September 26, 2006
TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that the design of the company's wind resistance reducing pure car carrier (PCC), has been patented in Japan and South Korea. This design was adopted on MOL-operated car carriers launched since March 2003.
Summary of Patent Registration (refer to attached figure)
Background and Future Approaches
The design was developed through joint research with Universal Shipbuilding Corp. MOL has launched 17 car carriers with this design, starting with the Courageous Ace in March 2003. Our company already registered the design in 2004. We considered its high intellectual property and reached at a conclusion of the patent registration.
Our company will license this technology to other companies to help reduce the environmental impact of the shipping industry, and to encourage broader use.
[Reference]
No.3841712 (Japan)
No.10-0609820 (South Korea)
M.V. Courageous Ace (named Ship of the Year 2003)