Japanese shipping company Sakura Ocean Corporation has ordered the construction of its first three bulk carriers, marking a significant milestone in its fleet expansion strategy less than six months after the company was established.
The contracts were signed in Tokyo during an official ceremony attended by leading Japanese shipbuilding companies. The orderbook includes two 40,000-dwt bulk carriers to be built by Imabari Shipbuilding and Onomichi Dockyard, as well as a 42,000-dwt vessel that will be constructed by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.
Delivery of all three vessels is scheduled for 2030. Once delivered, the ships will operate under long-term charter agreements with Japanese shipping companies.
Sakura Ocean was established in January 2026 through a partnership involving SOMEC, a ship trading company within the ORIX Group, together with Japanese shipping and shipbuilding firms Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Onomichi Dockyard, and Kambara Kisen. The company was created to develop and own vessels serving Japan’s domestic maritime transport market while supporting the renewal of the country’s merchant fleet.
The company said the first three bulk carriers represent the starting point of a long-term strategy aimed at building a modern and sustainable fleet capable of ensuring stable maritime transportation services and supporting the continued development of Japan’s shipping industry.
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