Japanese Shipowners Turn to Secondhand Vessels to Secure Depreciable Assets 日本船主、償却資産引き当て用に中古船購入

As Newbuilding Prices Surge and Ship Management Becomes a Challenge

新造船価格が高騰、船舶管理が課題

Several Japanese shipowners have begun considering the purchase of secondhand vessels to secure depreciable assets. Traditionally, Japanese shipowners have invested in newbuildings to expand their fleets and secure such assets.

Key points of this article

→ Japanese shipowners are enjoying solid earnings thanks to the weak yen and the firm market for bulk carriers. At the same time, “expensive newbuildings” combined with “high charter rates” pose significant risks should the market decline, while domestic shipyards in Japan are reportedly fully booked until 2029.

→ Japanese shipowners with fewer than ten vessels have, since 2023, seen European operators exercise purchase options on vessels under time-charter or bareboat charter (BBC), leading to a reduction in their owned fleets. Some trading houses’ shipping divisions are intermediating Chinese shipyards for Japanese shipowners, or are placing newbuilding orders for their own fleets directly at Chinese yards. With newbuilding prices remaining at elevated levels, Japanese shipowners are now seriously considering secondhand tonnage as a new option for vessel ownership.

“You can read the rest of the article in both English and Japanese.”

(続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください)

特集・日本船主、償却資産引き当て用に中古船購入　新造船価格が高騰、船舶管理が課題

　複数の日本船主が償却資産の引き当て用に中古船の購入の検討を開始している。従来、日本船主は新造船に投資することで、船隊整備の拡大や償却資産を確保してきた

この記事のポイント

→日本船主は「円安」「バルクキャリアの市況堅調」で収益は良好だ。一方、「高い新造船」に「高い用船料」は市況下落時に大きなリスクになるほか、日本造船所の船台は2029年まで埋まっているという状況でもある。

→船舶保有数10隻未満の日本船主は、2023年以降、欧州オペレーターと定期用船、もしくは裸用船（BBC）を結ぶ船舶を相次ぎパーチェスオプション（船舶購入選択権）をオペ型に行使され、保有船が減少している。一部の商社船舶部は日本船主に中国造船所を仲介、もしくは自身で中国造船所に自社船を発注する。新造船価格の高止まりの中、日本船主は中古船保有という新たな選択肢を真剣に検討している

“You can read the rest of the article in both English and Japanese.”（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください）