Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has started discussions with Montenegro on possible expansion of its activities in the country beyond its existing seafarer-training operations in Bijela, near Herceg Novi.
Representatives of MOL and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs discussed potential cooperation during a meeting with Maritime Affairs Minister Filip Radulović. No investment value, asset acquisition or binding project was announced, with the talks remaining at the level of commercial interest.
Existing training centre provides basis for cooperation
Montenegro’s current cooperation with MOL is centred on the MOL Training Centre Europe in Bijela, which is part of the Japanese group’s international maritime training network. The facility operates alongside MOL training centres and maritime programmes in Japan, the Philippines, India, Indonesia and other crew-supply markets. The Bijela centre provides MOL with access to Montenegro’s maritime workforce, including officers, engineers and seafarers, while connecting local maritime professionals with the operating and safety systems of a major international shipping group.
The relationship between MOL and Montenegro predates the latest government discussions. Seafarers from Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have worked on MOL vessels for decades, with training and recruitment activities linked to Bijela.
MOL operates global maritime network
MOL is a Tokyo-listed maritime group operating across multiple shipping segments, including dry bulk vessels, tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers, car carriers, container shipping, ferries, terminals, logistics and low-carbon maritime technologies. The company controls or manages more than 900 vessels, employs more than 10,000 people and operates internationally across shipping and related activities. For the financial year ending 31 March 2026, MOL reported revenue of approximately ¥1.825 trillion, operating profit of ¥127 billion and net income attributable to shareholders of ¥213.2 billion.
Training and maritime services identified as potential areas
Potential cooperation could focus on expanding maritime skills development rather than ship ownership or port infrastructure acquisition. International shipping companies are facing increasing demand for officers trained to operate LNG-powered vessels, advanced engine systems, digital navigation technologies and vessels using emerging fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen derivatives.
An expanded Bijela facility could provide training programmes covering bridge and engine-room resource management, LNG operations, high-voltage systems, simulator-based emergency response, cybersecurity, emissions monitoring and alternative-fuel vessel operations. MOL has been expanding training capabilities as it develops LNG and low-carbon fleets. The company’s decarbonisation strategy includes introducing net-zero-emission vessels during the 2020s, reducing greenhouse-gas intensity by approximately 45% by 2035 compared with 2019, and achieving group-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
The transition requires additional training because ammonia, methanol, LNG, batteries and hybrid propulsion systems introduce different operational, electrical, fire, toxicity and pressure-related requirements.
Possible regional maritime role for Bijela
A specialised training and certification facility in Bijela could serve maritime personnel from Southern and Eastern Europe, including officers from the Adriatic region, the Western Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean. Such development would build on Montenegro’s existing maritime workforce and could support employment in training, technical services, certification activities and related maritime industries.
Training connected directly with an international fleet could provide access to specialised positions and career advancement opportunities. Economic activity would include salaries, remittances, local employment, technical services and associated suppliers. Another potential area of cooperation is ship management, crewing, safety assurance and regional maritime operations. These activities require less capital than vessel ownership while creating recurring professional services.
Fleet ownership remains complex option
Full ship ownership or fleet renewal would represent a more complex undertaking for Montenegro. The country’s two state-linked shipping companies, Crnogorska plovidba and Barska plovidba, have faced financial difficulties.
Crnogorska plovidba accumulated more than €36 million in liabilities to the state and moved towards selling its two bulk carriers during 2025. The company’s challenges were linked to debt servicing, weak charter performance and exposure to volatility in the dry-bulk shipping market. Barska plovidba has also carried significant obligations related to vessels financed through the Export-Import Bank of China. The company’s experience showed that state-backed ship purchases require alignment between charter revenues, operating costs, technical management and market conditions.
Potential cooperation with MOL could instead involve ship-management agreements, crewing arrangements, joint chartering, technical management, fleet advisory services or participation in a commercially separated platform. Any future partnership would need to distinguish new investment from historical liabilities. Transferring existing debts into a joint structure would weaken the commercial basis of a project.
Port of Bar represents another possible cooperation area
The Port of Bar is another potential area for cooperation. The port is Montenegro’s main commercial port and the maritime connection point of the railway towards Belgrade and Central Europe. Its location provides access to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and potentially Hungary, although cargo volumes remain affected by railway infrastructure, inland logistics and terminal operations.
Possible areas of cooperation could include terminal management, vehicle logistics, bulk cargo, agency services and integrated maritime-rail transport. MOL’s activities in car carriers and global logistics could be relevant if Bar develops stronger hinterland connections and sufficient cargo concentration. Port competitiveness depends on factors including vessel turnaround times, crane productivity, rail reliability, customs procedures, cargo availability and logistics costs. Port infrastructure alone does not determine shipping decisions.
Montenegro’s planned agreement with the United States, which includes modernisation of the Port of Bar, cargo-scanning systems and improved road and digital connections, could strengthen the port’s position if projects improve transit times and service reliability. The Adriatic-Ionian corridor and rehabilitation of the Bar-Belgrade railway could further improve the port’s relevance for international operators.
Bijela maritime zone offers additional opportunities
The Bijela area has developed a different maritime profile following the transformation of the former shipyard area into a location for superyacht repair, refit and maritime services, including the Adriatic 42 facility. MOL’s training centre is located within this developing industrial environment.
Possible cooperation areas include specialist vessel maintenance, crew training, marine equipment, digital inspection services and support for smaller low-emission vessels. Large-scale commercial shipbuilding would require significant capital investment, industrial capacity, supply chains and confirmed demand.
Japanese institutions could support future projects
Broader Japanese financing and technology institutions could become relevant if cooperation develops beyond training into equipment procurement, vessel acquisition or infrastructure projects. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation supports overseas purchases of Japanese-built ships and maritime equipment, while Nippon Export and Investment Insurance provides coverage for political and commercial risks linked to Japanese exports and investments. Any involvement would depend on Japanese content, credit quality and commercially viable repayment structures.
Maritime talks follow wider Japanese interest
The MOL discussions come amid broader Japanese commercial engagement with Montenegro. Japanese battery manufacturer PowerX has agreed to cooperate with EPCG on plans for up to 500 MWh of battery storage and has explored local assembly opportunities. Japanese utility JERA has discussed renewable-energy opportunities, while Itochu has been associated with possible waste-to-energy cooperation.
A maritime partnership could connect with energy-related activities through areas such as battery-assisted vessels, shore power systems, port microgrids and low-carbon fuels. The discussions between MOL and Montenegro’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs have not yet resulted in an announced investment amount, implementation schedule or targeted asset. The existing Bijela training operation provides an established operational base for possible future cooperation in maritime training, crewing and related services.
