GRS and COLI Join Forces for Offshore Wind in Japan

Global Renewables Shipbrokers (GRS) and COLI Schiffahrt & Transport have entered a strategic partnership that will see the two companies jointly offering services in the offshore wind market in Japan.

“With COLI a competent and experienced partner in the field of break bulk and project cargo – especially between Europe and Far East – is by our side,” said Matthias Mroß, GRS Managing Partner. “With CPC Consolidated Pool Carriers (Asia) Co. Ltd. the COLI Group has already been successfully established in Japan since 1997.”

According to GRS, offshore wind in Japan is progressing in a dynamic way, with large scale projects on the horizon.

“The market entry to Japan is ideal at this point in time,” Mroß said. “Currently all levers are set in motion to achieve the ambitious plans for the expansion of offshore wind energy in Japan. We have monitored the offshore renewables market in Japan for a long time. Now we take the opportunity to enter this market. Building on our experience and expertise, we can ensure that mistakes will be avoided and expansion targets achieved.”

At the end of 2018, the Bill on promotion of use of territorial waters for offshore renewable energy generation facilities passed both houses of Japan’s National Diet. The law enables the development of offshore wind farms outside port-related areas.

In July of this year, the Japanese government announced that it had designated eleven areas as potentially suitable for the development of offshore wind farms. The government plans to issue a tender to select offshore wind farm developers after completing site surveys and further identifying specific “promotion areas” for offshore wind.