日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 23, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Current of Japanese shipowners】Some Coastal Owners to expand into Ocean Going Vessels

　“Over the past decade, many domestic shipowners have gone out of business. On the other hand, some ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9COver+the+past+decade%2C+many+domestic+shipowners+have+gone+out+of+business.+On+the+other+hand%2C+some+domestic+shipowners+who+are+still+in+business+have+expressed+a+desire+to+expand+into+overseas+shipping+in+recent+years+to+find+new+opportunities.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+rainy+season+began+in+Setouchi+in+early+June.+A+ship+finance+officer+said+this+at+the+head+office+of+a+Japanese+regional+bank.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80While+the+domestic+shipping+business+is+more+stable+with+less+market+fluctuation+than+the+international+shipping+business%2C+the+crew+is+aging%2C+making+it+difficult+to+secure+the+next+generation+of+talent.+As+domestic+cargo+demand+in+Japan+appears+to+have+hit+a+plateau%2C+managers+who+believe+it+is+difficult+to+envision+a+future+based+solely+on+domestic+shipping+are+seeking+to+diversify+by+expanding+into+overseas+shipping.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CDomestic+shipping+is+an+essential+industry+for+Japan+and+will+never+disappear.+However%2C+it+is+difficult+to+see+it+as+a+growth+area.+When+I+think+about+passing+the+shipowning+business+on+to+my+children+and+grandchildren%2C+I+feel+a+strong+desire+to+expand+the+possibilities+for+future+growth+while+there+is+still+financial+room+to+maneuver.%E2%80%9C+%28Japanese+regional+bank+source%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Sales+representatives+from+the+shipping+departments+of+some+trading+companies+also+appear+to+be+frequently+visiting+domestic+shipping+%E2%80%9Cshipping+centers%E2%80%9C+in+an+effort+to+build+relationships+with+shipowners+looking+to+expand+into+overseas+shipping%2C+with+the+aim+of+seizing+business+opportunities.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Existing+nearby+vessel+candidates+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+expanding+into+overseas+shipping+is+by+no+means+an+easy+road.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Prices+for+new+ships+remain+high%2C+and+slipways+at+shipbuilding+companies+are+facing+tight+space.+New+ship+charter+contracts+for+inputs+are+also+becoming+shorter+in+duration%2C+creating+high+hurdles+for+new+entrants.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+Japanese+regional+bank+source+said%2C+%E2%80%9COne+realistic+option+would+be+a+sale+and+leaseback+%28S%26LB%2C+leaseback+after+sale%29+of+an+existing+ship.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80S%26LB+is+a+scheme+in+which+overseas+shipowners+sell+their+ships+to+Japanese+shipowners+for+the+purpose+of+refinancing%2C+and+then+re-charter+the+ships.+The+Japanese+ship+owners+obtain+financing+from+Japanese+regional+banks+to+purchase+the+target+ships+and+receive+charter+income.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80S%26LB+of+existing+ships+has+a+lower+hurdle+in+terms+of+ship+price+than+ordering+a+new+ship%2C+and+since+re-chartering+is+mainly+done+on+a+bare+boat+charter+%28BBC%29+basis%2C+there+is+no+need+for+ship+management+know-how.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+a+first+step+into+overseas+shipping%2C+it+may+be+easier+to+enter+a+multipurpose+cargo+ship+that+sails+in+the+local+seas%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+Japanese+regional+bank+official.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+the+ship+finance+market+this+year%2C+China+risk+has+become+a+growing+concern+due+to+the+Trump+administration%E2%80%99s+tough+China+policy.+As+a+result%2C+an+increasing+number+of+overseas+shipowners+are+looking+to+refinance+from+Chinese+leases+to+Japanese+S%26LBs.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+received+inquiries+from+European+shipowners+about+S%26LB+and+JOLCO+%28Japanese+Operating+Lease+with+Call+Option%29%2C+and+there+are+a+certain+number+of+options%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+Tokyo-based+ship+finance+official.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Need+assistance+from+connoisseur+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80S%26LB+also+has+challenges+to+overcome.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80A+Tokyo-based+ship+finance+industry+source+said%2C+%E2%80%9CIn+recent+years%2C+overseas+shipowners+have+been+offering+stricter+conditions+for+bare+boat+charter+rates+and+Purchase+Option+%28PO%29+setting+prices%2C+putting+pressure+on+the+profitability+of+Japanese+shipowners.+In+addition%2C+expectations+of+higher+yen+interest+rates+and+the+risk+of+the+yen+appreciating+are+also+cause+for+concern.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+decline+in+profitability+is+due+to+competition+with+other+financing+options%2C+and+one+factor+cited+in+particular+is+that+European+financial+institutions%2C+which+temporarily+withdrew+from+the+shipping+sector+during+the+economic+downturn+around+2015%2C+have+in+recent+years+begun+to+focus+again+on+lending+to+shipowners.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Furthermore%2C+Japanese+leasing+companies+have+recently+begun+to+actively+provide+mortgage+loans+%28loans+with+mortgages%29+to+overseas+shipowners%2C+further+intensifying+competition+in+the+refinancing+market.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+hear+that+some+Japanese+leasing+companies+are+negotiating+with+European+shipowners+at+competitive+rates%2C%E2%80%9C+said+a+trading+company+source.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Amid+this+intensifying+competition%2C+domestic+shipowners+aiming+to+enter+the+overseas+shipping+market+are+required+to+steer+carefully+and+assess+their+own+acceptable+risks.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CEven+in+S%26LB+negotiations%2C+there+is+fiercer+competition+for+projects+with+highly+creditworthy+first-class+overseas+shipowners%2C+making+it+harder+for+Japanese+shipowners+to+make+profits.+On+the+other+hand%2C+if+they+aim+for+profitable+projects%2C+they+have+no+choice+but+to+negotiate+with+second-class+overseas+shipowners+who+have+lower+creditworthiness.%E2%80%9C+%28Trading+company+source%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+Japanese+regional+bank+source+mentioned+at+the+beginning+of+the+article+said%2C+%E2%80%9CFor+domestic+shipowners%2C+their+first+venture+into+overseas+shipping+is+an+important+project+in+which+they+invest+the+capital+they+have+steadily+accumulated+over+many+years+in+the+domestic+shipping+business.+We+need+to+carefully+support+them+to+ensure+their+success.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Domestic+shipping+is+the+lifeline+of+the+Japanese+economy.+The+domestic+shipowners+who+have+supported+this+industry+are+now+trying+to+find+a+way+to+diversify+by+expanding+into+overseas+shipping+in+order+to+stay+in+business.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80An+international+shipowner+said%2C+%E2%80%9CWhen+bridges+were+built+to+connect+the+islands+of+the+Seto+Inland+Sea%2C+local+domestic+shipowners+who+operated+ferries+received+subsidies+and+went+out+of+business+one+after+another.+Shouldn%E2%80%99t+Japan+have+valued+domestic+shipowners+more%3F%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80He+then+gave+advice+to+those+entering+the+overseas+shipping+business%2C+saying%2C+%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+dangerous+to+be+lured+in+by+the+good+deals+offered+by+financial+institutions%2C+trading+companies%2C+and+brokers+who+are+only+interested+in+increasing+their+loan+balances+and+brokerage+performance.+You+need+a+partner+who+can+discern+carefully.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%28Japanese+ship+owners+coverage+team%29+%3Cbr%3E%3D+Posted+every+other+Monday+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【国内船主の今】(396)内航船主、外航に活路。リース会社攻勢、S&LB競合も

2025/06/23(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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