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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Aug 06, 2025 (Wed)

‌【Interview】J.J. Ugland’s Top Management on Business Diversification Strategy

(Left) Owner and Chairman Mr. Knut N.T. Ugland, (Right) President and CEO Mr. Øystein Beisland

　The long-established Norwegian shipowner J.J. Ugland (headquartered in Grimstad) is promoting busin ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+long-established+Norwegian+shipowner+%3Cb%3EJ.J.+Ugland%3C%2Fb%3E+%28headquartered+in+Grimstad%29+is+promoting+business+diversification.+With+its+core+business+in+marine+transportation+centered+on+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+the+company+has+newly+entered+the+aquaculture+and+real+estate+businesses.+Last+year%2C+the+company+also+jointly+ordered+up+to+10+offshore+support+vessels+with+a+Greek+shipowner.+We+interviewed+Knut+N.T.+Ugland%2C+chairman+and+owner+of+the+company%2C+about+its+business+development+and+other+matters.+President+and+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29+%C3%98ystein+Beisland+was+also+present+and+provided+supplementary+comments.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+would+like+to+hear+an+overview+of+your+company.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+company+was+established+in+1930+and+has+been+involved+in+a+variety+of+businesses+related+to+shipping+and+offshore+operations.+The+company+split+its+business+in+the+1980s+and+1990s%2C+and+members+of+the+founding+family+each+inherited+one-third%2C+resulting+in+the+current+structure.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+shipping+business+owns+bulkers%2C+offshore+support+vessels%2C+barges%2C+and+crane+vessels+%28floating+cranes%29.+The+company+owns+11+Supramax+and+Ultramax+bulkers+of+58%2C000+to+63%2C000+dwt%2C+including+jointly+owned+vessels.+There+are+two+66%2C000+dwt+newbuildings+on+order%2C+which+will+be+delivered+at+Tsuneishi+Heavy+Industries+%28Cebu%29+in+2026-2027.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+EPC+%28Engineering%2C+Procurement%2C+and+Construction%29+business%2C+we+operate+two+EPC+yards+in+southern+Norway.+We+manufacture+various+modules+for+offshore+platforms+used+in+oil+and+natural+gas+development.+The+EPC+division+has+about+800+employees.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+Canada%2C+we+operate+a+ship+management+company+as+a+joint+venture+with+partners%2C+providing+technical+management+for+12+vessels%2C+including+shuttle+tankers+owned+by+other+companies.+Dairy+farming+is+also+a+very+important+asset+for+us.+During+the+Second+World+War%2C+being+able+to+produce+our+own+meat%2C+dairy+products%2C+and+vegetables+allowed+us+to+protect+the+livelihoods+of+our+neighbors.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+would+like+to+ask+about+your+aim+in+entering+the+real+estate+and+aquaculture+industries.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+2010%2C+my+grandfather%2C+Johan+J%C3%B8rgen+Ugland%2C+passed+away%2C+and+I+took+over+the+company.+At+the+time%2C+more+than+90%25+of+our+sales+depended+on+the+shipping+business.+In+the+2010s%2C+the+company%E2%80%99s+value+fell+sharply+due+to+the+slump+in+the+shipping+market.+Based+on+these+experiences%2C+the+company+decided+to+diversify+its+business+to+stabilize+its+management+foundation.+Even+if+the+market+conditions+for+bulkers+are+sluggish%2C+we+can+compensate+between+businesses%2C+for+example+by+covering+with+the+EPC+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+balance+sheet+is+extremely+sound.+The+company+saw+the+rise+in+secondhand+vessel+prices+over+the+past+few+years+as+an+opportunity+and+sold+several+bulkers+to+reduce+interest-bearing+debt.+At+the+same+time%2C+the+company+secured+investment+funds+for+new+fields.+We+are+diversifying+our+business%2C+but+shipping+remains+our+core+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFrom+now+on%2C+we+aim+to+grow+as+a+company+with+four+main+businesses%3A+shipping%2C+EPC%2C+real+estate%2C+and+aquaculture.+The+most+important+thing+is+to+secure+liquidity+%28cash%29+for+investment.+We+are+preparing+so+that+we+can+place+orders+at+any+time+when+the+timing+to+invest+in+new+ships+arrives.+New+ships+need+to+be+high-quality+and+made+in+Japan.