Tag: MOL

Reducing Workload and Improving Safety during Bunkering Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) announced that MOL and Musashino Co., Ltd. have jointly developed the world's first portable liquid-level gauge for vessel fuel tanks, which reduces workload needed to measure a ship's fuel level during bunkering and enables more accurate measurement. This will reduce the crew's workload, and help prevent incidents such as fuel spills from overfilling.Even on vessels equipped with fixed liquid-level gauges, crews measure the liquid level manually by hanging sounding tapes into sounding pipes located on the deck, to help prevent overflow and to check bunkering volume during refueling. This operation must be done by a skilled crew, which creates additional burden on the crew as he must measure several tanks simultaneously.With the new liquid-level gauge, the pressure sensor, which is suspended into the fuel tank, senses changes in liquid-level pressure and detects the fuel level in the tank quickly and accurately. In addition, because of the function of wireless transmission, several tanks can be monitored on the ship's computer at the same time. This improves the efficiency of fuel level measuring operations, reduces workload, and helps prevent overflows, thus reducing the risk of fuel spills ...

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) president Koichi Muto warns in his New Year message Tokyo:Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) president Koichi Muto warns of a "prolonged harsh business environment" in his New Year message. Muto said the environment surrounding MOL remained unpredictable and clouded by the oversupply of vessels and slumping business sentiment."Large-scale completion of new vessels is expected to continue this year, so we should prepare ourselves for a prolonged harsh business environment, and approach it with due care," he said. Impact was expected to particularly hard on the container trades with impending delivery of large numbers of ultra-large containerships."After 2013, however, the number of new vessels completed is expected to level off, providing some light at the end of the tunnel," Muto said.

ISHIN-III Technology : series of next-generation large-scale iron ore carriers Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced that it has ordered a new cape-size bulker that will adopt element technologies of the next-generation ISHIN-III vessel program to achieve high fuel efficiency. Universal Shipbuilding Corporation (President: Shinjiro Mishima) will construct the new ship, slated for completion in late 2014.MOL has repeatedly studied various technologies to realize the concept for the ISHIN-III series of next-generation vessels (large-scale iron ore carriers) announced in April 2010.The newbuilding vessel will adopt the following element technologies which are at the core of the ISHIN-III concept. New technologies will boost fuel efficiency of the new ship by more than 20% compared to conventional cape-size vessels, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. Advanced features include:A steam turbine that generates electric power using exhaust heat from the engine.A hybrid power generation system to convert rotational force from the supercharger into electric power.In addition, the electric power gained through the steam turbine and hybrid systems will assist vessel propulsion.MOL continues to take a proactive stance in technological development with the aim of reducing the environmental burden of its ships.Specifications Length: 300.0m Breath: 50.0m Depth: 25.0m Draft: ...

Contributing US$30,000 to typhoon Washi relief efforts on Mindanao Island Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) President Koichi Muto announced that the company has contributed US$30,000 to typhoon Washi relief efforts on Mindanao Island through its group company Magsaysay MOL Marine, Inc. It is also reviewing other relief options as the situation unfolds."We wish to convey our deepest sympathies to all those affected by the typhoon," President Muto said."We received monetary donations from many people in the Philippines including our seafarers and their families after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March. We sincerely hope for a swift recovery to the area and a quick return to normal life."MOL and the Philippines have a deep relationship, and the company has recruited and educated many of its seafarers at the training center it established there.MOL has contributed to various relief efforts in the Philippines through a range of activities. When a major typhoon "Frank" hit the Philippines in June 2008, MOL responded to a request from the Philippine government and provided ocean transport of aid supplies with the seafarer training ship Spirit of MOL. And when Typhoon "Ondoy" struck in September 2009, the training ship crew members and Magsaysay-MOL employees ...

AN effort to slim down its VLCC fleet Major tanker owner Mitsui OSK Lines is making a concerted effort to slim down its VLCC fleet. Fresh from reports a week ago of MOL scrapping the youngest VLCC to date - a 1995 double hulled giant - US investment bank Dahlman Rose has added that MOL has scrapped another pair of VLCCs.These two, built in 1996 and 1997, are now the youngest VLCCs to ever have been scrapped. Dahlman Rose suggests a total of 20 VLCCs have been sent for demolition this year, around half of which were sent in the final quarter.As MOL comes to terms with the projected lengthy downturn for tanker rates it has also recently formed a VLCC pool in Singapore which counts AP Moller-Maersk among its partners.Source: Seatrade Asia

