“Receiving the certificate is not the goal.”

Ship Management Group General Manager Takeshi Kondo and Sales Group General Manager Tatsuya Aburano are clear on this. The certificate they are referring to is the Green Award certificate, which Mitsubishi Ore Transport received in April 2023 for excellence in management of a Pure Car and Truck Carrier and of a Capesize bulk carrier, both of which are owned and operated by the company. It was the first time a Green Award certificate was received in Japan for a Capesize bulker and the first time in the world for a Pure Car and Truck Carrier.

The Green Award Foundation, which grants the certificate, was established as an NPO in 1994 by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Its aim was to drive the highest standards in shipping through rigorous inspections. Vessels certified by the foundation are entitled to a number of benefits, including discounts on port charges and insurance premiums. As of today, around 270 vessels have obtained the Green Award certificate globally.


Purpose of pursuing the Green Award

[Our management policy]
1. As a responsible corporate citizen, we will align ourselves with the goal of a fleet fit for a carbon-free future.
2. We will achieve the safest navigation in the industry, with our competent seafarers taking all necessary measures.
3. We will strengthen our partnerships with our clients by providing valuable services.

Receiving the Green Award certificate

Catch up with advancing industry standards and differentiate our services in terms of quality of ship management

Mitsubishi Ore Transport’s management policy includes the “pursuit of top-level navigation safety.” It is this pursuit that has helped it realize top-notch quality in ship management. Furthermore, it strives to preserve the environment by properly collecting and treating all shipboard waste, equipping vessels with diesel engines that meet the latest emissions standards, and actively seeking to acquire LNG vessels in the spirit of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. Such efforts notwithstanding, “Getting certified was an arduous process,” says Kondo.

Besides the absolute requirement of navigation safety, the Green Award sets unique standards for environmental conservation and for the crew’s labor environment, expecting applicants to meet requirements numbering around 500 in total. For example, the ships need measures to control engine noise and minimize its impact on the crew, such as installing a noise meter and distributing protective gear, including earplugs.

Meeting the highest-level requirements presents a tough challenge. But it was this very fact that convinced Mitsubishi Ore Transport that the certification was worth striving for, even if it took a while to obtain.

Raising the awareness of each crew member is also essential for maintaining the high standard. That is why one of the focuses has been educating the crew, including the roughly 700 Filipino sailors. An example of such efforts is the “Early Bird Seminar” held in the early mornings. Before COVID-19, the crew had been briefed before boarding. At the onset of the pandemic, online seminars were launched. Seminars featuring the same content were held on several occasions so that sailors could participate at their convenience, keeping them alert to safety precautions and the latest vessel information.

“By holding seminars repeatedly, we were able to further heighten the crew’s awareness,” says Aburano. “To serve as speakers, we invite the person in charge of the ship’s operation from the Sales and Operation Group, the ground manager from the Ship Management Group, and their overseeing managers. The seminars have enhanced communications between the crew and the operation personnel, deepening knowledge on both sides.”

But as Kondo says, “Obtaining the Green Award certificate doesn’t mean we have achieved our goal. We continue to maintain and improve the quality of our services.”

“The Green Award Foundation is constantly adding new environment-related requirements” he continues. “We must keep up with them as well.”

“In recent years,” adds Aburano, “we have seen reports of oil spills caused by maritime accidents and subsequent destruction of coral reefs. In addition to the safety aspect, an accident can devastate the environment. We cannot separate navigation safety from environmental preservation. Our consensus within the company is that satisfying both will earn our clients’ trust and increase the value of the company. Instead of being content with the Green Award certificate, we will exert ourselves to maintain top-level quality into the future by swiftly adopting evolving industry standards.”

The Mitsubishi Ore Transport continues to lead the shipping industry through earnest and tireless efforts.