TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today held the naming ceremony for its 8,100TEU containership, at Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. In the ceremony, this ship is named "MOL Creation" by President Akimitsu Ashida.


As part of MOL's continuing focus on vessel safety and environmental impact, the new 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. The ship will also employ 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.

Joining North China - Europe Service
In July, MOL will have a North China- Europe service by joining CMA-CGM's existing service as a ship operator. This service (named "NCE" by MOL and "FAL1" by CMA-CGM) directly links main ports in Northern China, where the market is expanding at the speed of 27% per year in 2006, and major ports in Europe. After MOL's participation, the service will be operated with MOL's new 8,100teus containership "MOL Creation" and CMA-CGM's 8 ships.


MOL now has six Asia-Europe routes, enabling the company to accommodate rising trade volumes and provide higher quality service.


Rotation
Dalian (Sat/Sun) - Tianjin (Sun/Mon) - Shanghai (Wed/Thu) - Hong Kong (Fri/Fri) - Yantian (Sat/Sat) - Port Kelang (Tue/Wed) - Southampton (Fri/Sat) - Hamburg (Mon/Tue) - Rotterdam (Wed/Wed) - Zeebrugge (Thu/Fri) - Le Havre (Fri/Sat) - Chiwan (Wed/Thu) - Dalian (Sat/Sun)


Start of Service
MOL Creation, departing Dalian on Sunday, July 15, 2007