LNG carriers, such as the NYK-owned 174,000m 3capacity Elisa Larus (2020), have made the Japanese merchant fleet the highest valued in the world at $196.6 billion.
NYK GROUP
According to data compiled by Isle of Wight-based VesselsValue, China retained first place during 2022 in terms of number of vessels owned, 6,908, with the total fleet valued at $190.1 billion, but Japan had a higher total fleet value of $196.6 billion because of its large number of LNG tankers.
These ships saw their earnings climb to $441,385 per day towards the end of last year, rates that sparked an ordering boom for more than 140 of the vessels, an increase of 92 per cent year on year. Of these orders, around a quarter were placed by Japanese owners, including MOL, NYK, and Meiji Shipping, the latter established by Mitsui & Co in 1911. JS