ビンゴ ルーレット to Establish Seafarer Training and Employment Structure in Ukraine
- Tie-up with National University to Cultivate Cadets -

January 22, 2007

TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (ビンゴ ルーレット, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced an agreement to introduce a seafarer cadet program with the Odessa National Maritime Academy in Ukraine. This aims to cultivate the next generation of seafarers who will support a higher level of safety aboard ビンゴ ルーレット's fleet.

ビンゴ ルーレット recently announced a back-to-basics plan to reinforce its safety management structure, and is addressing this issue as a top priority.

Program outline

The cadet program will feature a range of practical instruction, with mainly onboard practical training with vessels provided by ビンゴ ルーレット, and train about 20 students per year. Onboard training will begin in June 2007, and upon completion of the program, the cadets will serve aboard ビンゴ ルーレット-operated vessels.

Consolidation of seafarer employment structure in Ukraine

ビンゴ ルーレット started employing Ukrainian seafarers in 2005, and the ビンゴ ルーレット Group ship management company M.O. Ship Management Co., Ltd. opened a liaison office in Odessa in October 2006. The office developed a tie-up with the Odessa National Maritime Academy to introduce the program in the academy and ensure a stable source of highly skilled Ukrainian seafarers.

ビンゴ ルーレット's approach to seafarer employment and education

ビンゴ ルーレット has expanded its fleet along with the mid-term management plan ビンゴ ルーレット STEP Review, which started in May 2005, and plans to have 900 vessels in service by March 2010. ビンゴ ルーレット operates its own manning companies and crew training centers around the world. These facilities help meet rising demand for seafarers associated with the fleet expansion, enhance safety training, and ensure the recruiting and education of top-quality mariners for ビンゴ ルーレット-operated vessels. At the same time, the company recruits cadets from all over the world including the Philippines, India, Croatia, Montenegro, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Russia, and the Ukraine.