January 14, 2010
TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced that its joint research and development (R&D) project will be incorporated into a government-industry initiative aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. This is a technology development support program sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).
MOL, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., and Sanyo Electric Group are jointly promoting R&D on a hybrid car carrier using renewable energy. This is part of MOL's CO2 reduction technology R&D initiative.
MOL has already adopted solar power generation systems on the Euphony Ace, constructed in November 2005, and on the Swift Ace, which joined the fleet in May 2008. The company will further advance this R&D with those vessels.
This R&D project is a step toward realization of MOL's vision for the car carrier of the future, announced as "ISHIN-I" in September 2009. MOL continues to work aggressively on R&D to reduce the environmental burden of its vessel operations.
* Sanyo Electric Group also issued news releases about this project today.