MOL To Continue Installing Microplastic Collection Devices Onboard With New Wood Chip Carrier

Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd., and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced to install of a microplastic (*1) collection device, which is under joint development by MOL and Miura Co., Ltd., on a newbuilding woodchip carrier that will be delivered in 2022 and sail under Charter contract with Marusumi Paper.

The first device was installed for a demonstration test announced on October 27, 2020. Since then, it has been installed on three bulk carriers, making this wood chip carrier the fifth vessel so equipped.

It is usual that the microplastics have been captured by the filter within the ballast water treatment system and discharged overboard. In order to collect the microplastics, the microplastic collection device has been installed and enable to collect the microplastics through this device.

Image Credits: mol.co.jp

The performance of the device has been confirmed as designed through the demonstration test, making the device to be able to collect tens of thousands of microplastics per vessel annually.

Marusumi Paper states, “We strive to protect our global environment” in its management philosophy, and it places a high value on monozukuri (manufacturing) in harmony with the environment. The company works tirelessly on an endless quest to promote resource recycling and worldwide efforts to address environmental and social issues.

MOL aims to make the ocean clean and achieve resource recycling by installing the microplastic collection device on more vessels and recycling the collected microplastics. In addition, MOL as a global shipping company will be promoting the conservation of marine and global environment proactively.

Miura works to protect the maritime and global environment through the development and sales of its ballast water treatment system (cumulative total units sold as of end FY2020: 1,200), which was launched in 2014, as well as this microplastics collection device.

(Note *1)
The term “microplastics” refers to 5mm or smaller micro-size plastic particles resulting from discarded plastic in the ocean that is broken down by ultraviolet rays and wave action.

Reference: mol.co.jp

Source: Maritime Shipping News