January 20, 2010
TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that its joint research and development (R&D) project on antifouling paints for ship bottoms will be incorporated into a government-industry initiative aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. This is a technology development support program sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
MOL, Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., and Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd. are jointly promoting R&D on high-performance antifouling paints that improve vessels' fuel efficiency. This is a key element of MOL's CO2 reduction technology R&D initiative.
This R&D project is a step toward realization of MOL's vision for the vessels of the future, announced as "ISHIN-I (car carrier)" in September 2009 and "ISHIN-II (ferry)" in December 2009. MOL continues to work aggressively on R&D to reduce the environmental burden of its vessel operations.