Mitsui O.S.K. Lines’ (MOL) venture arm MOL PLUS reports that it has made an additional investment in Innovative Space Carrier (ISC), a startup that develops, manufactures, and launches reusable rockets.
The funding is intended to bolster collaboration between the companies as they work towards the commencement of offshore rocket launch and recovery operations.
MOL and ISC jointly obtained an Approval in Principle (AiP) in April 2026 for the basic design of an unmanned, autonomous offshore rocket recovery vessel. The two companies note that they are currently researching avenues for the practical application of the vessel.
The Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) Group began jointly exploring the offshore rocket launch and recovery business in fiscal year 2024, utilising the expertise and safe operation technologies cultivated across its ocean shipping and maritime businesses.
MOL PLUS, headed up by Chief Executive Officer Takuya Sakamoto, made its initial investment in ISC during the same year. ISC is led by Chief Executive Officer Kojiro Hatada.
Looking forward, the two firms said that they intend to conduct demonstration tests in the 2030s, with the investment to be used to support the technical studies required to achieve practical application for these proposed offshore launch and recovery operations.
