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Mol Group News

12 Mar 2024

MOL Teams Up with Rio Tinto for Decarbonization of Maritime Transportation

(Credit: MOL)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Rio Tinto have signed the partnership agreement to enhance collaboration on both safety and crew welfare initiative and decarbonization of maritime transportation.MOL and Rio Tinto have agreed to further collaborate on shipping decarbonization in addition to the existing commitment to the DOO program through a deal signed on January 24, 2024.The DOO program is a Rio Tinto initiative aimed at enhancing safety and improving crew welfare in the…

22 Dec 2023

MOL Gets ClassNK Blessing for Ammonia FSRU Design

Credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has been awarded an approval in principle (AiP) by ClassNK for a design of Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) for ammonia.The ammonia FSRU has been jointly developed by MOL and MHI Group’s Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.Obtains AiP for Ammonia FSRU Design - A Step Toward Safe Utilization of Ammonia for DecarbonizingThe AiP gives MOL further assurances in its design and development of ammonia FSRU, the technology, which enables a large scale of storage and distribution of seaborn ammonia.Introducing the ammonia FSRU concept…

19 Dec 2023

MOL to Expand Fleet With 5 New LNG-fueled Capesize Bulkers

(Credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has decided to expand its fleet with the additional five newbuilding dual-fueled Capesize bulkers, which can burn either LNG or conventional marine fuel oil.Two of the vessels will be ordered to Nihon Shipyard and built by Imabari Shipbuilding, while there remaining three will be built by Chinese CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding.The vessels are slated for delivery from 2026 to 2027, according to MOL. Including these five vessels, MOL will add a total of 13 LNG-fueled Capesize bulkers in their fleet.

11 Oct 2023

MOL and MOLMEC to Launch DP System Simulator Training Program for Offshore Wind Crews

Credit: MOL

Japanese companies Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and MOL Marine & Engineering Co. (MOLMEC) said Wednesday they would launch a training program using the Dynamic Positioning (DP) System simulator, targeting crewmembers of self-elevating platform (SEP) vessels and service operation vessels (SOVs), which will support offshore wind power generation projects. The two firms aim to complete the program and open the course at the MOL DP Training Center by the end of 2023.MOL said the training program would be open to a wide range of applicants from Japan and overseas…

10 Oct 2023

MOL Establishes Indonesian Manning Company

From left: PT Humpuss Maritim Internasional Tbk. President Director Tirta Hidayat, MOL Managing Executive Officer Kazuya Hamazaki (Source: MOL)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and PT MCS Internasional (MCSI) have established PT McMOL Crewing International, a new joint-venture LNG carrier manning company. MCSI is part of PT Humpuss Maritim Internasional Tbk. Group in Indonesia.The JV plans to begin operations in April 2024, and will primarily allocate seafarers for the MOL Group's fleet of LNG carriers.In operating vessels transporting LNG, it is essential to recruit, train, and retain top-quality seafarers who are qualified to handle LNG, says MOL.

11 Sep 2023

Japan's MOL Invests in TouchWind's Innovative Floating Wind Turbine Tech

Credit: MOL

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will invest in a floating wind technology start-up, TouchWind.TouchWind is developing the tilting angled one-piece rotor wind turbine which is expected to reduce wind interference between wind turbines that tends to occur in large wind farms and improve overall wind farm power generation efficiency. In addition, MOL said, its unique design enables the wind turbines to operate in strong winds, reduces the weight of the wind turbine and floating parts…

15 Jun 2023

MOL Group Enters CTV Business with Charter Deal for Ishikari Bay New Port Wind Farm

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Line has concluded a time charter contract with Shimizu Corporation for two crew transfer vessels (CTV) for an offshore wind farm at Ishikari Bay New Port. "This marks the MOL Group’s first entry into the CTV business. In addition, one of the CTVs, The KAZEHAYA, owned by MOL, is the first CTV in Japan managed and operated under International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which is the international standard of ship safety management system, certified by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK )," MOL said.MOL Group company MOL Coastal Shipping, Ltd.

