President & CEO Hashimoto Addresses Global Maritime Forum's 2024 Summit; Focuses on Issues Facing Shipping Industry - Participation as the Sole Summit Sponsor -

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), led by President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto, served as the exclusive sponsor for the 2024 Summit organized by the Global Maritime Forum (GMF), held in Tokyo from October 15-17.

The summit gathered approximately 200 maritime industry leaders to discuss key issues, including shipping decarbonization and sustainable human resource development—challenges the industry aims to address collectively.

Prior to the event, MOL hosted a visit from International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco. During this visit, MOL Chairman Junichiro Ikeda and other executives highlighted the company’s progress in safety and decarbonization initiatives.

The summit began with a panel discussion featuring MOL President Takeshi Hashimoto, who joined IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Antonio Dominguez and Cargill Ocean Transportation President and GMF Chairman Jan Dieleman. Together, they addressed recent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) challenges and discussed the current landscape of the maritime industry, setting the stage for further discussions on sustainability and industry transformation.

MOL Vice President Toshiaki Tanaka, a GMF Advisory Board member, and Chief Sustainability Officer Tatsuro Watanabe actively participated in the 2024 Summit's plenary sessions, engaging with global leaders on key maritime issues. Discussions covered topics such as decarbonization, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) both onshore and offshore, biodiversity and ocean health, digitalization and AI, ship recycling, and the circular economy.

Additionally, a press briefing was held where Watanabe, alongside IMO Secretary-General Dominguez and others, addressed the media on these critical topics, highlighting MOL’s commitment to sustainable maritime practices.

MOL remains committed to collaborating with the Global Maritime Forum (GMF) and other industry-focused organizations to actively tackle key issues in the shipping sector. These efforts include advancing industry-wide decarbonization and enhancing the well-being of seafarers and other stakeholders, reinforcing MOL's dedication to sustainable and responsible growth within the maritime industry.