日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jun 30, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Interview】Mr.Himeno MD of MOL Ocean Bulk,on Dry Bulk Strategy

Yuichi Himeno, Managing Director of MOL Ocean Bulk

　On April 1, MOL changed the name of its Singapore-based dry bulk subsidiary, MOL Cape, to MOL Ocean ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80On+April+1%2C+MOL+changed+the+name+of+its+Singapore-based+dry+bulk+subsidiary%2C+MOL+Cape%2C+to+%3Cb%3EMOL+Ocean+Bulk%3C%2Fb%3E.+In+Singapore%2C+which+is+at+the+forefront+of+shipping+hubs%2C+the+company+will+conduct+sales+activities+for+all+vessel+types%2C+from+Capesize+to+Handysize%2C+and+will+be+responsible+for+capturing+demand+in+the+country+and+beyond+in+order+to+capture+further+growth+overseas.+I+spoke+to+Managing+Director+Yuichi+Himeno+about+the+company%E2%80%99s+business+strategy+in+the+country.%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Azumi+Kashiwai%29%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+functions+does+%3Cb%3EMOL+Ocean+Bulk%3C%2Fb%3E+perform+within+the+MOL+Group%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+Singapore%2C+we+will+handle+all+dry+bulk+container+vessel+types%2C+with+the+aim+of+growing+into+an+organization+that+operates+a+world-class+dry+bulk+business+in+terms+of+both+quantity+and+quality.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+Capesize+vessels%2C+we+are+taking+over+the+sales+and+operation+functions+for+overseas+customers+that+were+previously+carried+out+in+Tokyo+until+last+fiscal+year%2C+and+for+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+we+will+be+engaged+in+chartering+%28the+task+of+attaching+cargo+to+a+ship%29+for+vessels+ranging+from+Panamax+to+Supramax+and+small+handy%2C+mainly+in+the+Pacific+and+Indian+Oceans%2C+through+the+commissioning+of+MOL+Drybulk+in+Tokyo.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUntil+now%2C+our+overseas+business+for+Capesize+vessels+has+been+handled+by+the+Tokyo+headquarters+in+cooperation+with+local+bases+in+each+country%2C+but+with+the+transfer+of+sales+and+operation+functions+for+overseas+customers+for+this+vessel+type%2C+from+April%2C+Singapore+will+take+the+lead+in+driving+the+business.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+network+with+overseas+bases+where+we+have+customers+%28South+Korea%2C+China%2C+London%2C+India%2C+Brazil%2C+the+United+States%2C+etc.%29+continues+to+be+one+of+our+strengths%2C+and+we+will+organically+integrate+this+network+in+cooperation+with+the+Dry+Bulk+Headquarters+in+Tokyo.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+transfer+of+functions+to+Singapore+is+in+line+with+the+MOL+Group%E2%80%99s+overall+direction+of+strategically+shifting+operations+overseas+and+taking+bold+steps+to+adapt+to+changes+in+the+business+environment.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Strengthening+environmentally+friendly+ships%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Why+have+you+chosen+Singapore+as+the+core+base+for+your+overseas+sales+activities%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFirstly%2C+business+expansion+in+Singapore+is+extremely+effective+as+it+serves+as+a+window+into+the+worldwide+shipping+market.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSpecifically%2C+in+the+Capesize+sector%2C+major+mining+companies+such+as+Rio+Tinto%2C+BHP%2C+Anglo+American+and+Vale+have+established+shipping+functions+in+Singapore.+We+have+many+opportunities+to+meet+face-to-face+and+quickly+respond+to+customer+needs.+It+certainly+provides+a+strong+geographical+advantage.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+second+point+is+to+strengthen+our+environmentally-friendly+ship+business.+In+addition+to+conventional+heavy+oil-fired+ships%2C+MOL+Group+is+focusing+on+developing+ships+that+run+on+new+fuels+such+as+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+and+ammonia.+The+main+targets+for+these+sales+activities+will+be+major+resource+companies+and+other+major+shippers+who+are+highly+sensitive+to+environmental+issues%2C+and+there+is+a+good+chance+that+Singapore+will+become+an+important+area+for+bunkering+for+these+new+fuel+ships.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+50+ships+in+operation%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+fleet+you+own+and+operate+in+Singapore%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition+to+the+Capesize+vessels+we+have+owned+since+the+days+of+our+predecessor%2C+MOL+Iron+Ore+%26+Coal+%28MOLI%26C%29%2C+which+was+launched+in+2009%2C+we+currently+own+and+operate+13+vessels%2C+all+of+which+are+under+contract+with+major+resource+companies.