MOL recognises HIP safety protocols

Global maritime logistics company Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd (MOL) has recognised Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) for its safety protocols and has certified the Hambantota International Port’s (HIP) best practices as an industry benchmark.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to HIP at MOL’s Annual Stevedore Meeting (India and Indian Ocean Region), held at the Accord Metropolitan Hotel in Chennai earlier this week, commending HIP for achieving a lowest incident rate and maintaining safe Pure Car Carrier (PCC) cargo handling during the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. 
MOL ACE (Asia, Oceania) General Manager Capt. Sakai Yuki presented the certificate, which was accepted by HIP Operations Manager Thilina Perera, on behalf of HIP.  

“Unlike other finished product cargoes, which come containerised, the RORO operations handled by the port are highly prone to damages, as they are transshipped from one vessel to another without any packaging. Therefore, diligence, skill and well-ordered standard operational procedures are necessary to ensure minimal accidents. This is what HIP has achieved and the port is now being recognised internationally for our safety standards by industry giants like MOL,” said HIPG COO Tissa Wickramasinghe. 

MOL, which owns and operates dry bulkers, tankers, LNG carriers, ferries and coastal RoRo ships, cruise ships and transports dry bulk cargo such as iron ore, coal, grains, wood, wood chips, cement, fertiliser and salt, organised this annual meeting for the first time in the Indian Ocean region. The objective of the meeting was to discuss cargo volume forecast, damage prevention activities and analysis of cargo accidents during the financial year that ended in March 2022.  

From left: HIPS Manager QHSE Rohan Sanjeewa, Hambantota Logistics (Pvt.) Limited Junior Operations Manager Kavindu Fernando, Hambantota Logistics (Pvt.) Limited Senior Supervisor Thilina Lakmal, Capt. S. Adhavan of MOL ACE (Asia Oceania) Marine Team, MOL ACE (Asia Oceania) Chennai, Assistant Manager Safety and Cargo Supervising Team Car Carrier Division, Headquarters of Product Transport and Real Property Business Capt. Dmitry Semenov, MOL India (Pvt.) Ltd General Manager Marine, Shipping and Customer Service Capt. Dibyendu Banerjee, MOL ACE (Asia, Oceania) Marine Team, MOL (Asia Oceania) Pte Ltd General Manager Capt. Sakai Yuki, HIPG Operations Manager Thilina Perera and HIPG Duty Manager Operations Harshana Tennakoon