Top Page > Press Release 2015 > MOL News Highlights for 2015 - Aiming at "Solid Growth through Innovative Changes" -

MOL News Highlights for 2015
- Aiming at "Solid Growth through Innovative Changes" -

December 25, 2015

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) today announced the company's top news stories for 2015 as follows:

Enhancing Business Bases/Promoting One MOL

  • Junichiro Ikeda became President & CEO and Koichi Muto assumed the position of Chairman. (June)
  • Introduced MOL CHART:
    "CHART" stands for five words that express the company's shared values – "Challenge," "Honesty," "Accountability," "Reliability," and" Teamwork." It also calls to mind a sea chart, which sets the course for the company's future. (April)
  • Chief Executive Representatives were designated for following 3 areas (June)
    - the Americas,
    - the Asia, Middle East and Oceania,
    - the Europe and Africa.
  • Moving to enhance corporate governance structure:
    Nomination Advisory Committee and Remuneration Advisory Committee were established. And changed the time for appointment of executives to April 1, starting in 2016. (October)

Promoting the Midterm Management plan STEER FOR 2020

(LNG carriers/offshore business)
  • Signed deal with Mitsui & Co. to charter LNG carrier (January)
  • Signed charter contract with E.ON subsidiary for newbuilding LNG carrier (February)
  • Signed deal with Chubu Electric Power for 2 newbuilding LNG carriers (September)
  • Expanding floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) charter business (3 in operation, 3 under construction)
  • 3 LNG carriers built in China for ExxonMobil were delivered
(Car carriers)
  • Signed deal to build 4 next-generation "FLEXIE" car carriers. (April)
  • Introduced MOL Auto Carrier Express (MOL ACE) as a global brand. (June)
(Containerships)
  • Decided to build and charter six 20,000 TEU containerships (March) )
(Port and logistics businesses)
  • Introduced "MOL Project & Heavy Cargo "as its unified brand for plant/heavyweight cargo transport (March)
  • Established a barge terminal operator in Thailand. (July)
  • Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) opened in Port of Rotterdam, following enhanced automation of TraPac container terminal at Los Angeles in the U.S. (September)
(Group company businesses)
  • Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line: Nippon Maru's "Tonde (fly to) cruise packages to Okinawa, Kyushu, and Hokkaido" named "Cruise of the Year 2015" Grand Prix. (December)
  • Daibiru opened the new Shin-Daibiru building in Dojima. (July)
  • Ferry Sunflower decided to build 2 new ferries offering enhanced comfort and increased transport capacity. (November)
  • MOL Ferry: Fire incident in the ferry Sunflower Daisetsu. (July)
  • Singapore: MOL Bulk Shipping (Asia Oceania) received Maritime Centre (Corporate) Award from Port Authority of Singapore. (April)

Safe Operation/Environmental Protection

  • Started demonstration test of a next-generation condition-based engine monitoring system, which relies on big data. (October)
  • Developed new energy-saving windshield and installed it on a containership. It started demonstration tests to determine effects on reducing wind resistance and CO2 emissions. (September)
  • Introduced tablet computer system for onboard inspection to enhance safe operation. (November)
  • Developed "Fe-asy Checker 26" onboard test kit, and introduced the system to analyze the iron content of scavenging engine drain oil on its owned/operated vessels. (January)

Social Contribution Activities

  • Held 20th "Marine Day" sponsorship events around in Japan (July-August)
  • Presented dialogue between young people in Miyako City and its mayor aboard the cruise ship Nippon Maru. (September)
  • Cooperation for international transport, "unique to MOL"
    • ・Received a letter of appreciation for transporting wheelchairs for children in Paraguay.(May)
    • ・Cooperated in transporting the "Tachineputa" float to celebrate the 120th anniversary of a landmark treaty between Brazil and Japan. (February)
    • ・Transported relief supplies to quake-stricken areas of Nepal. (December)
    • ・Received letter of appreciation for transporting relief supplies to the Philippines. (July)
  • Hosted charity event in its Head Office cafeteria to help the World Food Programme (WFP)'s school meal program. (December)
  • MOL-operated bulker received AFRAS AMBER Award for rescue of shipwrecked seafarers off Guam. (September)
  • Rescued shipwreck survivors in seas around the world.
    Off Malay Peninsula, off Mindanao Island of the Philippines, Off Brazil in South Atlantic Ocean, off Canary Islands in North Atlantic Ocean