+From+April+onwards%2C+with+the+transfer+of+Capesize+functions+from+Tokyo%2C+we+will+work+with+each+overseas+base+and+be+responsible+for+the+sales+and+operation+of+around+50+vessels.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COne+of+the+benefits+of+having+a+base+in+Singapore+is+the+preferential+tax+system+for+shipping%2C+and+the+asset-oriented+approach+of+ship+ownership+is+also+a+key+initiative+for+%3Cb%3EMOL+Ocean+Bulk%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+which+is+something+we+plan+to+pursue+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+also+consider+building+new+ships+in+response+to+customer+needs%2C+but+the+new+shipbuilding+price+remains+high+at+present%2C+and+slipways+at+shipbuilding+companies+are+fully+booked+for+quite+some+time+into+the+future.+For+the+time+being%2C+we+are+considering+acquiring+assets+in+the+secondhand+vessel+market+and+other+areas%2C+operating+them+ourselves%2C+and+then+selling+them+when+the+time+is+right.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+personnel+structure%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+of+April+1%2C+17+people+are+working+there%2C+more+than+half+of+whom+are+national+staff.+We+plan+to+further+expand+our+workforce+in+the+future%2C+but+as+we+work+towards+our+goal+of+transforming+into+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+top+dry+bulk+carrier+companies%2C+we+will+actively+hire+national+staff+and+want+to+build+a+strong%2C+profitable+organization+with+employees+from+diverse+backgrounds.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Simandou+to+begin+operation%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--In+the+Capesize+market%2C+a+new+iron+ore+production+project%2C+Simandou%2C+will+begin+operations+in+Guinea%2C+West+Africa%2C+from+this+winter+onwards.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSimandou+is+expected+to+reach+a+maximum+production+capacity+of+120+million+tonnes+in+the+2030s.+The+British-Australian+resource+giant+Rio+Tinto+and+the+Chinese+resource+company+Winning+have+bases+in+Singapore%2C+so+there+are+many+opportunities+to+exchange+information.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+high-grade+ore+produced+by+the+mine%2C+with+an+iron+content+of+over+65%25%2C+is+an+essential+raw+material+for+green+steelmaking+methods+such+as+hydrogen+reduction+steelmaking+and+electric+furnace+steelmaking%2C+and+the+transportation+of+Simandou+ore+will+indirectly+contribute+to+the+environmental+friendliness+of+steel+companies.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+impact+will+the+operation+of+Simandou+have+on+the+dry+bulk+market%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+basically+a+positive+factor.+In+terms+of+ton+miles%2C+the+Guinea-Far+East+route+covers+a+longer+distance+than+the+Western+Australia-Far+East+route.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+is+also+a+possibility+that+Chinese+steelmakers+will+partly+switch+their+raw+materials+from+domestic+ores+to+Simandou+ore.+Chinese+steelmakers+currently+use+large+amounts+of+low-grade+domestic+ore.+Simandou%2C+funded+by+Baosteel+Group%2C+is+also+a+national+project+for+China+and+could+be+a+catalyst+for+a+shift+to+higher-grade+ores.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+other+words%2C+even+if+China%E2%80%99s+crude+steel+production+remains+flat%2C+changes+in+the+composition+of+raw+materials+could+have+a+positive+effect+on+seaborne+cargo+movements.+Not+only+Simandou+ore+but+also+the+volume+of+bauxite+cargoes+from+West+Africa+is+expanding%2C+and+Winning+and+other+companies+are+increasing+their+shipments+of+Capesize+cargoes+to+China.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CLeveraging+our+geographical+advantage+in+Singapore+and+our+strength+in+handling+all+types+of+dry+bulk+vessels%2C+we+will+be+able+to+secure+new+cargoes+and+respond+to+our+customers%E2%80%99+environmental+needs+through+the+sales+and+operation+of+new+fuel+vessels%2C+which+will+lead+to+significant+growth+for+our+company.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Yuichi+Himeno+graduated+from+the+Faculty+of+Commerce%2C+Waseda+University+in+1998+and+joined+the+Long-Term+Credit+Bank+of+Japan.+He+joined+MOL+in+2005.+After+working+in+the+Finance+Department%2C+Tramper+Department%2C+Iron+Ore+and+Coal+Carrier+Division%2C+and+having+been+stationed+in+Brazil%2C+he+was+appointed+Vice+General+Manager+of+the+Iron+Ore+and+Coal+Carrier+Division+in+2023+and+General+Manager+of+the+Iron+and+Steel+Projects+Second+Unit+in+2024.+He+has+held+his+current+position+since+April+2025.+Born+in+March+1975%2C+50+years+old.%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

【インタビュー　星港ドライバルク事業】MOLオーシャンバルク マネジングディレクター　姫野雄市氏、世界トップのドライ組織へ

2025/06/30(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

関連記事ニュース Related news