Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has announced that its training ship, the Spirit of MOL (*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 MOL, its group company Magsaysay MOL Marine, Inc. (*2) and the Philippine government.

MOL received a request for transport of emergency aid supplies from the Philippines Social Welfare Development, and swiftly assigned the Spirit of MOL, 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 MOL 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 MOL 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, and helped with cleanup efforts at a school damaged by the typhoon.

MOL'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.