TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced the signings of the mid- and long-term transport contracts with Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. The contracts cover five ships, including a 230,000-ton iron ore carrier.
That 230,000-ton iron ore carrier, built by Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., will be launched after 2008 to transport ore from Brazil to Kashima and Wakayama.
Three more vessels, two built by Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and one by Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, will be 200,000 MT bulk carriers joining the fleet after 2006 and 2007. They will transport ore mainly from Australia to Kashima and Wakayama.
The fifth vessels, ordered from Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., is a 100,000 MT bulker slated for launch after 2008. It will carry ore on the Australia-Wakayama route.
MOL worked closely with Sumitomo Metal Industries to determine the best way to meet its continually growing need for transport of iron ore. As a result, the companies decided to launch a 230,000-ton bulker that will optimize the capacity of Sumitomo Metal's Kashima port. The 100,000-ton carrier is the most suitable to serve Wakayama. Three 200,000-ton bulkers will offer efficient transport to both Kashima and Wakayama, with capacity of 30,000-ton more than the current Cape-size bulkers (160,000 to 170,000 tons) now in service.
MOL will continue to focus on natural resource transport as one of its key management strategies in the future, and work to provide efficient transport solutions to a range of customer needs.
For further information, please contact:
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
Kenichi Nagata
General Manager
Coal and Iron Ore Carrier Group, Coal and Iron Ore Carrier Division
Tel: 81-3-3587-6582
Fax: 81-3-3587-7727
E-mail: ciamo@mail.mol.co.jp