Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that it has concluded a time charter contract with Shimizu Corporation for two crew transfer vessels (CTV) for offshore windfarm at Ishikari Bay New Port. This marks the MOL Group's first entry into the CTV business. In addition, one of the CTVs, The KAZEHAYA owned by MOL, is the first CTV in Japan managed and operated under International Safety Management (ISM) Code which is the international standard of ship safety management system, certified by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai(ClassNK).

MOL Group company MOL Coastal Shipping, Ltd. will operate the CTVs, which will support the construction and operation of the project, transporting workers to and from the offshore windfarm. The vessels are slated to begin service later this month. By applying the international standard ship safety management system to a coastal CTV in Japan , the MOL Group will provide higher quality CTV services at offshore windfarms that will be developed in various parts of Japan in the future.

The windfarm is being developed by a special purpose company (SPC) called Green Power Ishikari LLC (established in February 2016 by Green Power Investment Corporation). The installation of 14 units of 8 MW wind turbines manufactured by Siemens Gamesa, will take place at an offshore site with an area of approximately 500 hectares.

The Japanese government has declared its target of achieving carbon neutrality, which means zero overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Offshore wind power is positioned as an important future source of electricity, and construction of offshore wind power facilities is expected to begin in earnest around 2026. The MOL Group will use this project as a foothold to deepen its knowledge of CTV operation and contribute to the wider development and use of offshore wind power generation.

In line with the "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2," the MOL Group will contribute to the stable supply of renewable energy to create a sustainable world, and promote the reduction of various impacts on the global environment, such as the protection of natural capital and biodiversity, as well as climate change countermeasures.

[Main specifications of 2 CTVs]

	KAZEHAYA	JCAT THREE
Shipyard	Damen Shipyard Singapore	Damen Shipyard Gorinchem
LOA	About 26.3 m	About 26.3 m
Breadth	About 10.0 m	About 10.0 m
Max. draft	About 2.4 m	About 2.4 m
Passenger capacity	12	12