MOL Announces Changes to Africa Trade Network

April 14, 2010

Tokyo — Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL, President: Akimitsu Ashida) today announced changes in its services related to the Africa trade.

Aiming for more stable service and schedule integrity, Mozambique Zuid Africa Service (MZX) will cover Durban, which is currently covered by Asia / East Coast South America Service (CSW). MZX will also be upgraded from 10 days interval to weekly service, but will suspend port calls at Indian Ocean Islands, which will be covered by a new dedicated service, Indian Ocean Islands Express (IOX).

South bound CSW service will call at Ngqura (South Africa)(*) instead of Durban. Furthermore, MOL has set up a new Angola Shuttle service (AOS) to cater to the growing trade requirements to and from Angola.

MOL General Manager of the Liner Division T.K. Konishi said, "One of major objectives in MOL's new mid-term management plan, GEAR UP! MOL, is to focus on emerging trades and countries. We are the only Asian carrier that calls at the port of Ngqura as a hub port, which not only accommodates much larger ships but also is designed to offer efficient transship operation. These features help MOL enhance its network, with Ngqura as a strategic hub port. All of our customers will benefit in transporting their cargoes on these routes through our new high-quality service network."

Transnet Port Terminals COO Nosipho Damasane commented, "MOL development of these service changes are exactly what Transnet is looking for in the development of the Ngqura terminal, namely volume growth of transshipment cargo from other regions around the global. Transnet Port Terminals looks forward to MOL's development in Ngqura and to the growth of partnership to both companies' mutual benefit."

The details are as follow:

1. Revised Services

A. Asia / East Coast South Africa service (CSW)

- New Service Rotation
Xingang - Dalian - Qingdao - Pusan - Shanghai - Hong Kong - Singapore - Ngqura - Santos - Buenos Aires - Montevideo - Paranagua - Sao Francisco Do Sul - Santos - Rio De Janeiro - Cape Town - Ngqura - Singapore - Hong Kong - Xingang

- New Service commencement Departure of MOL Strength Voy. 4928AB, May 7, 2010 at Singapore

B. Mozambique Zuid Africa Service (MZX)

- New Service Rotation
Singapore - Durban - Maputo - Port Kelang - Singapore

- New Service commencement
Departure, May 8, 2010 at Singapore

- Frequency : Weekly service

C. South / West Africa service (SWX)

- New Service Rotation
Durban - Ngqura - Cape Town - Walvis Bay - Abidjan - Tema - Lome - Cotonou - Douala - Ngqura - Durban

- New Service commencement
Departure of MOL Heritage Voy. 0902A, May 21, 2010 at Durban

2. New service

A. Indian Ocean Express (IOX)

- Service rotation
Singapore - Port Louis - Reunion - Tamatave - Singapore

- New Service commencement
Departure of MOL Silver Fern Voy. 0101A, May 17, 2010 at Singapore

- Frequency: Fortnightly service

B. Angola Shuttle Service (AOS)

- Service rotation
Ngqura - Luanda - Ngqura

- New Service commencement
Departure of MOL Silver Fern Voy. 0011A, June 4, 2010 at Ngqura

- Frequency : 21 days interval service

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(*) The port of Ngqura
The Port of Ngqura is a deepwater port of South Africa, 20km north east of Port Elizabeth.Transnet, a national company in South Africa that has controlled all terminals in South Africa, has operated their terminal in Ngqura since October, 2009. The port of Ngqura, which has the deepest berths and efficient terminals for transshipping, will be one of the main hub ports in these areas.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.