Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has signed a long-term charter deal with Oga Katagami Akita Offshore Green Energy for a domestically built crew transfer vessel (CTV) that will serve the country’s first offshore wind farm developed in general sea areas.
The vessel will be built by Kosaba Shipbuilding and will operate off Oga, Katagami and Akita, supporting a 315 MW offshore wind project being developed by a consortium of JERA Nex bp Japan, J-Power, Tohoku Electric Power, and Itochu Corporation.
The project involves 21 turbines and is scheduled to begin operations by June 2028 under Japan’s Act on Promoting the Utilization of Sea Areas for Renewable Energy — a key step in the country’s offshore wind expansion beyond port and bay areas.
The 28-m, 145 gt CTV will be based on a design operated by NYK-controlled European operator Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S), with modifications for local construction. The vessel will be managed by Japan Offshore Support Co (JOSCO), a joint venture between NYK and Akita Eisen, which also trains and hires local crew for the growing offshore wind sector.
NYK said the move supports Japan’s renewable energy goals while boosting the domestic shipbuilding supply chain and that building the CTV in Japan will also generate local employment and technical skills in the region.
The company already operates CTVs in Hokkaido’s Ishikari Bay New Port and is steadily expanding its offshore wind footprint. The latest deal marks NYK’s return to Kosaba Shipbuilding after placing an order for its first CTV at a domestic yard in February 2024.
