MOL Teams Up With TSUNEISHI To Build Offshore Rocket Launch & Recovery Vessel

July 13th, 2025

Image Credits: MOL

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) announced the company’s move toward commercializing an offshore rocket launch and recovery vessel through a partnership agreement with Innovative Space Carrier, Inc. (ISC: CEO: Kojiro Hatada; Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) (Note 1) and TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd. (Former company name: Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.; President: Kenichi Shibata; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo).

This project originated from the MOL Group’s new business proposal program, the ‘MOL Incubation Bridge’ (Note 2), designed to encourage employees to foster ideas for new businesses. The company has initiated a full-scale exploration into participation in space-related ventures.

MOL’s engagement in space-related business focuses on the offshore launch and recovery of rockets. Aiming for commercialization around 2030, its first step will be to develop a recovery vessel, followed by a feasibility study of the commercialization of an offshore launch vessel.

By successfully developing and introducing such vessels, the company will contribute to the development of a new space infrastructure that utilizes the ocean and supports next-generation space transport.

In this project, MOL will collaborate with ISC and TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY to realize offshore rocket launch and recovery, with the aim of increasing the frequency of rocket launches.

Sea launching and landing — Image Credits: MOL

Leveraging the technology and expertise it has cultivated in the shipping and offshore businesses, MOL will continue to create new value for society across a wide range of fields in the space industry as well.

[Outline of the Partnership Agreement]

1. Initiatives of the three companies

(1) Development of rocket recovery ship
Carefully examine the design requirements for rocket recovery ships, conduct a feasibility study to evaluate their applicability to the ASCA 1 (Note 3) reusable rocket developed by ISC, and proceed with verification tests to validate the findings.

(2) Feasibility study on commercialization of offshore launch vessels for rockets
Carefully examine design requirements for offshore launch vessels for rockets, conduct technical and economic feasibility studies, assess their applicability to the ASCA 1 (Note 3), and proceed with verification tests to validate the findings.

2. Date of conclusion of the partnership agreement
July 9, 2025

Press Release

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