EventJapanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) signed an agreement with the Japan Agency for Marine‑Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) to operate the LNG‑dual‑fuel, ice‑breaking research vessel Mirai II. The vessel is scheduled for delivery on December 18, 2026, with its first Arctic expedition planned for summer 2027. In February, MOL conducted polar‑survival training in Hokkaido, including cold‑water swimming in immersion suits and ice‑escape drills, as the company prepares crew and operations for polar conditions, per MOL’s statement.
MOL has agreed to operate the LNG dual‑fuel vessel Mirai II, Japan’s first ice‑breaking research ship, set to begin its first Arctic Ocean expedition in summer 2027.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines will operate JAMSTEC’s Mirai II, Japan’s first ice‑breaking research vessel, with its maiden Arctic Ocean expedition set for summer 2027. The company has trained crew for polar survival and will use its Northern Sea Route experience to support safe, science‑driven operations.
Mitsui OSK Lines has signed an agreement to operate Japan’s first icebreaking research vessel, Mirai II, with JAMSTEC. The 13,000‑tonne, Polar Class 4 ship will be delivered on 18 Dec 2026 and begin its first Arctic expedition in summer 2027.
MOL has agreed to operate Japan’s new Arctic research ship Mirai II, the first Japanese vessel with ice‑breaking power, with operations slated to begin in December 2026 and its first Arctic mission in summer 2027.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines signed a contract to manage Japan’s first ice‑breaking research vessel, Mirai II, which will launch in December 2026 and is slated for its inaugural Arctic Ocean cruise in summer 2027.
