MOL Participates in 50^th Anniversary Celebration for Vietnam Maritime University

April 05, 2006

TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that MOL took part in an April 1 celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam Maritime University, promoting a stronger cooperative relationship with the school to create new employment opportunities for Vietnamese seafarers.

The ceremony in Haiphong drew about 5,000 guests, including foreign VIPs, officials from Vietnam's Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau, and others involved in maritime training, as well as students. Managing Executive Officer Toshihiro Kagami represented MOL, which plans to hire many of the university's graduates. He also met with the rector of the university and leaders from the University of Transport in Ho Chi Minh City.

MOL has positioned Vietnam as a key source for seafarers to serve aboard its operated vessels, and is determined to offer top-quality training and educational opportunities in the nation. The company began assigning Vietnamese mariners to its ships in early March.

Vietnamese seafarers have earned a reputation as industrious, highly educated workers and can serve aboard international merchant vessels. MOL expects Vietnam to become an important source of seafarers to serve aboard its growing fleet. The company's efforts will also provide education and training of marine officers/ engineers from Vietnam, which is key to the Vietnamese government's plan to develop a strong national marine industry.

MOL's approaches to recruiting and training seafarers in Vietnam are as follows:

• 1) Expansion of Vietnamese manning
  The first Vietnamese mariners were assigned to an MOL vessel in March. In the future, the company will increase the number of the vessels on which Vietnamese officers and crews are assigned.
• 2) Cooperation in the Japanese government's seafarer training program for developing countries (accepting ODA trainees)
  MOL will provide onboard practical training when the next phase of Official Development Assistance (ODA) training begins in October of this year. The training, which was suspended for several years, will resume at the request of the Vietnamese government.
• 3) Implementing onboard training for Vietnam nautical university students
  MOL plans to start practical education and training on MOL-operated vessels for students at the Vietnam Maritime University and University of Transport in Ho Chi Minh City.
• 4) Technical cooperation for opening of the national seafarer training center
  MOL is discussing technical cooperation in the national seafarer training center that the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport Maritime Bureau plans to open.