TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has announced the name of a company-MOL Sunflower Ltd.-will integrate two wholly owned ferry and coastal RORO vessel operating companies (Note 1)-MOL Sunflower Ltd. The new company brings together MOL Ferry Co., Ltd. and Ferry Sunflower Limited.
New company logo
Sunflower Kurenai Sunflower Furano
The new company will carry on the "Sunflower" brand, which has supported Japan's logistics for half a century and continues to contribute to the enrichment of people's lives through cruise travel. MOL Sunflower Ltd. will begin operations on October 1, offering enhanced services as Japan's largest ferry and coastal RORO vessel operator, with six regular routes and 15 vessels in service.
In April 2023, MOL established the "Headquarters of Wellbeing & Lifestyle Business" as an organizational structure to support the expansion of its non-shipping businesses, and place the ferry and coastal RORO vessel business, which has a strong business-to-consumer (BtoC) nature, as well as real property, cruise ship, and other businesses within the headquarters to make them one of the pillars of its business. MOL intends to achieve further company growth by integrating and consolidating these two companies, which serve as the core of the MOL Group ferry business.
â– Routes and vessels operated by the new company
Route | Vessel | Ship type |
---|---|---|
Oarai - Tomakomai | Sunflower Sapporo Sunflower Furano Sunflower Daisetsu Sunflower Shiretoko |
Ferry |
Tokyo - Hakata | Sunflower Tokyo Sunflower Hakata |
RORO |
Tokyo - Kanda | Musashi Maru, Buzen, Suou | RORO |
Osaka - Beppu | Sunflower Kurenai Sunflower Murasaki |
Ferry |
Osaka - Shibushi | Sunflower Satsuma Sunflower Kirishima |
Ferry |
Oita - Kobe | Sunflower Gold Sunflower Pearl |
Ferry |
* No change from current status.
Background and Objectives of Integration
(Note 1) A vessel in which cargo is loaded and unloaded directly by trucks or trailers from the front and rear entrances of the vessel in a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) method.
(Note 2) The Casual Cruise Concept is the basic idea behind the MOL Group's ferry business, enabling customers to enjoy cruising as a high-quality means of travel by using regularly scheduled routes.