In November 1946 after leaving Nortraship Næss established the company "Næss, Mejlænder & Co. Inc." in New York with a capital of $50,000. They quickly set up two companies in Panama, "Nortuna Shipping Company Inc." and "Norness Shipping Company Inc." Næss managed to secure financing from J. P. Morgan & Co. which became a pillar in the group's growth. "Nortuna" bought four old US general cargo ships, and two liners were ordered from "Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering" in Tokyo, to be built by their dock in Yokohama. Næss made his first visit to Japan in 1949 when the country was still occupied by US forces, and the orders were the first from a foreigner after the war. In the years to come Japanese shipyards were to deliver around 30 vessels to the Næss group. The vessels were named "Sagura" and "Yama", the latter sold just after delivery as the market was bad. That was a huge mistake as the war in Korea broke out and the demand for vessels soared.