MOL Excellence Earns MOL Safe Operations Headquarters GM Award

The MOL Excellence has received the MOL Safety Management General Manager’s Award for its efforts to resume service after experiencing engine trouble in the Pacific Ocean with severe weather looming. MOL honored the ship and its management company for their swift, precise response and teamwork, which ensured the safety of the cargo and minimized the vessel’s downtime. On February 15, MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Captain Soichi Hiratsuka (General Manager of the Safe Operations Headquarters) visited the MOL Excellent in port at Kobe, and commended Chief Engineer Zolotukhin Viktor Nikolay, Engine Division, MOL Ship Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., and its headquarters company, MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd.

A commemorative shot of MOL SMEO Captain Hiratsuka (fourth from right in front row), seafarers, and others from the ship management company and headquarters company.

CMS Certification Proves Effectiveness of MOL Seafarer Training

The MOL Rank Skill Training and Evaluation Program (MOL RankSTEP), adopted in 2007 to identify the skills needed for each vessel type and rank and establish methods for training and evaluation, received certification on April 13 for compliance with the Competence Management System (CMS) from Oslo-based Det Norske Veritas (DNV). The program also complies with Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operator Ltd (SIGTTO) and Tanker Officer Training Standard (TOTS) requirements. The introduction of CMS helps MOL identify problems after determining gaps between skills required of seafarers in previous program and those currently needed, ensuring ongoing improvement of MOL RankSTEP.

Please click here for the press release.

DNV Project Execution Manager Christopher Hoo (left) presenting the certificate to MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Soichi Hiratsuka

1^st Cadets Graduate from Innovative Program at MIS

MOL introduced the Cadet Program for third-year students selected from MOL’s partner maritime schools in the Philippines in June of last year, providing intensive education and training at our training center, the Magsaysay Institute of Shipping (MIS) outside Manila.

On March 17, the first class of 84 cadets celebrated their graduation from the program. On hand for the ceremony were Dr. Sinforoso M. Birung, director of the IV Office of Programs and Standards, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation President Doris Magsaysay Ho, MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Soichi Hiratsuka, and many others.

The program was accredited by the Philippine government as the equivalent of a university-level education under the Academe-Industry Linkage Program. It aims to improve students’ knowledge and skills and promote their employment through industry-academic cooperation. Students take the third-year curriculum at the MOL training center, further sharpen their skills at sea aboard the training ship Spirit of MOL and other MOL-operated vessels for a year, and are then hired as MOL seafarers.

MOL SMEO Hiratsuka addresses the graduating cadets.	The graduation ceremony

2012 Safety Campaign Completed

This year’s safety campaign, targeting all MOL–operated vessels, ran from April 15 until May 31.

As part of our goal to become the “the world leader in safe operation” in the midterm management plan “GEAR UP! MOL,” President Koichi Muto, executives, and other personnel visited vessels and exchanged information and opinions with seafarers on ways to ensure safety and prevent marine incidents. Proposals and ideas gained through these discussions will be shared throughout the MOL Group and with other MOL— and MOL—Group-operated vessels, with the aim of further enhancing the safe operation structure.

[Outline of campaign]

• Specific topics for discussion
  Exchange opinions with personnel on MOL Group-operated vessels based on the following recent cases to realize the “4 Zeroes”: Zero major marine accidents, Zero pollution caused by oil leaks or spills, Zero work-related fatalities, and Zero major cargo incidents.
• • Collisions and grounding accidents
  • Work-related injuries
  • Engine trouble disabling a vessel
• Target vessels
  • MOL-operated vessels (dry bulkers, tankers, LNG carriers, car carriers, containerships)
  • MOL Group company-operated vessels (ferries, cruise ships)
• Vessel visitors
  • Executives and employees from MOL Group companies and overseas subsidiaries

Please click here for the press release.

MOL executives visit a vessel during the safety campaign.

Table Top Drill Scenario Centers on Grounding, Fire Involving LNG Carrier

MOL conducted a table top drill on April 10, based on the scenario of a fire in the engine room of the MOL-operated LNG carrier Grand Mereya in Tsugaru Strait, resulting in the vessel running aground. The 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters also cooperated in the drill, one of a regular series of exercises to help us prepare for unexpected incidents at sea. The drill aimed at strengthening our emergency response structure based on the MOL Group Corporate Principles - protecting the environment by maintaining strict, safe operation and navigation standards.

MOL President Muto (left) answers a question from a journalist at the media response drill.	Tense moments at the Emergency Control Headquarters

It started with an initial report from the LNG carrier involved in the incident. MOL immediately reported to the 1st Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, organized an Emergency Control Headquarters, and confirmed first-response tasks and procedures such as information gathering and communication among concerned parties, giving the vessel directions, and holding a media response drill.

Please click here for the press release.

Training Center in Philippines Gets New Double-hull Tanker Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator

MOL Executive Director Watanabe welcomes visitors to the demonstration.

MOL installed a new double-hull tanker liquid cargo handling simulator at the MOL Training Center Philippines, and started training operations on May 20. The following day, the center hosted a demonstration of the training program for guests from the local community. Also on hand for the event were MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Tsuneo Watanabe and Senior Managing Executive Officer Soichi Hiratsuka.

The simulator has a loading/discharging console and an LCD piping diagram panel modeled after those on MOL-owned VLCCs. This allows for realistic and engaging loading/discharging operation simulation that closely replicates conditions on an actual vessel, with a computerized control system for instructors.

The training center uses the new simulator to provide training for Japanese, Indian, and Filipino seafarers. The same type of simulator is in place at MOL’s training center in Europe, serving mostly European seafarers. With advance simulators in both places, MOL can count on uniform worldwide training with consistent programs and materials.

We will also base safety and vessel handling exercises on actual incidents at sea to help pass on our tanker operation know-how to the next generation of seafarers.

Simulator training