MOL Implements Overall Safety Checks.
Inspectors to visit ships, ship managers and shipowners to ensure safety, quality, environmental protection standards

February 16, 2006

TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL; President: Akimitsu Ashida) announced the start of overall inspections today, focusing on safe vessel operation and cargo handling by MOL-operated vessels, ship management companies, and shipowners. The company has conducted the inspection program every year since 1995, as a move to maintain and enhance its excellent safety standards and transport service quality.

MOL makes it a top priority to maintain and strengthen the safety of its vessel operation and the environmental protection. The Operational Safety Committee, chaired by President Ashida, oversees safety-related issues. In addition, this overall safety check is implemented mainly by the committee.

Staff at the Head Office visit MOL-operated vessels, ship management companies, and shipowners to conduct on-site surveys of key safety-related issues.

This year's safety inspections take place from February 16 to April 15, concentrating on several areas:

• Ensuring that documents such as manuals and guidelines that show the Company policy are consistently circulated among ship management companies and shipowners;
• Consistently implementing Air pollution control inspections in line with the requirements of MARPOL Annex VI (*) issued in May 2005.
• Inspecting the safety of facilities and operation and maintenance of each vessel in accordance with MOL's own checklist, which addresses deficiencies often pointed out in MOL's regular inspections and in the annual report of Port State Control issued by U.S. Coast Guard and Australian authorities;
• Conducting surveys of current status of engine parts most likely to have problems, based on our statistical analysis, and inspecting the engine room work environment;
• Ensuring the appropriate implementation of measures to prevent personal injuries, based on past cases;
• Monitoring the implementation of environmental protection activities based on the company's quality management system and international environmental standards.

(*)MARPOL Annex VI: MARPOL is the international convention for prevention of pollution from ships, 1973, as modified by the protocol of 1978 relating thereto. In September 1997, the MARPOL protocol (Annex VI) concerning prevention of air pollution was adopted (issued in May 2005).

MOL's officers will visit its operated vessels, ship management companies, and shipowners to determine the current status of items related to safety and environmental issues. They will give instruction for improvement to the ship management companies of MOL-operated vessels, and give advice to shipowners as needed.

• The company is implementing a checklist-based system that ensures comprehensive inspection of key items.
• Based on analysis of data from past inspections and accidents, MOL inspectors will also visit ship management companies and shipowners both in Japan and overseas to discuss safety issues and ensure compliance with MOL safety standards.
• Reviewing ship management policies and situations of each company, providing instructions for improvement and advice as needed, and publicizing MOL's safety policy to the greatest extent possible.