MOL Holds Joint Public-Private Anti-piracy Drill
with LNG Carrier LNG Vesta

July 22, 2009

TOKYO Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that the company held a joint public-private sector anti-piracy training session with the LNG carrier LNG Vesta while the ship was under way southeast of Okidaitojima (Island), Okinawa, on July 21.

Based on a scenario that pirates were pursuing and closing in on the MOL-operated LNG Vesta, the training focused on emergency telecommunication. The realistic drill included some tension-filled moments as the Japan Coast Guard’s patrol ship Mizuho rushed to the scene, and MOL confirmed the effectiveness of its risk management system and ensured that everyone concerned could communicate clearly and swiftly.

Institutions participated in training

Japan Coast Guard (JCG) International Criminal Investigation Division, Operations Centre, and patrol ship Mizuho
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Maritime Bureau, Ocean Shipping Section
Japan Shipowners' Association
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., LNG carrier LNG Vesta (operated by MOL)
MO LNG Transport Co., Ltd. (MOL Group ship management company)

Outline of training

• The training started on the assumption that the LNG Vesta was being chased by a suspicious vessel, which was closing in on the LNG carrier.
• LNG Vesta sent out a ship security alert, reporting an encounter with pirates to its management company (MO LNG Transport) and the JCG Operations Centre.
• The ship management company, upon receiving the alert, immediately reported it to MOL's Safety Operation Supporting Center^*. MOL continued to exchange necessary information with the ship management company and other authorities involved.
• The JCG, in response to the report from the LNG Vesta, dispatched its patrol ship Mizuho, which has been deployed to Southeast Asia to combat piracy, rush to the scene. The Mizuho contacted the LNG Vesta and then reported the situation to the JCG. The JCG then conveyed information from the Mizuho to concerned parties including the ship management company.
• The pirate ship gave up its attack on the LNG Vesta. The Mizuho inspected the LNG Vesta to determine whether pirates had actually boarded and to confirm the safety of the ship.

*The Safety Operation Supporting Center was formed in MOL's Tokyo Head Office on February 1, 2007, to prevent and effectively respond to various events and factors that may threaten the safety of vessel operation, such as the threat of global terrorism and abnormal weather phenomena, which have occurred more frequently in recent years. The center supports safe operation by transmitting information related to voyage safety to target vessels and other concerned parties, with a 24/7, 365 monitoring structure.

Public-Private Anti-piracy Drill held on July 21
(back) MOL-operated LNG carrier "LNG Vesta"
(front) Japan Coast Guard's patrol ship "Mizuho"