History of Our Company's Ship Technology

MOL successfully developed the first energy-saving device that focuses on recovering energy losses due to propeller hub vortices by attaching fins into the propeller's wake. Since its commercialization, it has been installed on over 4,300 vessels (as of 2024), contributing to the reduction of fuel consumption and the reduction of GHG emissions from shipping.

PCC "COURAGEOUS ACE," which had new design achieving energy savings by reducing wind resistance and leeway in navigation was put in service. The energy-saving effect of approximately 5-8% was demonstrated in actual voyages. The new design has been adopted on many of our car carriers and has become a symbol.
(Note: PCC = Pure Car Carrier, Leeway: A state where the ship advances with an angle between the centerline and the direction of travel due to the influence of wind or tidal currents)

Senpaku ISHIN was launched with the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions, featuring three concepts:

• ISHIN-Ⅰ: Hybrid car carrier utilizing natural energy source
• ISHIN-Ⅱ: Ferry using LNG fuel
• ISHIN-Ⅲ: Large iron ore carrier for next-generation resource transportation

As part of ISHIN-Ⅰ, the world's first newly built hybrid car carrier was delivered. It is equipped with a power supply system that combines a photovoltaics and lithium-ion batteries, demonstrating the use of natural energy and large storage batteries onboard.

A large iron ore carrier equipped with a high-efficiency waste heat energy recovery system, which is the core technology of ISHIN-Ⅲ, was delivered.

Senpaku ISHINNEXT -MOL SMART SHIP PROJECT- was launched. It promotes technology development that strengthens sales capabilities and enhances corporate value : advanced support technologies for safer vessel operation and technologies for reducing environmental impact. It has become the foundation for many projects to date.

The design of PBCF was upgraded for the first time of a major upgrade since the original design was developed in 1987. The improved new design was released to the market in 2017. It has already received orders for over 900 vessels (as of 2024). The height, shape, and twist of the fins were improved to achieve further performance enhancement.

The "FOCUS" project to utilize voyage data was launched. By deepening data acquisition onboard and data linkage between vessel and shore-based facilities, we achieved advanced ship operation monitoring and propulsion performance analysis using shipbuilding engineering methods based on detailed voyage and engine data obtained from operating vessels, enhancing safe navigation and reducing environmental impact.

The 100,000-ton coal carrier "Shofu Maru," equipped with the first commercial wind-assisted propulsion system, "Wind Challenger," was put in service. It achieved a maximum fuel-saving effect of 17% per day and an average of 5-8% per voyage in actual voyages.

As part of ISHIN-Ⅱ and ISHINNEXT, the ferries equipped with high-performance Dual Fuel engines that can use both LNG and heavy oil as fuel, the first of their kind in domestic ferries, were put in service.

The second bulk carrier equipped with the "Wind Challenger", "Green Winds," was put in service.