Energy-Saving Propeller Boss Cap Fins System Reaches Major Milestone – Orders Received for 2,000 Vessels Press Release issued 12 August 2011
News Release
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (Head Office)
August 12, 2011
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<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>TOKYO—
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) and MOL Techno-Trade,
Ltd. (MOL Tech; President: </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>Hidehiro Harada) today announced that the energy-saving Propeller
Boss Cap Fins (PBCF), developed by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory
Co., Ltd., and Mikado Japan, Ltd., and sold by MOL Tech, has now been ordered
for 2,000 vessels worldwide.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>The
PBCF is an energy-saving device attached to the propellers of a vessel. It
breaks up the hub vortex generated behind the rotating propeller, </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>resulting in a decrease of more than 9,000 tons of CO<SUB>2
</SUB>emissions per year due to a 3-5% reduction in fuel consumption by a
large-scale containership</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>Research and development on the PBCF started in 1986, and sales began
the following year. Since then an increasing number of shipowners, mainly in
Japan, began to adopt the system. By 2006, the 19<SUP>th</SUP> year since the
start of sales, the PBCF had been ordered for 1,000 vessels. Since then, it has
gained worldwide recognition by vessel owners and operators, and the number of
ships adopting it has doubled in just five years, reaching the 2,000 vessel
milestone this year. </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>At the
Second International Symposium on Marine Propulsors in Hamburg, Germany, in June
2011, BMT Defence Services Ltd. of U.K. presented a paper reporting on a before
and after speed test using an Aframax tanker operated by a major firm, showing
nearly 4% energy saving effect. This independent study once again brought the
PBCF to the attention of the shipping industry and the public.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>The MOL Group is promoting its next-generation vessel concept called
Sempaku ISHIN, and the PBCF is one of its key technologies. </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>Mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping were
adopted at the </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>International Maritime Organization (IMO) </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" lang=EN-US>IMO
environment meeting</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" lang=EN-US> on
July 15, 2011, and regulations on greenhouse gas emissions by the ocean shipping
will make the PBCF even more valuable in the future. The MOL Group continues its
research and development on various green technologies and promotes global
environmental protection by helping reduce CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions from
vessels.</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US><STRONG> </STRONG></SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META content="text/html; charset=unicode" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18904"></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>TOKYO—
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) and MOL Techno-Trade,
Ltd. (MOL Tech; President: </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>Hidehiro Harada) today announced that the energy-saving Propeller
Boss Cap Fins (PBCF), developed by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory
Co., Ltd., and Mikado Japan, Ltd., and sold by MOL Tech, has now been ordered
for 2,000 vessels worldwide.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>The
PBCF is an energy-saving device attached to the propellers of a vessel. It
breaks up the hub vortex generated behind the rotating propeller, </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>resulting in a decrease of more than 9,000 tons of CO<SUB>2
</SUB>emissions per year due to a 3-5% reduction in fuel consumption by a
large-scale containership</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US>Research and development on the PBCF started in 1986, and sales began
the following year. Since then an increasing number of shipowners, mainly in
Japan, began to adopt the system. By 2006, the 19<SUP>th</SUP> year since the
start of sales, the PBCF had been ordered for 1,000 vessels. Since then, it has
gained worldwide recognition by vessel owners and operators, and the number of
ships adopting it has doubled in just five years, reaching the 2,000 vessel
milestone this year. </SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-US>At the
Second International Symposium on Marine Propulsors in Hamburg, Germany, in June
2011, BMT Defence Services Ltd. of U.K. presented a paper reporting on a before
and after speed test using an Aframax tanker operated by a major firm, showing
nearly 4% energy saving effect. This independent study once again brought the
PBCF to the attention of the shipping industry and the public.</SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"
class=MsoNormal align=left><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><FONT
face=Arial><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>The MOL Group is promoting its next-generation vessel concept called
Sempaku ISHIN, and the PBCF is one of its key technologies. </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>Mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping were
adopted at the </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"
lang=EN-US>International Maritime Organization (IMO) </SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" lang=EN-US>IMO
environment meeting</SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" lang=EN-US> on
July 15, 2011, and regulations on greenhouse gas emissions by the ocean shipping
will make the PBCF even more valuable in the future. The MOL Group continues its
research and development on various green technologies and promotes global
environmental protection by helping reduce CO<SUB>2</SUB> emissions from
vessels.</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"
lang=EN-US><STRONG> </STRONG></SPAN></FONT></P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>