MOL Adds Southern Treasure to its Fleet

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that the new scrubber-equipped wood chip carrier Southern Treasure has been delivered.

The delivery ceremony for the 60,300 dwt vessel with with a cargo capacity of 4.3 million-cubic feet was held at Oshima Shipbuilding, Nagasaki Prefecture.

MOL will operate the vessel, which transport wood chips for Hokuetsu Corporation, said a press release.

"The vessel is equipped with a SOx scrubber and Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) to comply with today's stricter environmental regulations," said the release.

It features Oshima Shipbuilding's technologies such as Seaworthy Bow (a bow shape that reduces the decline in vessel speed during adverse weather), a cutting-edge hull shape with an improved stern shape, and Advanced Flipper Fins (energy-saving equipment to improve propulsion efficiency), and Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF).

The environment-friendly Southern Treasure  also features an electronically controlled engine and low-friction ship bottom paint, achieving a significant reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in comparison with ordinary wood chip carriers.

The name of the vessel "Southern Treasure" is derived from its cargo, wood chips, which are produced in Chile, South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, and other Southern countries, and represent "treasure" delivered to Hokuetsu Corporation. It also calls to mind the idea of a "treasure ship."

MOL continually strives to offer safe and stable wood chip transport service for customers including paper manufacturers around the world while caring for the environment, and contribute to a stable supply of resources.