MOL Hosts Tour of Newest Car Carrier to Celebrate Marine Day
- Introducing the charms of shipping to children who will lead the next generation -

July 22, 2025

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that it participated in the "Commemorative Event for Marine Day 2025" held on Monday, July 21, in cooperation with the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Nippon Foundation, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Marine Day. During the event, MOL hosted a tour of the third vessel in its “BLUE” series of LNG-fueled car carriers, the "CELESTE ACE" ^{(Note 1)}.

About 600 elementary, junior high, and high school students and their families, who were selected from among thousands of applicants, participated in the tour. The visitors boarded the massive CELESTE ACE, about 200 meters long and toured the bridge (the ship's control room) and crew quarters, where seafarers shared information about the ship and the shipping industry. They also enjoyed a demonstration of cars being loaded into the cargo hold.

In addition, many children experienced operating a ship handling simulator at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, viewed exhibits about the "Funeshiru ^{(Note 2)} ", MOL museum, featuring hands-on and interactive displays, which opened on July 19, and enjoyed quizzes and games. The youngsters asked many questions during a talk show-format event introducing the work of navigators and engineers, and during an exhibition of shipping newspapers presented by MOL ambassadors ^{(Note 3)}, helping them gain a deeper understanding of ships and the shipping industry.

About 250 MOL Group employees served as guides for the car carrier tour and exhibition at the terminal. Comments from the participating children included: "I was amazed by how big the vessel was", "It was very educational to learn about ships in a fun way-things we don't usually get to hear about"., and "I was impressed by how neatly the cars were arranged during the loading operation". The event also brought great joy to the tour operating staff.

The MOL Group has named its social contribution activities "BLUE ACTION for ALL" and aims to realize a sustainable society by engaging in social contribution activities beyond the scope of our business in addition to social contributions through our core business to address various issues facing society.
This name incorporates the BLUE ACTION sustainable initiative of the MOL Group and the commitment of the entire group to promote social contribution activities with respect for all environments and life on Earth, expressed as "for ALL".
The MOL Group designated the period from Marine Day, July 21, to October 9 as the "BLUE ACTION for ALL Campaign". During this time, the entire group, both in Japan and overseas, will unite to engage in social contribution activities. By uniting across the group, the campaign seeks to foster a closer connection between people and the vessels and oceans that sustain their daily lives, while raising awareness of the shipping industry among children and the broader public.

(Note 1) The CELESTE ACE, delivered in September 2024, is the third vessel in the BLUE series of LNG-fueled car carriers (eight of the 11 Japan-built vessels are currently in service). Since launching its first car carrier in 1965, MOL has been a pioneer in the ocean transport of automobiles. The company is committed to reliably meeting diverse and evolving needs and offers safe and stable transport services with a fleet of about 100 ships.

(Note 2) The MOL Museum "Funeshiru", featuring hands-on and interactive displays, opened at the Asia and Pacific Trade Center (ATC).This museum offers a fun way to learn about the scale of ocean shipping, the role of ships, jobs in ocean shipping, and the future of the shipping industry through ship handling simulators and exhibitions. It also features a café and gift shop.

(Note 3) MOL Ambassadors are students who learn about the importance of protecting the oceans and the appeal of the shipping industry and play a role in communicating what they learn to their peers who will shape the future. Currently, 10 elementary, junior high, and high school students have been appointed as MOL Ambassadors and are actively engaged in their roles.
May 16, 2025, MOL Information: Fostering the Shipping Industry Leaders of Tomorrow: MOL Holds Workshop for MOL Ambassadors

"BLUE ACTION MOL" is a general term for the Sustainable Action by MOL Group that balance corporate growth and a sustainable society. We have incorporated the intention "for ALL" to promote social contribution activities as a group for all environments and creatures on earth into this word and have set MOL Group's social contribution activities as "BLUE ACTION for ALL", as the group's social contribution activities to promote activities based on priority areas.
Social Contribution Activities | Sustainability | Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.