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Jan 25, 2011 10:42 AM

Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has established a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) and started its use with the MOL tanker fleet. The SEEMP provides the most efficient vessel operation method (optimum route selection, appropriate maintenance, and so on considering slow steaming, ocean currents, and weather) to reduce CO2 emissions while ensuring safe operation and maintaining a strict operation schedule.

Initially, the SEEMP was initiated by MOL Tankship Management (Europe) Ltd, then provided for all vessels managed by the MOL Tanker Division’s in-house companies effective January 1, 2011 to ensure ongoing improvement in energy efficiency by following the plan-do-check-action (PDCA) cycle.

MOL also established the Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI) for tankers, which indicates CO2 grams per mile transport of one-ton cargo, based on actual vessel operation, as an index to verify the SEEMP’s effectiveness. While conducting self-monitoring, MOL and vessels will set CO2 emissions reduction targets to pursue improved energy efficiency in line with the SEEMP plan.

In October 2010, the 61st session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee agreed in principle on compulsory steps to adopt the SEEMP on vessels. In addition, guidelines on energy efficiency and fuel management were issued at the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), made up of major oil companies, reflecting customers’ requests for improvements in tanker fuel efficiency.

MOL has promoted the Sempaku ISHIN project, the environment-friendly, next-generation vessel concept since 2009, taking a proactive approach to development and introduction of technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. The company has also taken various other measures to reduce the environmental burden of its operations. The development and introduction of SEEMPs for all ship types, starting with tankers, marks a major step forward in MOL’s environmental initiatives. This will achieve safe, high energy efficient vessel operation, with the aim of achieving the target of reducing CO2 emissions per ton-mile by 10% in 2015 compared with FY2009, set forth in the midterm management plan “GEAR UP! MOL.”