November 22, 2005

MOL, Sumitomo Corp, LNG JAPAN
Sign Long-Term Charter Pact for LNG Carrier
to Serve Suez LNG Trading

TOKYO - A consortium comprising Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida), Sumitomo Corporation (Sumitomo, President and CEO: Motoyuki Oka), and LNG JAPAN CORPORATION (LNG JAPAN, President and CEO: Ken-ichi Yonezawa) today announced the signing of an agreement with Suez LNG Trading S.A.*1 for a long-term charter of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. The deal was signed in London on November 21.

On the same day, the consortium concluded a bare-boat charter agreement for the new LNG carrier with a subsidiary of the Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., builder of the vessel.

In August, Suez LNG Trading S.A. signed a contract with Yemen LNG*2 to purchase an annual 2.5 million tons of LNG for 20 years, beginning in 2009. The new LNG carrier will transport that cargo from Yemen mainly to North America, under the ship management of Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping (Europe) Ltd.*3.

Outline of the charter contract

Owner	Trinity LNG Carrier Inc. (Headquarters: Marshall Islands) established jointly by MOL, Sumitomo, and LNG JAPAN
Charterer	Suez LNG Trading S.A. (Headquarters: Luxemburg)
Charter Period	20 years starting in May 2009
Trade	Primary U.S. from Yemen (Bal Haf port)
Vessel	One new membrane-type LNG carrier (154,200 m3)
Shipbuilder	Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Ship management company	Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping (Europe) Ltd.

*1 Suez LNG Trading S.A. is a subsidiary for LNG business of the Suez Group, conglomerate that develops a broad range of businesses in energy, water, and engineering businesses, mainly in Europe.
*2 Yemen LNG is a joint liquefaction project led by the government of Yemen and the Total Group
*3 Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping (Europe) Ltd. is MOL�fs wholly owned subsidiary, managing eight LNG carriers serving in the Mediterranean and Atlantic trade. MOL Group companies manage 39 LNG carriers (including those on order).