MOL Tabletop Drill Focuses on LNG Carrier Safety
- Simulation of LNG Carrier Colliding with Fishing Boat in Akashi Strait -

November 19, 2018

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) today announced that it conducted a tabletop drill based on an incident simulation involving an LNG carrier managed by an MOL Group ship management company. MOL holds these drills periodically to confirm its emergency response system in preparation for serious marine incidents.

The drill was held on Friday, November 16, with the goal of raising company-wide safety awareness through the simulation of a serious marine incident. The drill was designed to demonstrate that the company can respond swiftly and appropriately in case of a serious marine incident　and maintain the timely flow of accurate information. MOL also strives to further sharpen its group-wide emergency response readiness through these regular exercises.

The main participants included MOL executives and representatives of relevant MOL divisions, who teamed up to organize an Emergency Control Headquarters, along with the ship management company, MOL LNG Transport (Asia), Ltd. (headquarters: Hong Kong).

Under the drill scenario, an LNG carrier collided with a fishing boat near the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge while attempting to evade another ship. The boat capsized, and the three crewmembers went overboard. One was rescued but was unconscious and in critical condition, two others were missing. The collision, which occurred in shallow water, left a hole in the bottom of the LNG carrier's hull, and seawater flooded the ballast tank. The vessel was anchored near the site, but the carrier's boil-off gas(*) treatment system malfunctioned, making it impossible to control the cargo tank pressure.

(*) Boil off gas: Vaporized liquefied natural gas in the cargo tank

Upon receiving a report of the accident, MOL organized an Emergency Control Headquarters inside the company. To reconfirm processes such as reporting and communication that are critical in an emergency, the time frame of the drill spanned from the occurrence of the incident to a simulated press conference and verified the company's capability to ensure smooth cooperation and information gathering among the vessel, ship management company, concerned divisions, and the company's Emergency Control Headquarters. In addition, based on information collected, the headquarters discussed responses to be taken as the shipowner and operator, reviewed the emergency response system, and then practiced responding to media inquiries at the simulated press conference.

MOL's tabletop drills are intended to make sure that every employee has a higher awareness of safety and to help the company forge ahead to "become a world leader in safe operation," while developing and enhancing a solid emergency response structure.