MOL “returns to basics” to enhance safety
Tokyo-based Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, impacted by several marine accidents this year, has developed plans to better prevent and improve its responsiveness to future incidents.MOL said that all of its management and employees have been instructed to
“return to basics of safe operation as their top priority.”
“First of all, please allow us to offer our sincerest apologies to all parties concerned for the inconvenience and anxiety caused by the serious incidents involving MOL-operated vessels occurred since April 2006,” said MOL’s President Akimitsu Ashida, in a statement.
Since 1993, MOL has opened seafarer training centers in seven countries, including the Philippines, India, Montenegro, Croatia, Indonesia, Russia, and the Netherlands.
New safety measures implemented by the Japanese carrier include a virtual accident scenario training program, and starting this spring, onboard training on board a MOL-owned purpose-built training ship, “Spirit of MOL”. In addition, a central 24-hour monitoring and warning system will be introduced to check the positions and movements of all operating vessels, weather conditions, and forecasts. Vessel masters will be given appropriate warnings and recommendations directly from the controller, MOL said.
In a related matter, MOL said that its Capesize iron ore carrier “Giant Step,” which has been stranded off Kashima in Japan since early October, has had its oil removed. The company is now focused on removing the wreck and compensating the fishermen and other local stakeholders.
