Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Fleet List

Fleet List of the Osaka Shosen Kaisha (OSK) Showing Ownership, Nationality, Name of Ship, Year Placed in Service, and Gross Tonnage. Gross tonnage equals cubic feet of all enclosed space divided by 100. Notations Regarding the Ship (if any), Such as Previous Name or Renaming, are shown after the Gross Tonnage.

OSAKA LINE

Osaka Mercantile Steamship Co., Ltd.

Osaka Syosen Kabusiki Kaisya

(Japanese)

Founded in 1878, the Mitsui Steamship Co. was a shipowning company. In 1884, the company became Osaka Shosen Kaisha and traded locally. Overseas services began in 1890 with a route between Osaka and Busan. In 1908, the first Japanese emigrants were carried to Brazil. A Hong Kong to Tacoma service commenced in 1909. A San Francisco route was opened in 1915 and 1916, South American services were started, and a service to New York was in 1920. There were numerous other routes until the commencement of WWII, including a round-the-world service. However, most of the fleet was destroyed during the war. It was in the 1950s that OSK resumed worldwide trading and, in 1964, merged with other companies to form Mitsui OSK Line.

1. Africa Maru (1918) 9,476
2. Africa Maru (1951) 8,354
3. Aikoku Maru (1939) 10,360
4. Alaska Maru (1920) 7,379
5. America Maru (1950) 8,343
6. Arabia Maru (1918) 9,480
7. Argentina Maru (1939) 12,755
8. Argentina Maru (1958) 10.863
9. Arizona Maru (1920) 9,684
10. Atlas Maru (1920) 7,344
11. Baikal Maru (1921) 5,266
12. Brazil Maru (1939) 12,752
13. Brazil Maru (1954) 10,101
14. Buenos Aires Maru (1930) 9,626
15. Canada Maru (1911) 6,064
16. Chicago Maru (1910) 6,182
17. Hawaii Maru (1915) 9,482
18. Hokoku Maru (1939) 10,439
19. Horai Maru (1912) 9,204
20. Huso Maru (1908) 8,199
21. Kasato Maru (1900) 6,209
22. Kiturin Maru (1935) 6,783 ex-Kitsurin Maru
23. Kokuryu Maru (1937) 7,369
24. Manila Maru (1915) 9,518
25. Mexico Maru (1910) 6,064
26. Naminouc Maru (1936) 4,731
27. Oryoku Maru (1937) 7,363
28. Panama Maru (1910) 6,058
29. Paris Maru (1921) 7,197
30. Rio de Janeiro Maru (1930) 9,627
31. Santos Maru (1925) 7,267
32. Santos Maru (1952) 8,516
33. Seattle Maru (1909) 6,182
34. Tacoma Maru (1909) 6,178
35. Takatilio Maru (1934) 8,154 ex-Takachiho Maru
36. Toyen Maru (1905) 3,541
37. Ukisima Maru (1936) 4,730 ex-Ukishima Maru
38. Ussuri Maru (1932) 6,386

Smith, Eugene W., Passenger Ships of the World: Past and Present, Boston: George H. Dean Company, 1963.