TOKYO – Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Kunio Suzuki) today announced that the company gained over other shipping lines in Japan by receiving Panamanian government approval for a ship security plan (SSP). The SSP of the MOL-operated very large crude carrier (VLCC) Diamond Jasmine was approved by Phoenix Vessel Services, Inc., an exclusive recognized security organization (RSO) for the Panamanian government, on December 1, 2003. The Diamond Jasmine sails under a Panamanian flag and is managed by International Energy Transport Co., Ltd.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) was amended in December 2002 to include marine antiterrorism measures. This requires every vessel to establish an SSP based on the International Code for the Security of Ships and Port Facilities (ISPS CODE), and SSPs must receive approval by the flag state or by a RSO authorized by that state.
About 75% of Japan's merchant fleet – some 1,500 ships – sail under the Panamanian flag. And since the Panamanian government has named Phoenix Vessel Service as its exclusive RSO, some have questioned whether all the ships can receive approval of their SSPs in time for the July 1, 2004, deadline set out in SOLAS. MOL acquired the approval for the Diamond Jasmin with the assistance of M.O. Marine Consulting Ltd., a MOL Group company, and is working hard to meet the treaty deadline for approval of all its vessels.
For further information, please contact:
Capt. Masahiko Hibino
Manager, Marine Technology and Safety Group
Marine Division
Tel: 03-3587-7050
Fax: 03-3587-7717
E-Mail: mrnmo@mail.mol.co.jp