MOL Holds Joint/Training Meeting for Safe Operation

June 04, 2007

TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) has completed a Joint/Training meeting about seafarer and training development policies with personnel from Japan and overseas. The goal of the event is to develop group-wide measures to reinforce vessel safety.

Program Content

<Day 1: Bridge Resource Management (BRM) seminar>

MOL & MOMC delivered a lecture on training methods for the "accident countermeasure training program" developed by simulating a series of marine incidents that occurred last year, using with ship's bridge simulator. This program was established to prevent the reoccurrence of accidents caused by human error. It will be implemented at the MOL Training Centers around the world, as MOL's exclusive BRM training^*1.

<Days 2 and 3: Training meeting>

This was the first meeting that personnel in charge of seafarer training from ship management companies and instructors from the training center discussed the current status of training, future policies, and training requirements from inhouse and outside parties and how to respond to these requirements. In addition, the implementation schedule of the MOL-developed onboard training and evaluation system^*2 was explained and training with actual equipment was conducted.

<Days 4 and 5: Joint meeting>

President Ashida explained the background of the restructured ship management organization to Group company officials to ensure a reinforced safety structure with a completely field-oriented approach. The goal is to promote consistent policies related to seafarers throughout the MOL Group, based on the new ship management structure, and publicize seafarer recruiting and training policies.

*1 Bridge Resource Management (BRM): Basic and comprehensive concepts of "organization and human relationship," "communication,"and "overall skills and judgment in navigation".　The training of this concept is one of the most effective measures to prevent marine incidents by human error.

*2 Onboard training and evaluation system: Training history and duty evaluation data of seafarers who serve aboard MOL-operated vessels, are electronically managed at MOL's worldwide network centers.

MOL established the ship management organization with direct links to the Executive Committee, to shorten distance between head office management and ship management. This integrates and clarifies responsibilities and authorities of ship management companies in implementing various MOL tasks.

MOL will hold Joint/Training meetings twice a year to ensure a work force high-quality seafarers who support safe operation and environmental protection, a vital element of MOL Group's Corporate Principles.