Takamatsu News

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that its group company, Mitsui O.S.K. Kinkai, Ltd. will use a main engine equipped with the MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MDT)-developed “common rail fuel injection system” on a newbuilding vessel. Shop test of the main engine was completed on January 29 and the vessel is slated for launching in 2018. After launched, Mitsui O.S.K. Kinkai, MDT and Makita Corporation(President: Yu Makita; headquarters: Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa Prefecture)will continue testing the system with support from MOL while the vessel is in service. The pilot engine for MDT, manufactured by Makita Corporation,  is the first to adopt the MAN B&W 2 Cycle engine.

Almost three-quarters of all cruise passengers in the future could be Chinese, according to research by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). The study reveals a potential 83 million cruise passengers in seven source markets within Greater China. This figure is four times the current number of cruise passengers world-wide. Hong Kong, with its connectivity to the Pearl River Delta, Central China and Taiwan by air, high speed rail and land transportation via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, is looking at a cruise potential of 54 million passengers. The study also reveals that the make-up of these passengers is younger and more family-oriented than cruise passengers in traditional source markets such as North America and Europe, where they tend to be older, retired achievers.

Port of Vancouver inform of the welcome given to the 'M/V Alam Sinar' commanded by Capt. Arturo A. Lobigas of the Philippines on the bulk carrier's recent maiden voyage arrival in the United States. Lobigas and his 19-member Filipino crew were welcomed to Vancouver by representatives from Pacific Northwest Ship and Cargo, and Port of Vancouver USA. The Port says that the Class NKK bulk carrier M/V Alam Sinar was built in Japan in 2014. and is owned by Grace Ocean Private Limited and operated by Malaysian Bulk Carrier.

Iino Marine Service, a ship management company in Japan, has been a customer of the Liferaft Rental and Exchange program (LRE) since 2010. Mr. Araki, Director of Iino Marine Service said, “Operating a high number of vessels on global trading patterns means that we are constantly looking for ways in which we can improve the efficiency of our operations. As WSS exhibits at this week’s Bariship 2013 event, Gen Takamatsu, Sales Manager for WSS Japan said, “For shipowners, managing the maintenance, repair and inspection of liferafts can be an expensive, unpredictable and complicated challenge. Across north-east Asia, the number of rafts being exchanged and serviced by WSS is growing quickly, with the number of exchanges increasing month on month.

The very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) 'Takamatsu Maru' has arrived at the Kawasaki refinery of TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. The 158,000 dwt tankship was chartered by TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. from NYK Lines, after the company purchased virtually all of Exxon Mobil Corporation’s Japan business. The vessel was built by IHI Marine United Inc. and delivered in June, 2012. TonenGeneral Sekiyu has also assumed the charters of two additional VLCCs — Taiga and Tamba — bringing to three the number of vessels currently chartered by the company from NYK.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has signed its first fleet Safety Service Agreement with a Japanese principal. The two-year agreement, valued at $300,000 includes 25 panamax and cape-size bulk carriers and 18 product carriers on behalf of Tokyo-based Victoria Ship Management. The WSS Safety Service Agreement provides a standardized service covering a client’s fleet, offering fixed prices for inspection at agreed ports covering fixed systems and portable equipment. The agreement also provides a single point of contact for clients, with customer support in local languages in the same time zone as the client. Under such agreements, WSS customers receive predictable pricing and professional service due date monitoring…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Koichi Muto) today announced the completion of a table top drill based on the scenario of the MOL-owned and operated bulk carrier Mona Linden being involved in a collision that resulted in flooding and oil spill off Takamatsu, Inland sea, Japan. The drill involved about 60 participants including executives from MOL and MOL Group companies. The three-hour drill, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, was aimed at strengthening MOL's…