Posted on January 15, 2024
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Hokutaku Co., Ltd., a Japanese wind turbine maintenance firm, have agreed to create a capital alliance through MOL’s acquisition of the majority of Hokutaku’s outstanding shares.
According to MOL, Hokutaku is the largest third-party maintenance company in Japan that is not affiliated with a specific manufacturer or power producer and has had an extensive customer base in the wind power generation industry since entering the field in 1999.
The company provides over 80 per cent of Japan’s 2,600 wind turbines. Ensuring stable wind power plant operation is crucial, so Hokutaku emphasizes developing competitive maintenance technical engineers through training and experiments at its own plants.
MOL reportedly initiated discussions with Hokutaku in 2017, and detailed assistance from the wind power industry pioneer has aided its entry into the wind power business.
In December 2023, NYK Line signed a time charter contract with MOL for the transport of ammonia.
