Mitsui OSK Lines’ 33-year-old Nippon Maru is to be joined by two new 35,000gt ships by 2027-28 as Japan reopens its borders to cruising.
MOL
Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) plans to build two new 35,000gt cruise ships as its existing vessel, the 1990-built Nippon Maru, enters its forth decade of service. The two newbuilds, the first expected to enter service by 2027, are projected to cost nearly $720 million to construct and may be followed by two additional ships if Japan’s cruising demand continues to grow. President and CEO Takeshi Hashimoto said the company was assessing the investment in the two ships as part of a plan to diversify operations.