Ocean Network Express

Cherry blossom magenta branding

ONE has selected the quintessential Japanese cherry blossom magenta as its brand colour for its ships and containers. This shade represents a break with the usual and previous shipping patterns.^[7]

Sakura, the cherry blossom tree that is the symbol of the Japanese spring, can be found from the northern part of the Hokkaido peninsula till the southern end of the Okinawa island. Its magenta flowers span throughout the country, making the land appearing like an ocean of pink during the month of March every year.

ONE colour and appearance are only part of the equation to stand out in the container shipping trade, and to represent the new that is emerging. Cherry blossom magenta is therefore just a symbol to convey a larger concept and idea for the shipping world, that needs to change dynamics by becoming a more visible and a less obscure industry for its final customers.^[8]

Business model

Along with Hapag Lloyd and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, ONE is an integral member of THE Alliance.

The alliance is intended to provide 34 services,^[9] directly calling at 81 different ports on a regular and continuous basis, of which 19 in Asia Far East (7 in China, 5 in Japan), 3 in the Indian subcontinent, 7 in Middle East and Red Sea, 24 in Europe (7 in North Continent, 14 in the Mediterranean Sea), 21 in US and Canada, 7 in Central America and Caribbean.

ONE has decided to heavily invest in the refrigerated sector, by ordering in August 2018 over 14,000 brand new white reefer containers (13,000 x 40’ TEUs and 1,000 x 20’ TEUs). This large equipment purchase aims to establish ONE as a real leader in the reefer shipping market, reaching the top three position in the carriers’ ranking.^[10]

Tonnage line up

In addition to the tonnage inherited from the three mother companies, there are several new ships close to delivery: one ultra-large 20,000 TEU vessel, and twelve 14,000 TEU vessels.^[11]A fleet review shall happen within 18 months from the operations beginning, in order to be competitive on all services by using the most recent, technological and environment friendly ships available to be built.

On 2nd April 2018, mv ONE Minato (ordered by K Line and originally named mv Minato Bridge) was launched from Imabari Shipbuilding as trial.^[12] The vessel has a capacity of 14,000TEU, and has been painted in magenta.

On 15th May 2018, the first magenta painted vessel delivered and added into the fleet, mv ONE Commitment (formerly known as mv MOL Commitment, built in 2013), started her maiden voyage at Singapore and reached Yantian International Container Terminals in China. Sailing under Japanese flag, the vessel operates on THE Alliance PN2 service calling China, Japan, US and Canada with a total capacity of 8,560 TEU.

On 12th June 2018, the newly built mv ONE Stork was delivered and launched from Hiroshima, Kure Shipyard in Japan. This vessel was originally intended as mv NYK Stork, as part of the 8 NYK-bird class sister ships,^[13]ordered and owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and chartered to ONE. The ship has a capacity of 14,000 TEUs and is magenta painted.^[14] The first deployment was instructed towards North America East Coast, after calling several loading ports in China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

On Monday 7th July 2018, mv ONE Competence made fast at the Port of Oakland.^[15] The vessel was built in 2008 as mv MOL Competence, to carry over 8000 TEUs. She has recently been repainted in magenta, following the intended plan to rebrand over 240 vessels in the fleet.