MOL boosts safety with tabletop drill

The drill was held on 10 October, with the goal of raising company-wide safety awareness by simulating a serious marine incident. MOL said “The drill was designed to demonstrate that the company can respond swiftly and appropriately in case of a serious marine incident and maintain the timely flow of accurate information. MOL also strives to further sharpen its group-wide emergency response readiness through these regular exercises.”

The main participants included MOL executives and representatives of relevant MOL divisions, who teamed up to organise an Emergency Control Headquarters, along with the charterer, Ocean Network Express (ONE).

Under the drill scenario, a fire broke out on the deck of an MOL-owned container ship, while underway off Chubu International Airport, bound for the Port of Nagoya. Then, an explosion occurred during firefighting operations. One of the ship’s crewmembers was injured while fighting the fire and was reported to be in critical condition. In addition, seven containers went overboard due to the explosion, and a coloured liquid spilled from some of them into the sea.

Upon receiving a report of the incident, MOL organised an Emergency Control Headquarters inside the company. MOL said “The timeframe of the drill spanned from the occurrence of the incident to a simulated press conference and verified the company’s capability to ensure smooth co-operation and information-gathering among the vessel, ship management company, the charterer, business divisions involved, and the company’s Emergency Control Headquarters. In addition, based on information collected, the headquarters discussed responses to be taken by the shipowner and charterer, reviewed the emergency response system, and then practiced responding to media inquiries at the simulated press conference.”

MOL holds these drills periodically to confirm its emergency response system in preparation for serious marine incidents.

MOL summed up that its “tabletop drills are intended to make sure that every employee has a higher awareness of safety and to help the company forge ahead to become a world leader in safe operation, while developing and enhancing a solid emergency response structure”.