The pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Wisteria Ace (capacity: 6,400 units of standard cars) was delivered on May 31 at Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co., Ltd., and left for its her maiden voyage to Europe with full load of passenger cars and trucks from Japan and South Korea.

A sister ship, the Sanderling Ace was delivered on June 22 at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and left for her maiden voyage to Europe with full load of passenger cars from Nakanoseki and Hiroshima port.

These vessels are the second and third in a series of PCTCs launched during 2007. Like the series of 12 PCTCs launched before November 2006, these two vessels are high-speed vessels with the most advanced features, including a structure in which all decks can accommodate tall vehicles. Environment-friendly features include a wind resistance-reducing design that saves energy and a double-hulled fuel tank, in addition to advanced safety systems. These two vessels set a new global standard for car carriers. They serve mainly the North America and Europe trades.

The LNG carrier Cheikh El Mokrani (capacity: 75,500m³), co-owned by MOL, Itochu Corporation, Sonatrach of Algeria, and Hyproc Shipping Company, was launched at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation's Tsu Shipyard and was delivered on June 21. This LNG carrier is called a "Medmax" type, which is optimum for LNG transport in the Mediterranean Sea, and is our second carrier for Sonatrach.

Guests including Sonatrach President Mr. Mohamed Meziane, Algerian Ambassador to Japan H. E. Sid Ali Ketrandji, and then MOL Deputy Chairman Tokinao Hojo were among the dignitaries who attended a June 6 naming ceremony at the Tsu Shipyard. The wife of Sonatrach President Mrs. Goucem Meziane, cut the rope.

Our third Medmax-type LNG carrier for Sonatrach is under construction at Universal Shipbuilding, and will be launched next summer. The name Cheikh El Mokrani honors the leader of Algeria's resistance movement against French colonial rule in the 19th Century.

On June 1, the 4,800-TEU Panamax containership MOL Explorer was launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in South Korea, and left for her maiden voyage to Shanghai.

The MOL Explorer is MOL's first containership which is built in South Korea. Three more MOL's Panamax containerships will be launched at the Hyundai Heavy Industries by this fall. All four ships will serve on the Asia - North America routes.

On June 29, the 8,100 TEU containership MOL Creation was launched at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. As part of MOL's continuing focus on vessel safety and environmental impact, this ship has been outfitted with the latest technologies impacting those areas of performance.

The MOL Creation is the first containership fabricated with high tensile E Grade steel (YP460MPa → 47 kgf/mm2) to ensure hull integrity. She also employs a Mitsubishi-Wartsila RT-flex96C engine which is designed to electronically maintain optimal fuel injection performance at all engine speeds. This 11 cylinder main engine is designed to reduce fuel consumption and to control NOx and soot (PM) exhaust effectively while operating at a high service speed of 25.25 knots/hour.

The MOL Creation serves on the NCE route from North China to Europe, playing an active role of expanding our networks.

On July 9, the 4,800 TEU containership MOL Experience was launched at Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in South Korea, and left for her maiden voyage to Port Kelang.

The MOL Experience is the second ship of four-Panamax containerships which MOL is building at Hyundai Heavy Industries. She joined our new service "SZX" which connects Southeast Asia and the East Coast of the United States via the Suez Canal.

The coal carrier Kurenai was launched on July 17 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.. On the same day, following its launching and naming ceremonies, the ship left on its maiden voyage for the loading port New Castle, Australia. The Kurenai's main assignment will be to supply coal to Japanese Electric power companies, contributing to a stable supply of electricity in Japan.

The 200,000-ton Cape-size bulker London Courage was launched at the Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Saijo Shipyard on July 3. On hand for a naming ceremony on the same day were Nippon Steel Corporation Director Tooru Obata and SK shipping europe Director Jacob Fentz, whose wife, Vibeke, named the ship and cut the rope to launch it. The London Courage then left on its maiden voyage for the loading port of Tubarao, Brazil.

The London Courage plies around-the-world routes. On outbound voyages, it transports Australian and Brazilian coal and iron ore under a charter with SK shipping. Inbound, it sails under a consecutive voyage charter basis for Nippon Steel, transporting Brazilian iron ore to Japan.

On July 19, naming ceremony for two 4.08 million CFT-type woodchip carriers for the Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. was held at Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation's Mizushima Shipyard.

As the two carriers stood head to head, they were given the names Pro Grace and White Kingdom by Nippon industries Co., Ltd. President Masatomo Nakamura. Then his wife Emiko and daughter Yuki handled the rope-cutting duties. The Pro Grace left for its maiden voyage to Portland, Australia on the same day, under a 12-year load guarantee contract.

Both vessels were designed to meet harbor/port conditions at Nippon Paper's major plants, with features such as a large-capacity cargo hold and shallow draft. These ship names are derived from two of Nippon Paper's product names for coated papers, its core products.