More Mitsui green action

Mitsui OSK Lines has set new environmental targets for its ships and operations. In September it released its second environmental report, stretching from April 2001 to March 2002. It states that MOL plans to sandblast 10 ships going to drydock and re-coat them with tin-free paint. Tin-based TBT anti-fouling paint is said to be pose a threat to human and marine life. Three MOL ships made the switch last year. To slow down the depletion of the ozone layer, MOL will replace 30% of its R-12 type refrigerated containers with R-134a ones. The latter refrigerant, a HFC, is said to pose no threat to the ozone layer. MOL has cut its dependence on CFC R-12 from 45% of its reefer box fleet at the start of last year to 37% at the beginning of this year. This year, it will replace another 30% of R-12 type containers with R-134a. By the end of 2003, MOL plans to eliminate the use of R-12 refrigerated containers. The group also spent a total of „714.3 million ($6.1 million) to make its vessels more fuel-efficient. It aims to invest more in this area. For instance, it will continue installing Propeller Boss Cap Fins on ships this year. This system, developed in-house, is attached to the boss cap of a ship?s propeller and is designed to break up the vortex that forms behind the propeller. MOL said the equipment, which reduces fuel consumption by 4-5%, was installed on 14 vessels last year. It will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1% per unit load (or accumulated deadweight tonnes) and reduce nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide emissions. Ships are being equipped with exhaust gas economisers and turbo generator systems which will convert thermal energy from the main engine?s exhaust gas into steam.