TOKYO—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that President & CEO Hashimoto took the stage at the 34th Maritime Nation Forum (Note 1) hosted by the Japan Maritime Center (Chairman: Masafumi Shukuri, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) to highlight MOL’s initiatives toward the realization of a decarbonized society.

The forum was held on October 10, 2024, in Tomakomai, Japan, and drew about 200 maritime professionals from industry, government, and academia from Hokkaido and other parts of Japan. Lectures and panel discussions on the theme of “Aiming for a Zero Carbon Society: Challenges of Decarbonization in the Maritime Industry,” introduced new trends in the maritime field and case studies of corporate initiatives.

MOL demonstrated its commitment to working with local communities to achieve a decarbonized society, while presenting various projects such as capital alliance in the wind power generation maintenance business with Hokutaku Co., Ltd., headquartered in Asahikawa (Note 2), the LNG-fueled ferry service between Oarai and Tomakomai (Note 3), scheduled to be in service in early 2025, Daibiru’s redevelopment project around the south exit of Sapporo Station (Note 4), and biomethane production in Hamanaka-cho, Hokkaido (Note 5).

The MOL Group has positioned environmental strategy as a key element of its management plan “BLUE ACTION 2035,” and set the target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 under the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2.” As a pioneering multimodal ocean shipping group, it will work with the international market and local communities to promote the adoption of clean alternative fuels and the spread and promotion of renewable energy sources in the push toward the realization of decarbonization.

(Note 1) Organized by the Japan Maritime Center since 2007, the event aims to promote a broad public understanding of the significance of the maritime sector, and plays an important role as a forum for introducing new initiatives and technologies in the sector and discussing concrete actions for regional revitalization and environmental protection. The event also plays an important role as a forum for discussing specific actions to revitalize the region and protect the environment.

(Note 2) Related press release January 10, 2024: MOL Forms Capital Alliance with Hokutaku, Japan’s largest Wind Turbine Maintenance Company

(Note 3) Related press release
September 4, 2024: Naming and Launching Ceremony Held for Sunflower Pirka, LNG-fueled Ferry on Oarai-Tomakomai Route
-LNG-fueled Tugboat Ishin Supports Launching Operations-

(Note 4) Related press release
January 29, 2024: Daibiru participates in the Sapporo Station South Exit redevelopment project
~ The second investment in Sapporo. Contributing to urban development through large-scale redevelopment of central Sapporo ~

(Note 5) Related press release
August 19, 2024: Launch of Joint study on the Production and Utilization of Biomethane from Animal Manure with Hamanaka Town and Corporate Partners