Liner ScheduleMOL and Tata Steel explore GHG emissions reduction technologies to deploy an environment friendly bulk carrier
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), a leading global marine transport group, MOL Drybulk Ltd. (MOL Drybulk; CEO: Kazuhiko Kikuchi; Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), 100% subsidiary of MOL and is a specialized unique entity for dry bulk, and Tata Steel Limited (Tata Steel; CEO & MD: T. V. Narendran; Headquarter: Mumbai, India) which is among the top global steel companies, today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and deploy an environment friendly bulk carrier.
MOL will partner with Tata Steel on this innovative project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain.
Peeyush Gupta, Vice President, Supply Chain, Tata Steel, said: “The objective of the agreement is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the ocean transportation of raw materials for production of steel. In the initial stage, the partnership will explore the environmental benefits and commercial and operational feasibilities of various technologies. This will include the, “Wind Challenger (Note 1) “, a hard sail, which would reduce emissions by harnessing wind energy. MOL has been jointly studying the technology with cross-industrial partners and the first vessel to be equipped with the Wind Challenger is slated to start operation in 2022.”
Ranjan Sinha, Chief Group Shipping and Director RM Procurement of Tata Steel, said: “Tata Steel as a signatory of Responsible Steel is committed to aligning its shipping activities with responsible environmental behaviour. We are pleased to be joining hands with MOL, a reputed global marine transport company, in combining efforts towards sustainable shipping.”
Toshiaki Tanaka, Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer of MOL, said: “We have recently established MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1 (Note 2) , where we announced that MOL Group will make a concerted effort throughout the Group to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050. Including this opportunity, we will pursue “Adoption of Clean Alternative Fuels” and “Enhancement of Energy-Saving Technologies” more in the five initiatives (Fig. 1) to achieve the goal. There would be a long, long pathway to achieve the Vison 2.1, and we believe that working collaboratively with a good partner is important. The partnership with Tata Steel, a leading global steel company, encourages MOL to challenge goals for the Vision 2.1. We are very much happy to have this opportunity.”
About Tata Steel
Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 34 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world. The group recorded a consolidated turnover of US $21.06 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2021.
A Great Place to Work-Certified TM organisation, Tata Steel Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000.
Tata Steel has been a part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and has been consistently ranked amongst top 5 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Besides being a member of ResponsibleSteelTM and worldsteel’s Climate Action Programme, Tata Steel has won several awards and recognitions including the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar and IJmuiden Plants, and Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17. The Company, ranked as India’s most valuable Metals & Mining brand by Brand Finance, featured amongst CII Top 25 innovative Indian Companies in 2020, received rating of ‘A-‘ (leadership band) from CDP for its Climate Change disclosure and Supply Chain disclosure, Steel Sustainability Champion 2020 recognition from worldsteel, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2021 from Ethisphere Institute, Best Risk Management Framework & Systems Award (2020) from CNBC TV-18, and Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting FY20 from ICAI, among several others.
To know more, visit www.tatasteel.com and www.wealsomaketomorrow.com.
About Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and MOL Drybulk Ltd.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), as a global marine transport group, operates a global fleet exceeding 700 vessels, including tankers, bulkers, car carriers, ferries, which also extends to offshore projects. Under the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1” announced in June 2021, MOL clarifies its commitment to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 through collective efforts with all capabilities within the group.
MOL Drybulk has been established since April 2021 as a unique entity operating vessels ranging from 10,000DWT up to 100,000DWT bulk carriers, wood chip carriers and multi-purpose vessels, with the aim to provide a “one-stop service” to the customers, work collaboratively to meet their needs and provide environmental solutions to reduce the GHG emissions throughout the supply chain.
(Note 1) Wind Challenger Project
Concept video:
“For the future of the planet, We challenge with the Wind” Wind Challenger Project – MOL – YouTube
This has the potential to achieve 5% to 8% reduction in GHG emissions by reducing bunker oil consumption through the use installation of a telescoping hard sail that converts wind energy to propulsive force.
(Please refer to October 3, 2019, press release:
“Wind Challenger” Design Acquires Preliminary Approval – Realizing Japan’s 1st Large Cargo Ship with ‘Sail’, Aiming at Reduction of GHGs -)
MOL has already placed an order with Oshima Shipbuilding for construction of the first vessel to be equipped with the Wind Challenger—a coal carrier, slated to start operation in 2022 supplying Tohoku Electric Power Co.,Inc.
(Please refer to December 10, 2020, press release:
MOL, Tohoku Electric Power Sign Deal for Transport Using Coal Carrier Equipped with Hard Sail Wind Power Propulsion System (Wind Challenger) -Aiming to Reduce Environmental Impact and Boost Economic Efficiency by Introducing World’s 1st Coal Carrier Equipped with a ‘Sail’-)
(Note 2) MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1
(Fig. 1)
