Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Japan’s largest shipping company, has decided to co-own two offshore wind Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) with Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings.
MOL will also acquire an equity stake in Hamburg-based Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt, which will operate the vessels. The partners said the cooperation is designed as a platform for further growth, including the development of additional standalone projects built on the same model.
Columbia Shipmanagement—part of Schoeller Holdings, alongside heavy-lift carrier AAL—will provide technical management for the ships.
The initiative marks MOL’s first entry into the European CSOV business, following its earlier move into offshore wind support operations in Taiwan. The vessels are intended to be marketed to international offshore energy markets.
Offshore wind is widely positioned as a key pillar of Europe’s medium- and long-term energy strategy, supported by strong policy measures. As large-scale offshore wind projects continue to expand across the region, demand for CSOV tonnage is expected to grow.
Schoeller Holdings said it has ordered four CSOVs at China’s CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, with two of them to be jointly owned with MOL. Delivery is expected in 2027. The vessels are planned to be 96.25 m long, 20 m wide, and able to accommodate up to 120 people.
