en.Wedoany.com Reported - Japan's first coastal deck cargo vessel dedicated to transporting offshore wind power foundation components, the "Wind Whale," held its naming and completion ceremony in Nagasaki on July 29. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its subsidiaries MOL Drybulk and MOL Coastal Shipping jointly attended the ceremony.

The vessel was built by China's Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering Co., Ltd., with MOL Drybulk signing the construction contract with the shipyard in 2024. The Wind Whale is a 12,709 DWT vessel that will transport monopile foundations produced at JFE Engineering's Kasaoka Plant in Okayama Prefecture to offshore wind farm construction sites across Japan. The vessel is jointly owned by MOL and MOL Drybulk, operated by MOL Coastal Shipping, and supported by MOL Drybulk.

The Wind Whale measures 149.9 meters in length and is specifically designed for offshore wind logistics. Its flush deck allows large components to be loaded directly from the stern or side using multi-axle transporters, with applicable cargo covering monopiles, towers, blades, nacelles, and floating foundations.

The transport vessel is equipped with a dynamic positioning (DP) system, enabling direct cargo transfer to wind turbine installation vessels (WTIV) at sea, offering greater operational flexibility compared to non-self-propelled barges. The naming of the Wind Whale reflects its functional role in transporting large and heavy cargo along Japan's coasts and supporting the country's offshore wind power industry.