Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) is acquiring a stake in Hamburg-based Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (DO), a joint venture with Schoeller Holdings, as well as shares in construction commissioning service operation vessels (C-CSOVs) currently under construction.
The joint venture between Schoeller Holdings and Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (German Offshore Shipping), announced in 2024 , will be entering the offshore energy market with four C-CSOVs.
With their agreement, MOL and Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt aim to combine their respective expertise and establish a strong platform for the offshore energy market, with the joint strategy also including the development of further independent projects.
As part of the investment, the German company enables MOL to leverage the know-how of the offshore specialist founded two years ago, covering the integrative capabilities of Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt as developer of four C-CSOV vessels and the expertise for the subsequent operation of the vessels.
Cyprus-based Schoeller Holdings ordered the ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, a member of the China State Shipbuilding Group, in 2024, for delivery beginning in early 2027.
The vessels will be marketed in the international offshore energy markets, with Deutsche Offshore acting as operator.
They will have a 1,000 kWh battery pack and are designed for future retrofitting to operate on methanol as an alternative fuel.
Columbia Shipmanagement, which belongs to Schoeller Holdings, will provide technical management.