September 27, 2004 marked the launch of the LRII-type (100,000 MT) product taker Ruby Express at Tsuneishi Corporation's Tadotsu shipyard. On the same day, Mark Catton of Glencore Singapore Pte, Ltd. was the guest of honor as MOL Deputy Vice Chairman Tokinao Hojo named the ship and Helle Andersen, wife of Jan Andersen of Glencore Energy UK Ltd., cut the rope. The Ruby Express then left for its voyage to the loading port of Shikka, India.

The Ruby Express provides stable, efficient transport of Glencore Energy UK's oil products under a long-term charter contract.

On September 30, 2004, the pure car carrier (PCC) Paradise Ace was delivered at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Kobe shipyard. The ship took on a full load of passenger cars and trucks at Japanese ports and left on its maiden voyage for the North American East Coast.

The pure car carrier (PCC) Liberty Ace joined the MOL fleet on November 30, 2004, at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Kobe shipyard. It departed on its maiden voyage to the North American West Coast with a full load of passenger cars and trucks from Japan.

The new series of 12 PCCs apply the most advanced features to improve environmental friendliness, loading/discharging efficiency, and safety.

The LNG carrier Dukhan, co-owned by MOL, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Qatar Shipping Company, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) was launched at the Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Chiba Shipyard on October 12, 2004. On the same day, it left on its maiden voyage for the loading port Ras Laffan, Qatar.

At a ceremony on September 15, Isabel del Castillo de Locutura, the wife of Gas Natural Group (Spain) CEO Enrique Locutura named the ship and handled the rope-cutting honors.

The Dukhan's main assignment will be to transport gas from Qatar to Spain under a long-term charter with Qatargas. Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping (Europe) Ltd. and MOL Tankship Management Ltd. will be responsible for managing the vessel.

The LNG Carrier Lalla Fatma N' Soumer was delivered for Sonatrach of Algeria on October 29, 2004. It is MOL's first LNG carrier for Algeria, and transports LNG to Europe and North America as Sonatrach expands its exports.

On October 5, a naming ceremony was held at the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation Sakaide shipyard with guests including Sonatrach President Director General Mohamed Meziane, Algerian Ambassador to Japan H.E. Amar Bendjama, and MOL Chairman Kunio Suzuki. The ceremony was drew considerable interest among Algerian people, with a broadcast on the national television network.

The second vessel to serve the project, a Med-max LNG carrier, is under construction at Universal Shipbuilding Corporation.

The name Lalla Fatma N' Soumer honors a woman warrior who took up arms against French colonial rule for freedom and independence in 19^th century Algeria. She is often called Algeria's Joan of Arc.

On October 28, 2004, a new VLCC was delivered to MOL at Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and set out on its maiden voyage to the Middle East. MOL's 19th double-hull VLCC was christened the Oriental Jade in the presence of Dr. Dong-Soo Hur, CEO of LG-Caltex and his wife, Madam Ja Kyoung Kim, at the naming ceremony held on the previous day. The Oriental Jade is expected to provide safe and reliable service to the charterer, Oriental Shipping Limited, under a long-term contract.