MOL Recognises HIP Safety Protocols

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

Global maritime logistics company Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. (MOL) has recognised the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) for its safety protocols and has certified the Hambantota International Port’s 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 PCC (Pure Car Carrier) cargo handling during the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 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, 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,” says 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 March 2022.