansion of MOL’s cruise division is part of the Japanese shipping group’s plans to add to its non-cargo carrying vessel fleet to counter the volatility of shipping markets
MITSUI OSK Lines has confirmed plans for further expansion of its cruiseship division as its second ship has gone into service, initially for the Japanese domestic market.
The 32,000 gt Mitsui Ocean Fuji (IMO: 9417086) was officially named this week following a ceremony at the port of Tokyo.
With a passenger capacity of 450 persons, the 1990-built cruiseship was purchased from US-headquartered Carnival Corp as Seabourn Odyssey in March 2023 and was delivered to MOL in September. It was built by an Italian shipbuilder for the “small luxury” cruise segment.
Following an extensive refit at a Yokohama shiprepair yard, it has now entered service in Japanese coastal service and between Japan and South Korea.
MOL has one other cruiseship, the 1990-built, 500-passenger Nippon Maru (IMO: 9209960), which operates in Japanese domestic cruise service.
In addition to Mitsui Ocean Fuji, MOL stated that it plans to add further cruiseships to its passenger division, potentially via newbuildings.
The expansion is part of MOL Group’s “Blue Action 2035” management plan, which aims to create a business portfolio which can maintain profitability during shipping markets downturns.
“The cruise business is positioned as one of the non-shipping, stable-profit businesses that can counter the volatility of the shipping market,” said MOL
