2024/08/30 World's 1st: Car Carrier CERULEAN ACE Earns ClassNK Certification for Voluntary Onboard Fire Prevention Measures Using AI to Enhance Fire Prevention

August 30, 2024

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that on August 27, the CERULEAN ACE, an LNG-fueled car carrier operated by MOL and managed by MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. has been granted certification "Additional Fire-Fighting measures for Vehicle Carrier (AFVC)" by the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for its voluntary measures to prevent onboard fires during the transport of electric vehicles. This is the first case in the world in which an ocean shipping company's voluntary measures against electric vehicle fires have earned certification from a ship classification society.

ClassNK established certification rules for fire safety measures on car carriers in its Guidelines for the Safe Transportation of Electric Vehicles, which were formulated in August 2023, to enable an objective evaluation of advanced safety measures taken by shipowners and ship management companies. The CERULEAN ACE was certified as meeting three of the guideline's requirements: FD (Fire Detection), FF (Fire Fighting) and EFF (Enhanced Fixed Fire-extinguishing system).

One of the most advanced initiatives among the three provisions certified this time is the installation of cameras and artificial intelligence systems for smoke recognition in the cargo holds of new vessels, including the CERULEAN ACE, for early detection of fires (Note 1). When the AI system detects an abnormality in the images captured by the camera, it sends an alarm to the crewmember onboard and to the onshore ship management company. The system was highly evaluated for its usefulness in the early detection of vehicle fires, resulting in the certification.

This certification represents ClassNK's official recognition of MOL's effort to pursue advanced safety initiatives. As a leading company in the transport of completed vehicles, MOL will continue to promote fire prevention and ensure safe transport.

[Vessel specifications]
Ship Type: 7,050RT type LNGDF car carrier (high-pressure main engine)
Shipyard: Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co., Ltd., Onishi Shipyard
LOA: 199.95 m
Breadth: 38.00 m
Max. capacity: 7,050 units

(Note 1) For details on the AI system, please refer to the November 15, 2023, press release:
MOL to Install Cameras, AI Systems in Cargo Holds of Newbuilding LNG-fueled Car Carriers for Early Fire Detection

MOL Group 5 Sustainability Issues
MOL Group identifies "Sustainability Issues" (Materiality) as our key issues for sustainable growth with society through realization of the Group Vision.
We anticipate this initiative to contribute especially to the realization of "Safety & Value -Provide added value through safe transportation and our social infrastructure business-" and "Innovation -Innovation for development in marine technology-".