Singapore-listed Indonesian owner Samudera Shipping Line is stepping deeper into the Japanese market through a new joint venture with Imoto Corporation, part of the Imoto Lines Group.
Through its wholly owned unit in Japan, Samudera has signed an agreement with Imoto to set up Blue Ocean Shipping, a company focused on coastal and regional shipping services in the country. Samudera Japan will hold 51% of the venture, with Imoto Corporation owning the remaining 49%.
The partnership brings together Samudera’s regional liner and feeder experience with Imoto Lines’ strong domestic footprint. Imoto is one of Japan’s best-established coastal operators, holding more than 75% of the domestic feeder market and running services to 64 main and regional ports across the country.
Blue Ocean Shipping will start operations with two container vessels transferred from the Imoto Lines Group. The joint venture plans to expand its fleet gradually, targeting opportunities in Japan’s coastal trades and short-sea regional services. Headquartered in Kobe, the new company is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2026.
Imoto Lines operates a fleet of more than 30 vessels, ranging from 100 to 1,000 teu, and is backed by a shareholder base that includes Osaka Shipping, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Kamigumi, and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) alongside Imoto Corporation.
For Samudera, the deal strengthens its presence in North Asia and adds a domestic Japanese platform to its wider regional network. The group is active across shipping, ports and logistics, with a long-standing footprint across Asian trade lanes.
The partners said the joint venture is designed to build scale steadily, combining local market know-how with regional reach as Japan’s coastal container market continues to evolve.
