MOL Cruise Ship Fuji Maru Calls at Ports in Iwate Prefecture

News Release MOL (Europe) B.V. (European Head Office) April 11, 2011

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Post-quake Update on Support
for Victims of the 2011 Tohoku-Pacific Ocean
Earthquake – Cruise Ship
Fuji Maru Calls at Ports in Iwate Prefecture –
 
ROTTERDAM, 11 April
2011 –
Mitsui O.S.K.
Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced that its ocean cruise
ship Fuji Maru has started calling at three ports — Ofunato, Kamaishi,
and Miyako — to provide free day-use services such as meals, baths, and rest for
victims of the Tohoku–Pacific Ocean Earthquake. This is part of MOL’s activities
to support relief efforts in disaster-stricken areas.
 
The Fuji Maru arrived at
Ofunato port, its first destination, at 7:30 a.m., Monday 11 April 
(today) and began welcoming quake victims aboard at noon.
 
u       
Vessel in
use: Fuji Maru
u       
Schedule
Monday, April
11               
07:30    
Arrive      Ofunato (Nonoda area
wharf)
Tuesday, April
12              
17:30    
Depart     Ofunato 
Wednesday, April
13         
08:00    
Arrive      Kamaishi (Suga area
pier)
Thursday, April
14             
18:00    
Depart     Kamaishi 
Saturday, April
16             
08:00    
Arrive      Miyako (Fujiwara area
pier)
Sunday, April
17               
18:00    
Depart     Miyako 
Monday, April
18               
17:00    
Arrive      Tokyo 
u       
People
using the service
A total of 6,000 people will use the
Fuji Maru’s services at three ports—about 2,000 people at each port
(1,000 per day).
To use the service, pre-application
at public offices in the cities and towns (Ofunato-shi, Rikuzen-takata-shi,
Yamada-cho, Miyako-shi) is required.
u       
Details
of services for quake victims
(1)   Provide meals featuring fresh
vegetables
(2)   Provide baths in the large communal
bathing facility
(3)   Use of guest rooms (showers are
available)
(4)   Use of onboard public telephones,
mobile phone battery chargers (with cooperation of NTT DOCOMO)
(5)   Onboard cinema
 
MOL is providing these services in
cooperation with Iwate Prefecture, local governments, and the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
 
The Fuji Maru and the MOL
Group cruise ship Nippon Maru have deep historical ties with the ports of
Ofunato, Kamaishi, and Miyako. Both ships have called at those ports 16 times in
the past decade, and have always received a warm welcome from local citizens. By
providing day-use services to allow quake victims for some small respite from
their recent struggles, MOL seeks to return, in some small way, the courtesy and
support these communities have shown in the past. MOL is bearing the entire cost
of providing these services.
 
The phrase “Odense, Fuji
Maru” on the banner on the side of the vessel means “Come and see, Fuji
Maru” in the local dialect.
 
(Reference)
Main specifications of the ocean
cruise ship Fuji Maru
Shipowner: Nippon Charter Cruise
(MOL Group 50%, Shinnihonkai Ferry Group 50%)
Gross tonnage: 23,235 dwt
Length: 167m
Breadth: 24m
Draft: 6.6m
No. of passengers (max.): 600
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