Shipyard in Focus:Tsuneishi Shipbuilding – 120 Years of Innovation & Expansion

For more than 120 years, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has been a force in global shipbuilding, evolving from a small domestic enterprise into an internationally respected brand. Established in 1903 by Katsutaro Kambara, Tsuneishi's journey mirrors the broader industrial and economic transformations of Japan and the maritime world itself.

Kambara's initial venture, Kambara Kisen Co., Ltd., was focused on shipping operations. By 1917, the company established its own construction and repair facility, Shiohama Dockyard, at the site of today's Tsuneishi Factory. In 1942, the facility was rebranded as Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, turning its focus to the construction and repair of wooden vessels critical to domestic transport during the war. Post-war, the company shifted toward steel ship construction, launching its first steel vessel, Mikomaru, in 1958. The completion of a 200,000-metric-ton repair facility in 1968 marked Tsuneishi’s arrival among Japan’s serious industrial shipbuilders.

Tsuneishi began making its mark with standardized carrier designs, starting with the TESS40 series in 1984, followed by continuous refinements with the TESS45, TESS52, and later the successful TESS58 Handymax bulkers. The Kamsarmax bulker, first completed in 2005, would become another signature product.

In the early 1990s, Tsuneishi set a template for overseas expansion that many shipbuilders would later follow. It established TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (CEBU), Inc. in the Philippines in 1994, now a key part of its global production network. The launch of the first vessel there in 1997—a 23,000-ton carrier—cemented Tsuneishi's ability to deliver Japanese quality from overseas facilities. Parallel developments included growth into China with Tsuneishi Group (Zhoushan) and offshore manufacturing of hulls and outfitting components.

Milestones

Through its history, Tsuneishi has embraced technological innovation. It was among the first in Japan to develop a twin-skeg shuttle tanker (1998), secured ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications, and invested heavily in research, establishing partnerships with institutions like Hiroshima University. Strategic moves included mergers and partnerships, such as the 2000 merger with Hashihama Shipbuilding and a notable business alliance with Samsung Heavy Industries in 2004. More recently, Tsuneishi deepened its collaboration with Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, culminating in a 2022 acquisition that expanded its capabilities in commercial shipbuilding.

While continuing to lead in bulk carriers—celebrating major milestones like the 300th Kamsarmax and 500th TESS-series ship—Tsuneishi has diversified into new markets, including container carriers, chemical tankers, and even luxury projects like the cruise ship guntû in 2017. The company's venture into floating offshore solutions and investment in cutting-edge hydrodynamics through the acquisition of Akishima Laboratories in 2024 reflects a commitment to staying at the forefront of the maritime industry’s future.

Recent Developments & Deliveries

‘Bingo42’ is namesake of an innovative new 42,000 dwt bulk carrier that will be jointly developed and marketed by Onomichi Dockyard and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding. The name Bingo 42 is derived from ‘Beyond Innovation, Navigating Green Ocean’, and it was driven by the recognition of a shared challenge concerning the design workload for new vessels. In Japan, shipyards typically undertake all stages of design, from basic design to production, on an individual company basis. This approach necessitates a substantial design workload when a new design is developed, placing a significant burden on the design team. This is further expected to increase in the future, particularly in response to alternative fuel vessels, and with their close geographic proximity, Onomichi and Tsuneishi mutually decided that cooperation made sense.

Bingo42 is modification of the handy size bulk carriers in both companies’ existing product ranges, and in the development project the shipyards are working to leverage previous experience to improve the vessel design. This includes discussions on how to enhance each other’s conventional hull forms. The length of the conventional hull form has been increased by 3m, and the hull form has been optimized, improved cargo capacity and fuel efficiency for Onomichi’s 40BC and resulting in improved fuel efficiency for Tsuneishi’s TESS42. In addition, MT-FAST has been installed as an energy-saving measure, resulting in improved propulsion performance and fuel efficiency compared to both companies’ conventional hull forms. The design has achieved a reduction of more than 35% from the reference line, and is also designed to be methanol dual-fueled.