A subsidiary of container shipping group Samudera Shipping Line – Samudera Japan – and Imoto Corporation, part of the Imoto Lines Group, have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish a new company specialising in shipping activities in Japan.

The company, Blue Ocean Shipping, will be headquartered in Kobe, Japan. It is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2026.

Samudera Japan and Imoto Corporation will hold 51% and 49% stakes in Blue Ocean Shipping respectively. 

To remind, Imoto Corporation -founded in 1973- is a Japanese shipping company specialising in coastal and domestic maritime transportation as part of the Imoto Lines Group. 

The new company will begin with the acquisition of two container vessels from Imoto Lines Group as its initial fleet.

A company filing on Tuesday (Dec 16) said that the JV, over time, aims to grow its fleet “prudently” to capture “suitable opportunities” in Japan’s coastal and regional shipping services.