MOL Comfort Containership Incident Update (No.5)

The following is a further update of MHI's response to the incident involving the MOL Comfort containership operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) in the Indian Ocean on June 17.

 

<Status of MHI's Response>
MHI is now cooperating with MOL and the classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) to investigate and determine the cause of the incident.

As we reported in our previous update (No.4) of June 27, although the six sister vessels operated by MOL fully satisfy the requirements of the ClassNK Rules and the unified standards of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), MHI intends to take steps, in cooperation with MOL and ClassNK, to further strengthen the vessels' hull structures as a precautionary measure.

MHI also constructed four quasi-sister vessels* of the MOL Comfort, presently in service, for shipping companies other than MOL. These vessels also satisfy ClassNK's structural rules and the unified standards of IACS. However, the shipping companies, Class NK and MHI are now collaborating to conduct safety inspections of these vessels. As a precautionary measure, the three parties will also take steps to further strengthen their hull structures swiftly and as early as possible.

* Quasi-sister vessels: Identical ships except for specification changes carried out to their main engine, number of loadable containers, living quarters, etc.