Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that the Japan Federation of Pilots' Associations (JFPA) has presented its Best Quality Ship Award for fiscal year 2025 (Note 1) to an MOL-operated vessel—the woodchip carrier HK DELIGHT.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that an MOL-operated vessel has received this award, demonstrating the maritime community’s regard for ongoing safety initiatives based on the MOL Group’s “Safety Vision.” These initiatives form a key part of the group’s drive to strengthen its business foundation in the group management plan “BLUE ACTION 2035” Phase 2.

The award was established in 2003 to enhance awareness of safe navigation and marine environmental protection and raise standards for vessel operation. It is presented annually by the JFPA to “excellent vessels from the viewpoint of pilots,” selected from among vessels that have been guided by pilots in pilotage zones throughout Japan and are deemed particularly outstanding by the association.

In fiscal year 2025, 10 vessels were selected from among approximately 24,000 ships that requested pilotage services in pilotage districts across Japan, and one of them was operated by the MOL Group. The HK DELIGHT is the latest in a succession of vessels managed and operated by the MOL Group to be honored by the JFPA. This latest recognition reflects a comprehensive evaluation of the group’s excellent embarkation and disembarkation facilities, navigation equipment, safety measures, and the cooperative attitude of our crewmembers—led by highly skilled captains—toward pilotage operations.