MOL and joint PBCF developers attend 2017 Nikkei Global Environmental Technology Award ceremony

On November 20 Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and the joint developers of the Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) attended the commendation ceremony for the 2017 Nikkei Global Environmental Technology Award, presented by Nikkei Inc. at Nikkei Tokyo Head Office (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), where the PBCF received the technology award, MOL reported.

The PBCF offers an energy savings of around 3-5% compared to similar vessels not equipped with the PBCF, and more than 3,200 have been sold for vessels all over the world since its introduction in 1987. In May 2017, MOL commenced sales of a new type of PBCF, which shows more energy-saving efficiency than conventional one.

Among those on hand for the event were MOL Managing Executive Officer Yoshikazu Kawagoe, President Hirokazu Hatta of MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd., Executive Director Yusuke Nakashima of Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., President Seigo Ishii of West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd., and President Taiji Maeda of Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen) Inc.

At the ceremony, MOL Managing Executive Officer Kawagoe expressed his joy at receiving the award, saying "It is a great honor to receive the technology award, and all of us concerned are deeply grateful," adding, "In January of this year, the PBCF was recognized as an environment-friendly device when it was selected as a technology to reduce underwater noise by the EcoAction Program implemented by the Port of Vancouver, Canada (Note 3). We also started sales of a refined PBCF and the PBCF continues to evolve even 30 years after sales of the conventional PBCF started. We will continue to contribute to environmental protection."