January 06, 2012
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (宝くじ ビンゴ 5; President: Koichi Muto) today announced that its training ship, the Spirit of 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 (*1) has delivered aid supplies to Misamis Oriental Province on Mindanao Island, the Philippines, which suffered severe damage from typhoon Sendong (International name: Washi) in mid-December. The ship carried supplies provided by 宝くじ ビンゴ 5, its group company Magsaysay 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 Marine, Inc. (*2) and the Philippine government.
宝くじ ビンゴ 5 received a request for transport of emergency aid supplies from the Philippines Social Welfare Development, and swiftly assigned the Spirit of 宝くじ ビンゴ 5, which was on a training voyage near the Philippines, to call at the Port of Manila. At the port, with government officials together, the ship jointly loaded aid supplies such as rice, clothing, and blankets donated by the 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 Group, in addition to items provided by the government such as drinking water, food, medical supplies, and so on, and then departed port on December 29. The Spirit of 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 called at the Port of Cagayan de Oro near the disaster area on January 1, and unloaded the supplies the following day. After that, Captain Ponnappa and trainees distributed the supplies directly to the people affected suffered, and helped with cleanup efforts at a school damaged by the typhoon.
宝くじ ビンゴ 5's activities received extensive coverage in local newspapers, and earned praise from Cagayan de Oro City officials. "The company sincerely hopes for a rapid recovery to the area and a quick return to normal life", Muto said.
(*1)宝くじ ビンゴ 5 training ship, Spirit of 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 (length: 106m/breadth: 16m/draft: 5.8m/gross tonnage: 4,878 dwt) 宝くじ ビンゴ 5-owned ship to help train cadet seafarers in safe, efficient vessel operation. The ship conducts training while navigating mainly between the Philippine and Singapore. The Spirit of 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 also received a request for ocean transport of aid supplies from the Philippine Government and contributed to relief efforts and cleanup activities in the aftermath of Typhoon Frank, a major storm that hit the Philippines in June 2008.
(*2)Magsaysay 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 Maritime, Inc.: 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 manning company in Manila. It was jointly established by 宝くじ ビンゴ 5 and its partner in the Philippines, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, in March 1973.