18 Apr 2023

MOL's Second LNG-Fueled Ferry Enters Service

Sunflower Murasaki, source MOL

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that the second of Japan's first two LNG-fueled ferries, the Sunflower Murasaki, has entered service.The vessel is owned by MOL and operated by its group company Ferry Sunflower. The vessel is a sister ship to the Sunflower Kurenai, which began operation in January, and will sail the Osaka-Beppu route between Sunflower Ferry Terminal (Osaka) and Beppu International Tourist Port (Oita) as a replacement for the existing vessel Sunflower Cobalt.The 17…

23 Feb 2023

MOL Sees Cow Manure as Path to Slash Vessel Emissions

© Oligo / Adobe Stock

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said it is seeking to use cattle manure as part of its strategy to reduce vessel emissions.The company announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Air Water Inc. to study the use of liquefied biomethane (LBM) derived from cattle manure in vessels fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).MOL, which has set a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, has been accelerating the deployment…

17 Feb 2023

Japan: MOL, MOLMEC to Launch More Offshore Wind Training Courses as ClassNK Approval Granted

Credit: MOL

Japanese firms Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and MOL Marine & Engineering Co (MOLMEC) have been granted basic approval from ClassNK for two new training courses related to offshore wind power generation. The courses, for power cable laying and anchor handling training, use Dynamic Positioning (DP) simulator, which is owned by MOL and MOLMEC,They are currently being prepared for launch - expected by June 2023, and will be the first such courses offered in Japan.MOL and MOLMEC installed the DP simulator on the lobby floor of MOL's Head Office in June 2022…

16 Jan 2023

Sunflower Kurenai: Japan's First LNG-fueled Ferry Enters Service (Gallery)

©Mitsui O.S.K. Lines

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Ltd. said Monday that the first of Japan's first two LNG-fueled ferries, the Sunflower Kurenai, owned by MOL and operated by its group company Ferry Sunflower entered service on January 13.The ferry serves the Osaka-Beppu route between Sunflower Ferry Terminal (Osaka Prefecture) and Beppu International Tourist Port (Oita Prefecture) as a replacement for the ferry Sunflower Ivory."Compared to earlier ferries, the new ferry offers greater transport capacity and convenience for both cargo and passenger transport.

22 Sep 2022

KDI Delivers DP Simulators to MOL in Tokyo

Image courtesy Kongsberg Digital

Kongsberg Digital (KDI) has delivered a full mission K-Sim Dynamic Positioning (DP) Simulator to MOL Marine & Engineering (MOLMEC) for the new MOL Dynamic Positioning Training Centre (MOL DPTC) in Tokyo, Japan. MOL DPTC is the first DP training center in Japan to be accredited by the Nautical Institute (NI) to provide NI-approved dynamic positioning training courses.“We Installed Kongsberg DP simulator and were able to open a quality DP training center in Tokyo, Japan” said Nakashima Takashi, President, MOL Marine and Engineering Co., Ltd.

30 Aug 2022

MOL's New LNG-powered Ferry Named in Japan

Credit: MOL

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has informed that on August 30, naming and launching ceremonies were held for the second of Japan's first two LNG-fueled ferries. The ferries were ordered from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd..The ceremonies were held at the Enoura Plant of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Japan.MOL Chairman Junichiro Ikeda named the vessel the "Sunflower Murasaki."On hand for the rope-cutting honors was para-athlete Maya Nakanishi, who has ties to both Osaka and Oita Prefecture, homes to the ports the new ferry will serve.

26 Aug 2022

MOL Orders Six LNG-fueled Vessels

(Image: MOL)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced it has ordered six liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessels—four bulk carriers and  two tankers—as the Japanese shipping company makes headway toward its goal of 90 LNG-fueled vessels by 2030.The company said on Friday signed a deal for construction of four 210,000 DWT-class Capesize bulkers with CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., marking MOL's first newbuild order from the Chinese shipyard. Slated for delivery in succession from 2025 through 2026…

10 Aug 2022

MOL Opts to Equip Second Bulk Carrier with Hard Sail

(Image: MOL)

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Wednesday said it intends to equip a second bulk carrier with the Wind Challenger hard sail system, which harnesses the power of wind to propel the vessel, improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and emissions.MOL Group company MOL Drybulk Ltd. will operate the vessel, which will transport wood pellets for sustainable wood bioenergy producer Enviva Inc. and has signed a construction contract for the new ship with Oshima Shipbuilding Co.…

14 Feb 2022

MOL Bunkering Vessel Operated Using Biodiesel Fuel

(Photo: MOL)

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that the bunkering vessel Techno Star, owned and operated by its group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. (MOL Tech), has been operating using cleaner burning biodiesel fuel (BDF) supplied by Aburatou Shoji K.K.The MOL Group, which announced in June 2021 that it aims to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050, said it is exploring biomass as an effective alternative to fossil fuels.The BDF used on board Techno Star is fatty acid methyl ester generated through transesterification of collected waste cooking oil with methanol.