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Owned+vessels+are+debt-free+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+the+strengths+of+the+dry+bulk+carrier+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSeven+new+ships+were+completed+between+2017+and+2020.+They+were+ordered+in+2015-2016%2C+when+ship+prices+were+at+their+lowest.+As+a+result%2C+the+average+acquisition+cost+of+the+fleet+is+very+competitive.+Currently%2C+our+owned+vessels+are+completely+debt-free.+We+have+been+able+to+generate+a+certain+amount+of+cash+even+in+a+sluggish+market.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+manage+our+own+vessels+by+ourselves%2C+including+crew+assignment.+Therefore%2C+it+is+necessary+to+continue+maintaining+a+certain+number+of+vessels.+We+would+like+to+continue+maintaining+a+fleet+of+10+to+20+vessels+in+the+future.+For+that+reason%2C+the+presence+of+partners+is+important.+We+have+had+a+long-standing+business+relationship+with+Mitsubishi+Corporation+of+Japan.+There+are+also+jointly+owned+vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMitsubishi+Corporation+has+a+wealth+of+experience+and+know-how+in+the+shipping+industry+and+is+also+well-versed+in+various+other+businesses.+Having+built+a+strong+relationship+of+trust+with+such+leading+companies+is+a+great+asset+for+us.+The+importance+of+joint+ventures+with+partners+has+increased+as+the+investment+burden+has+grown+due+to+rising+ship+prices.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Order+for+10+PSVs+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Last+year%2C+you+ordered+offshore+support+vessels.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTogether+with+several+Greek+shipowners%2C+we+have+placed+an+order+with+a+Singaporean+shipbuilder+for+six+platform+supply+vessels+%28PSVs%29+to+be+delivered+in+2026-2027.+There+is+an+option+to+order+four+additional+vessels.+Our+investment+ratio+is+about+16%25.+We+are+sharing+the+investment+burden+by+partnering+with+others.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+offshore+support+vessel+market%2C+especially+for+PSVs%2C+there+have+been+no+new+orders+since+2014.+This+is+because+the+market+slump+has+continued.+We+decided+to+invest+in+ships+because+oil+and+gas+development+is+becoming+active+again%2C+and+demand+for+vessels+related+to+offshore+wind+power+is+also+expected.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Entering+the+aquaculture+industry+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+would+like+to+ask+about+your+new+entry+into+the+aquaculture+industry.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+started+construction+of+land-based+aquaculture+facilities+in+southern+Norway+and+Shanwei+%28Guangdong+Province%29%2C+China.+Land-based+aquaculture+is+attracting+attention+as+a+new%2C+sustainable%2C+and+efficient+technology.+Synergies+with+other+businesses+can+also+be+expected%2C+such+as+the+production+of+aquaculture+tanks+%28for+land-based+and+floating+use%29+at+our+EPC+factory.+We+want+to+develop+aquaculture+into+one+of+the+pillars+of+our+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CChina+is+the+largest+export+destination+for+Norwegian+seafood.+If+an+aquaculture+facility+is+built+in+China%2C+there+will+be+no+need+for+transportation+by+aircraft%2C+and+supply+can+be+provided+from+close+to+the+market.+Currently%2C+we+are+farming+salmon%2C+but+in+the+future%2C+we+would+like+to+farm+other+types+of+fish%2C+such+as+tuna.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+the+Norwegian+aquaculture+facility%2C+the+first+stage+of+construction+work+has+been+completed+and+actual+aquaculture+has+begun.+In+the+next+phase%2C+the+annual+production+is+planned+to+be+increased+from+1%2C000+to+5%2C000+tons.+Ultimately%2C+we+are+considering+expanding+to+24%2C000+tons+per+year.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+are+also+engaged+in+floating+offshore+wind+power+generation+business.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTogether+with+our+partners%2C+we+established+Ocean+Ventus+and+developed+a+concept+for+floating+structures+for+floating+offshore+wind+power+generation.+It+may+take+some+time+to+commercialize+floating+offshore+wind+power%2C+but+we+are+also+planning+to+expand+not+only+in+the+North+Sea+but+also+in+Asia.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%28Posted+from+time+to+time%29+%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%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