Shipbuilding Contracts Signed for Sakura Ocean’s First Three Vessels – First Fleet Development Project Since the Company’s Establishment Gets Underway –
22 June 2026
Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd.
SHOEI KISEN KAISHA, LTD.
KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd.
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
Shipbuilding Contracts Signed for Sakura Ocean’s First Three Vessels
– First Fleet Development Project Since the Company’s Establishment Gets Underway –
17 June 2026 – Sakura Ocean Corporation signed shipbuilding contracts for its first three vessels and held a signing ceremony in Tokyo to mark the occasion. The contracts mark the company’s first fleet development project since the establishment of Sakura Ocean, which was announced in January 2026.
Representatives of the participating companies at the signing ceremony
Sakura Ocean is a jointly funded shipowning company established by SHOEI KISEN KAISHA, LTD., Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd., KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd., and SOMEC Corporation. By bringing together the expertise and networks of its shareholders, the company is developing a new shipowning business centered on the ownership and operation of vessels.
The contracts signed under this project will establish the foundation of Sakura Ocean’s initial fleet and cover the construction of the following three bulk carriers:
■ One 40-type bulk carrier to be built by Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
■ One 40-type bulk carrier to be built by Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd.
■ One 42-type bulk carrier to be built by TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
All three vessels are scheduled for delivery by 2030. They will be employed under long-term charter arrangements with domestic shipping companies and other customers, contributing to the stable provision of maritime transportation services in Japan.
As the first project to materialize the Sakura Ocean initiative, these contracts represent an important milestone in the company’s fleet development. By leveraging the respective strengths of the participating companies and working in close collaboration, the project aims to build a reliable fleet supporting maritime transportation while contributing to the sustainable development of Japan’s maritime industry.
Representatives of the participating companies photographed to commemorate the signing of the shipbuilding contracts
Company Profiles
Sakura Ocean Corporation
President: NAKABE Takashi
Head Office: 2-4-1 Hamamatsu-cho, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Business: Ordering, construction, purchase, ownership, chartering, management, operation and sale of vessels
SHOEI KISEN KAISHA, LTD.
President and CEO: HIGAKI Yukito
Head Office: 1-4-52 Koura-cho, Imabari, Ehime, Japan
Business: Ship leasing
Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd.
President: NAKABE Takashi
Head Office: 104 Edo-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
Business: Shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling, ship operation and ship leasing
KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd.
President & CEO: KAMBARA Hirotatsu
Head Office: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Business: Shipping, maritime-related businesses, real estate, ship leasing and other businesses
TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.
President & CEO: OKUMURA Sachio
Head Office: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan
Business: Shipbuilding and ship repair
Contact
SHOEI KISEN KAISHA, LTD.
Corporate Planning Dept.
Email: cp.dept@ml.shoei-kisen.com
Onomichi Dockyard Co., Ltd.
Ship Business Section, Tokyo Branch
Email：tokyo.sales@onomichi-dy.com
TEL：+81-3-6260-7455
TSUNEISHI GROUP CORPORATION
Corporate Communications Dept.
Email: pr@tsuneishi.com
