Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that the Japan Federation of Pilots' Association (JFPA) has presented its Best Quality Ship Award for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to two MOL-operated vessels—the LNG carrier LNG SATURN and the bulk carrier TAIYO.
The award was founded in 2003 to raise awareness of port and ocean environmental protection through safe operation of vessels, and is presented to "excellent vessels from the viewpoint of pilots," as selected by the JFPA.
For the FY2021 awards, seven vessels, including the two operated by MOL, were selected from among those requesting pilot operations at pilotage districts throughout Japan.
To date, more than 20 vessels related to MOL have received this award. For FY2021, JFPA conducted a comprehensive evaluation to assess efforts to properly maintain nautical equipment and boarding equipment, safety measures, and establish a cooperative system among crewmembers, including captains, for pilots who guide the vessels. The results of this evaluation led to the selection of the winning ships.
The Japan Federation of Pilots' Association (JFPA) was founded by its predecessor, the Japanese Pilots' Association, in 2007 when the Pilotage Law was revised and is comprised of Pilots' Associations whole of Japan.