Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) group companies MOL Ship Management and MOL Marine & Engineering have been selected as a pre-commissioning crew dispatcher and expected operator for a new Arctic research vessel (RV) ordered by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).
The selections was based on the results of the review process in JAMSTEC’s Call for Proposals.
The vessel, currently under construction, will be Japan’s first ice-breaking Arctic RV, and serve as an international research platform with world-class observation functions. The objectives are to contribute to the sustainable development, utilisation, and conservation of the Arctic region by conducting comprehensive observations of the region’s atmosphere, meteorology, oceans, and sea ice and enhancing the collection of observational data and scientific knowledge, and to foster the development of researchers, engineers, and other highly skilled personnel. The vessel will be fitted with environmentally-friendly dual fuel machinery.
In response to its selection as the pre-commissioning crew dispatcher and expected operator, the MOL Group will offer the pre-commissioning crew dispatch services until the vessel is delivered, which is expected to be around November 2026, and take charge of vessel operation after delivery.
The MOL Group is committed to addressing evolving social needs, including environmental conservation, with innovative technology and services and to delivering new value to all stakeholders, and fully recognises the significance of the Arctic RV. The group will contribute to a better future through safe operation of the vessel and creation of an international research platform by utilising its accumulated know-how and human resources developed in the operation of Arctic shipping routes and handling of LNG fuel.
