MOL Hosts Marine Plastic Waste Survey Event For Children
- Highlighting Our Oceans and Their Precious Role in Our Future -

June 02, 2023

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that on Sunday, May 28, it held a beach drift survey event at Nojima Park in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, in cooperation with the NPO "Team Kujira-go" (Note 1). The event included a survey of marine plastic debris and other refuse with experts from the NPO. MOL Student Ambassadors (Note 2), and employees and their families for total of twenty-five (including 12 children)　people took part in activities such as surveying and classifying microplastics, conducting simple experiments under expert guidance, and lectures by specialists. The youngsters also shared their comments and impressions after learning about the project.

The day was blessed with beautiful weather, and the participants not only enjoyed hands-on activities, but also had a unique opportunity to listen to a presentation about marine plastics. Following the educational programs, everyone, both adults and children, enjoyed a social event including lunch by the sea. The children were also excited to receive kaleidoscope kits using microplastic from Team Kujira-go at the end of the event.

MOL will continue its activities to convey the significance of the ocean to future generations.

Plastic waste collection (left), collected microplastics (right)

(Note 1) A non-profit organization that conducts marine debris survey activities on beaches with children to teach them about global warming and ocean environmental issues.
"Kujira" is a Japanese word for a whale, and "go" in "Kujira-go" is a Japanese word that has traditionally been added after the name of a ship or aircraft to indicate that it is a name.
http://www.kujirago.org/ (website is in Japanese only)

(Note 2) Please refer to the November 30, 2022, press release: "Inauguration Ceremony Held for 'MOL Student Ambassadors - Conveying the Appeal of the Shipping industry and the Importance of Protecting the Richness of the Sea to the Next Generation-." Nine members promote the appeal of the ocean shipping industry through their ambassadorial activities, and will be responsible for communicating this information to their peers, the generation that will shape Japan's future.