Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has announced that the Soma Maru, the coal carrier which serves for Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. , was named the "Bulk Ship of the Year" at the IBJ Awards 2014 held in Rotterdam on November 17, the company said in its press release.
Held annually by the U.K.-based maritime industry magazine "International Bulk Journal", The IBJ Awards recognize and honor companies and organizations in various fields for their contributions to the global bulk carrier industry.
The Soma Maru was jointly developed by Sanoyas Shipyard and MOL, and is a state-of-the-art coal carrier with a wide-beam/shallow-draft design, various safety features and energy-saving specifications. The vessel was singled out for its versatility and environmental performance.