2nd Annual General Meeting for Safe Operations Held in Tokyo
The second Annual General Meeting for Safe Operations was held on December 4 at the Tokyo Head Office, with the participants including President Akimitsu Ashida, Safety Operations Headquarters Director-General Koichi Muto, Deputy Director- General Soichi Hiratuska and Masaaki Nemoto, Marine Safety Division General Manager Takaaki Inoue and top executives from 15 MOL Group ship management and manning companies.

President Ashida opened the meeting by expressing his thanks for the intensive efforts of crews on board and the onshore staff supporting the vessels in ensuring safe operation. He also emphasized that MOL's policy of making safety our top priority remains unchanged, and urged them to continue developing a safe operation management structure that unites quality and cost competitiveness even in today's severe business climate.

Conference participants reviewed their performance in safe operation activities for 2009 and reported on efforts slated for 2010. They also exchanged opinions about the introduction of a shared IT system to enhance the efficiency of safety management and ship management operations by sharing safety-related information in vessel operation more swiftly among MOL-managed vessels and organizations on shore.

In his closing remarks, Director-General Muto expressed our resolution to have the world's safest fleet and encouraged development of effective and concrete measures to ensure ongoing improvements in our safe operation management structure through careful application of the PDCA Cycle.
2nd Annual General Meeting for Safe Operations
MOL Presidential Award to Officers and Engineers
Three Captains and Three Chief Engineers Honored
Recipients of MOL Presidential Award
At the MOL Presidential Awards on December 4, 2009, a group shot of award winners and their wives:
From left, Mr. and Mrs. Bandopadhya, Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, MOL President Akimitsu Ashida, Mr. and Mrs. Dunatov, Mr. and Mrs. Ponnappa
On December 4 at the Tokyo Head Office, a presentation ceremony for the MOL Presidential Award to Officers and Engineers was held in conjunction with the Second Annual General Meeting for Safe Operations. Three captains and three chief engineers, who played leadership roles and achieved outstanding success in ensuring safe and efficient operation, were honored in 2009.

President Akimitsu Ashida handed out plaques and supplementary prize to four of the recipients. (The remaining two recipients were serving aboard vessels and will receive their commendations at a later date.)

The recipients made short speeches expressing their gratitude and honor for the award, and to be awarded, and thanked their crews and onshore staff for supporting the safe and efficient operation of their ships.
MOL Presidential Awards 2009 Comments of Awardees

Two questions for recipients
Q1. Comment on Safe Operation
Q2. Memorable scene in Tokyo

Not "All is well that ends well"

Capt. Rakesh K. Sharma
Q1. The biggest gain was understanding of "Japanese work culture and work ethics." As I came from a European system of work culture where even if a mistake is committed, if it was rectified, the attitude was "all is well that ends well." But here I realized that attitude would no longer work. Here, if a mistake is made, even if it is rectified, the attitude is that the senior-most person owns up to the responsibility, seeks and apologies on behalf of his juniors. This is what I have been trying to pass to my juniors all these years, to make them realize that they have to take mistakes and errors seriously and avoid their occurrence.

Q2. First of all, the dinner at the Ninja Style restaurant was a unique experience. Our visit to a Shinto shrine was made even more memorable because we witnessed a marriage being performed there in traditional Japanese style.

The scenic beauty of the Imperial Gardens was enhanced by a riot of colors on the trees and plants. The sight was indeed breathtakingly beautiful and awesome.
Autumn colors in a traditional
Japanese garden
"One of the advantages of various cultures working together is generating various good and immediately useful ideas"

Capt. Vjeran Dunatov
Q1. Safety Culture is state of mind and way of life. I have witnessed remarkable progress and a big change in the MOL approach towards safety and towards how to cultivate a safety culture to the very last man on board. This was done after years of experience, and, unfortunately, after some hard lessons were learned. I belong to the new generation of Seamen who are Team Working Managers rather than old-fashioned charismatic captains. The best result in safe operation of vessels can be found only on ships with good, continuous hard team work and excellent cooperation among the on-board management team. The MOL policy of employing many nationalities to man vessels (sometimes I have seven nationalities on board) is a huge treasure, and I have found this policy a very good idea that often brings pleasant surprises and challenges. Good leadership and management on board can easily bring these various cultures together and differences in cultures usually bring a number of good ideas on safe operation that can then be used in practice, which is a big advantage for a respectable company and world leader such as MOL.
Visiting a galleon at Tokyo Disney Sea
MOL's Safety Culture is being disseminated to all staff members at grass root level

Capt. Kongera A. Ponnappa
Q1. It is evident that MOL has made safety the foundation of their business. That MOL has instituted measures to ensure safety both day-to-day and on a long-term basis is evident to everyone, ashore or afloat. This Culture of Safety is being disseminated to all staff members at the grass-root level. It will make a remarkable impact both within the organization and among all parties that associate with MOL.
Q2. The hospitality extended by the staff of the Marine Safety Division, and the Panoramic Tour of Tokyo were unique experiences that any seafarer and his family would cherish and strive for during their association with MOL.
At the Ninja restaurant with staff from the Marine Safety Division
Discussions, reviews, and an open door policy will enhance our collective education

Chef Engineer Gautam Bandopadhya
Q1. Safe operation is an integral part of our safety culture, which we, as individuals must inherit within us in every sphere of our lives. If we take care of daily matters in a sensible and judicious way, our built-in safety consciousness will automatically work in unison. A healthy body and a clear mind are prerequisites to making any decision that will affect the lives of other people or the ship in general. In addition, group discussions, reviews, and an open door policy will enhance our collective education.
Q2. It was like a fairy tale to us. We were simply mesmerized by the grandeur of the city and its lovely people. The real beauty of Tokyo lies in immaculately manicured gardens and awe inspiring skyscrapers. The brilliant illumination of lights at night transported us to another dream world. Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, the Palace garden, Tokyo tower, and the ferry cruise were but a few of the highlights in an exotic trip.
At the main gate of Senso-ji, the most famous temple in Tokyo
At in front of MOL Head Office