MOL Woodchip Carrier Rescues a Yacht Skipper

December 14, 2012

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced that its owned and operated woodchip carrier Global Explorer rescued the skipper of a yacht Makalii that wrecked near the Line Islands, 1,500km south of the Hawaii Islands.

The Global Explorer was under way from Coronel, Chile, to Iyomishima in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, at dawn on December 3 when it received a request for assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard in Honolulu.

The ship rushed to the site, arriving in the area that evening, and began searching. Despite the darkness and heavy seas, the ship searched for nine hours before rescuing the stranded yachtsman. The size of the large-scale woodchip carrier made the effort all the more difficult, as it is very challenging to maneuver in extreme weather conditions, but the rescue was accomplished safely thanks to the training and judgment of the Global Explorer's officers and crew.

Outline of Global Explorer

Gross Tonnage: 47,407 MT; Length: 209.99m; Seafarers: 21 Filipinos