24 Dec 2021

MOL's Propeller Boss Cap Fins earns Guinness World Record Title

A Guinness World Record: Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) installed on a propeller. Photo courtesy MOL

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that its Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF), sold by its group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. was certified as the “Best-selling Energy-Saving Ship Appendage Brand (Cumulative)”, by Guinness World Records, and received the official certificate on December 23, 2021.This award is based on the cumulative 3,748 PBCFs sold (the sales record with 3,516 vessels including twin-screw vessels equipped with PBCF) as of the end of December 2020.PBCF was co-developed by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd., and Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd.

01 Oct 2021

Offshore Wind: Japanese Firms KCS, MOL In Cable Laying Collab

Japanese subsea cable laying firm Kokusai Cable Ship (KCS) and the shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have signed an agreement to collaborate on the operation of cable-laying ships to meet the increasing demand for the installation of power cables, especially in the offshore wind sector.KCS, established in 1966, was the first company to launch a subsea cable laying ship - the KDD Maru - in 1967. The company has, over the years, been involved in the construction of some 70,000km of submarine cables, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region, and today oversees the maintenance of over 87,000km of cable.In 2019, KCS launched the KDDI Cable Infinity, Japan’s first self-propelled power and telecommunication cable-laying ship. MOL and its group company MOL Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd.

25 Aug 2021

MOL, Tata Steel to Develop Environmentally Friendly Bulk Carrier

Credit: MOL (File Photo)

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its dry bulk subsidiary MOL Drybulk have signed a memorandum of understanding with steelmaker Tata Steel to develop and deploy an environmentally friendly bulk carrier.MOL will partner with Tata Steel on this innovative project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain.Peeyush Gupta, Vice President, Supply Chain, Tata Steel, said: "The objective of the agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the ocean transportation of raw materials for production of steel.

17 Feb 2021

ONE Trials Biofuel Aboard Containership MOL Experience

MOL Experience takes on biofuel in Rotterdam (Photo: ONE)

Shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE) said it has tested the use of biofuel to power the containership MOL Experience. The trial was completed on February 7, 2021, following bunkering at the port of Rotterdam, Netherlands in November 2020 and was performed in collaboration with shipowner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and sustainable biofuel company GoodFuels.During the trial, the biofuel was blended with conventional fossil fuels enabling the 4,803 TEU MOL Experience to make its Atlantic crossings between Europe and the U.S.Derived from renewable sources…

23 Dec 2019

MOL Secures Green Loan for LNGBV

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has signed its first green loan, which it plans to use to partially finance the construction of the world's largest liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel (LNGBV).The 18,600 cubic meters (cbm) LNGBV for Total will be owned and operated by MOL. Last year, Total and MOLsigned a long-term charter contract for a pioneer LNG bunker vessel.The loan is provided by BNP Paribas (BNPP) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM), with both banks acting as Mandated Lead Arrangers and BNPP acting as Sole Green Structuring Advisor. MOL obtained a second party opinion in respect of the loan from a third-party institute.Green Loans are used to raise funds for businesses aimed at protecting and improving the environment.

21 Nov 2019

MOL Orders Japan's 1st LNG-Fueled Ferries

Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its subsidiary Ferry Sunflower Limited have unveiled plans to construct Japan’s first two LNG-fueled ferries.Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will receive the order for the newbuild ferries that are designated to serve the Japanese market.Ferry Sunflower will charter the ferries after delivery and launch them on its Osaka-Beppu route from the end of 2022 through the first half of 2023, as replacements for vessels currently in service.The ferries will be equipped with high-performance dual fuel engines  and will provide passengers with comfortable accommodations and reliable schedules. What's more…

18 Sep 2019

MOL Trials LNG-Fuelled Tugboat at Kobe

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has taken part in the first bunkering of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into a tugboat at the Port of Kobe, Japan.At the Port of Kobe, the tugboat “Ishin” was bunkered with LNG. It is the first LNG-fuelled tugboat in Japan and it is operated by a MOL group subsidiary, Nihon Tug-Boat.LNG fuel for the trial was hauled by a tanker truck from the Himeji LNG Plant of Osaka Gas, and, via a truck-to-ship system, was used to supply Ishin, berthed at Kobe Port’s Shinko Pier No.4. MOL Marine Co. has also provided maritime consulting in the trial.Effective January 2020, vessel exhaust emission regulations will be tightened on a global scale.In response to the new standards…