Mitsui O.S.K. Lines — Tokyo: an operations centre for 800 ships, with meeting rooms named after ports

Concept

Always connected

The concept was “always connected” (itsudemo, tsunagaru). As the operations centre for some 800 ships, the office needed a stronger sense of unity among everyone involved in operations, and better communication up, down, across and with people outside.

The walls on the north and south sides were removed to make space that runs across departments, and the operations floors were joined by an internal stair.

01 · Colour

Navy blue, and the sea

Navy blue is the symbol colour, chosen for calm and composure and for the sea. Meeting rooms take the names of ports, with wave patterns on their signs, and the carpet carries a pattern like a whirlpool.

02 · The stair

Marine lamps and a compass

The internal stair is lit with marine lamps. Original floor signs use a compass motif, and the walls have a textured special paint.

03 · Operations

Watching the fleet around the clock

The SOSC monitors risks to the safe operation of the fleet 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has a video wall, its seats are arranged in a circle, and it sits where operations staff can gather easily and visitors can be shown in.

04 · Lounge

Whirlpools underfoot

Between the work areas are counters and café tables over the whirlpool carpet.