Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MOL Drybulk, and MOL Coastal Shipping held a completion ceremony on July 29 for the Wind Whale, a newbuilding coastal deck carrier.
The ceremony took place in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the vessel’s port of registry—with local stakeholders and many other guests on hand. After the ceremony, guests toured the vessel to learn about its onboard facilities and the role of deck carriers in the shipping industry.
The name “Wind Whale” was chosen to symbolize the vessel’s robust transport capabilities that support Japan’s offshore wind industry, as well as its powerful presence as it sails across the open sea carrying large and heavy cargoes—reminiscent of a whale traversing the vast ocean.
The Wind Whale will be jointly owned by MOL and MOLDB, and operated by MOLCS with support from MOLDB. The vessel will be deployed for coastal transport of offshore wind turbine foundations manufactured at JFE Engineering Corporation monopile manufacturing base in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture, delivering them to offshore wind construction sites around Japan.
Featuring a flat deck, the vessel can directly load wind turbine components—including monopiles, towers, blades, nacelles, and floating foundations—from the stern or sides using multi-axle trucks. Equipped with a dynamic positioning system (DPS) and offering greater weather resistance than non-self-propelled barges, the Wind Whale enables direct cargo delivery to wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) at offshore wind power construction sites.
MOLDB currently operates a 3,700-ton class deck carrier on a time charter to transport onshore and offshore wind turbine components, plant cargo, and marine equipment in Asian waters. The company will continue to meet customers’ marine transport needs in both domestic and international markets.
