Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United (JMU), Japan’s two largest shipbuilders, have given details of their new joint venture company.
Nihon Shipyard Co will start operating on October 1 with Imabari holding a 51% stake and JMU 49%. It will handle all commercial ships excluding liquefied natural gas carriers.
At a press conference on Friday, Imabari president Yukito Higaki said that the company has no plans to merge with JMU.
The Imabari/JMU capital tie-up comes as news emerges of a far greater shipyard collaboration. Splash reported on Friday that the Japanese government is currently exploring the possibilities to integrate 15 major shipyards in the country under a so-called All Japan Shipbuilding merger plan, following similar steps by neighbouring shipbuilding rival countries China and South Korea.