Recognizing effectiveness of SEEMP in reducing vessel CO2 emissions Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) announced that the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP*1), MOL already has in place was certified with Statement of Compliance by the international classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Effective December 5, the certification verifies the plan including its application for calculating Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI*2) in accordance with SEEMP guidance and EEOI guideline from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).MOL led the world in formulating SEEMP ahead of the IMO's adoption of requirements that SEEMP should be provided on board from January 2013. The company has maintained operation schedules while ensuring safe operation based on that, and continually pursuing and implementing comprehensive Eco Sailing, a key element of its midterm management plan GEAR UP! MOL, while undertaking continual improvement through an ongoing PDCA(*3) cycle.The MOL-formulated SEEMP is an effective way of identifying problems and confirming the effectiveness of improvements by introducing its unique EEOI calculation method in addition to the one guided by the IMO. It also features comprehensive and organic linkage of application of innovative technologies such as the optimum trim(*4) backed by onboard and onshore demonstration tests, selection of ...

Agreement to pool a fleet of around 50 VLCCs Four major shipowners have signed an agreement to pool a fleet of around 50 VLCCs.Mitsui OSK Lines/Phoenix Tankers Pte Ltd, Maersk Tankers, Samco Shipholding and Ocean Tankers, Singapore, have signed a letter of intent to pool roughly 50 VLCCs with an average age of three years.The pool, which could control around 10% of the world fleet is expected to start operations on 1 February next year with offices in Singapore, Copenhagen and New York."The flexibility of a large, young and reliable fleet ensures that the VLCC Pool can, at all times, offer relevant vessels of the highest standard to cater for our customers' need for safe and environmentally friendly marine transportation," the companies said in a statementSource: Seatrade Asia

After a run of weak growth in crude oil demand Japan's three leading shipping companies are getting rid of 10 percent of their supertankers after a run of weak growth in crude oil demand that has undercut freight rates, the Nikkei reported.Nippon Yusen KK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd are reducing their very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from 90 to 82, the business daily said.The VLCCs measure upwards of 330 meters in length, carry about 300,000 tons of crude, and cost around 10 billion yen ($128.29 million), the Nikkei said.Nippon Yusen has sold three of its 39 VLCCs to a Greek shipping company, each for about $37 million, the daily said.Kawasaki Kisen has sold one of its nine VLCCs to a South Korean firm for $37 million and Mitsui O.S.K. is considering disposing three of its 42 VLCCs by March, the Nikkei reported.VLCCs numbered 570 worldwide at the end of September, about 70 more than in 2007, making for about 17 percent increase in shipping capacity, according to shipping research firm Tramp Data Service Co, the paper said.But global crude oil demand grew less than 4 percent during this time, creating a capacity glut, the Nikkei ...

Donates P600,000 to international NGO in the Philippines Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) announced that the company held a commendation ceremony for long-serving Filipino seafarers at the MOL Group seafarer manning company Magsaysay MOL Marine, Inc. (MMM) in Manila on November 18, and hosted a gathering for seafarers' families the following day.Commendations went to seafarers with 20 years of service aboard MOL-operated vessels. Thirty-seven of the 42 recipients were on hand for the ceremony. MOL President Muto cited their long service with MOL and urged a renewed focus on their efforts to ensure safe operations.The seafarer family gathering the next day drew over 3,500 people, mainly seafarers, their families, and others involved with the company. President Muto expressed his gratitude for the families' understanding and support of MOL seafarers and said Filipino mariners will play an increasingly important role in the company's future growth and success. MOL will continue to hold such gatherings in other cities in the Philippines and other major seafarer source nations to create stronger ties between MOL and seafarers' families who wait patiently while their family members are out at sea.In addition, in conjunction with the long-service commendation ceremonies on November 18, MOL ...

MOL and Cargotec committe to clean seas A Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) car carrier has become the first to have all of its ro-ro equipment electrically driven.The 4,000 unit car carriers Iris Ace, built by Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding, features an electrically-driven MacGregor stern quarter ramp/door, side ramps and two movable ramps from Cargotec. With the equipment be all electric it eliminates the need for hydraulic oil in the operating system."Shin-Kurushima, MOL and Cargotec are all committed to clean seas," said Magnus Sjöberg, sales director for ro-ro ships at Cargotec. "The cooperation between the companies has resulted in these exceptionally efficient, environmentally-friendly vessels. Our collaboration was an essential part of this technology's development; and we are seeing a steadily growing demand for it"."On average, electric drives consume less energy than their hydraulic equivalents, therefore, their introduction into MOL's recent newbuilds was a natural progression in the company's environmental initiatives," he said.Source: Seatrade Asia