The catastrophe that triggered a dramatic expansion in MOL social contribution activities was the massive earthquake that struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, in December 2004. The quake set off tremors and tsunamis that caused tremendous damage not only to Indonesia, but Thailand, Sri Lanka and many other countries with coasts along the Indian Ocean. Along with monetary contributions made through the Japan Red Cross and other groups, MOL issued a press release to step forward and offer assistance in transporting relief supplies to the affected regions. In all, MOL had transported some two hundred 20-foot equivalent units of containers of material to those in need.
Regrettably, this would not be the last time that earthquakes, typhoons and other natural catastrophes would cause large-scale suffering for so many people worldwide. As a company that operates globally, MOL provides monetary contributions, transport of material assistance and other forms of relief to affected areas when these natural disasters strike.
| Date | Disaster | MOL Response |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2004 | Major earthquake and tsunami off Sumatra | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies |
| Oct. 2005 | Earthquake in Pakistan | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies |
| Feb. 2006 | Typhoon that struck Leyte Island (the Philippines) |
Monetary contributions |
| May 2006 | Earthquake on central Java Island | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies |
| Jul. 2007 | Chuetsu earthquake in Niigata (Japan) | Monetary contributions |
| May 2008 | Cyclone in Myanmar | Monetary contributions |
| May 2008 | Major earthquake in Sichuan Province (China) | Monetary contributions |
| Jul. 2008 | Typhoon that struck Iloilo Province (the Philippines) |
Monetary contributions |
| Aug. 2008 | Flooding in the State of Bihar (India) | Monetary contributions |
| Sep. 2009 | Typhoon that struck Luzon Island (the Philippines) |
Monetary contributions, local relief efforts |
| Jan. 2010 | Major earthquake in Haiti | Monetary contributions |
| Feb. 2010 | Major earthquake in Chile | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies |
| Apr. 2010 | Major earthquake in Qinghai Province (China) | Monetary contributions |
| Jul. 2010 | Major flooding in Pakistan | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies |
| Mar. 2011 | Major earthquake in East Japan | Monetary contributions, transport of relief supplies, etc. |
Relief Efforts for Luzon Island Typhoon
When the Philippine island of Luzon was struck by a typhoon in September 2009, MOL sent $40,000 in monetary contributions. In parallel, the staff of Magsaysay MOL Marine Inc., a seafarer staffing firm in the MOL Group, supplied relief provisions, and the 160 cadets of various nationalities on board the training vessel Spirit of MOL participated in a cleanup of elementary schools that had been flooded.
Transporting Aid Supplies for Chilean Earthquake Relief
When a massive earthquake struck Chile in February 2010, MOL not only sent 3 million yen in monetary contributions, but transported relief supplies from Melbourne, Australia to Chile. This delivery came at the request of the Chilean consul general in Melbourne in response to a public commitment by MOL to transport material assistance to the affected region free of charge in the wake of the disaster. All told, MOL shipped four 40-foot containers, loaded with four tons of medical supplies and 150 hospital beds the Chilean community in Australia collected, utilizing its container fleet network to transport the aid to the Chilean port of Valparaiso.
Transport of Relief Supplies to Areas Affected by Flooding in Pakistan
Record-breaking torrential rains from July to August 2010 triggered massive flooding in northwestern Pakistan. As emergency assistance, MOL provided 2 million yen in monetary contributions and used its container ships to transport a 40-foot container of blankets, clothing and other aid to the affected area free of charge.
