MANILA — Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) president Koichi Muto said the shipping lines will decommission five double-hull tankers by March.

Muto said the company had completely scrapped two vessels and that preparations were under way to start dismantling the other three.

All five tankers were crude carriers launched before 1998.

These are Atlantic Liberty weighing 311,625 dead-weight tons (dwt); Atlantic Prosperity, with 311,689 dwt; Minesa, with 267,812 dwt; Rion with 267,534 dwtl and Glen Maye, 151,850 dwt.

MOL, as one of the world's leading crude oil transport operators, is moving ahead to rejuvenate its fleet, upgrade the quality of its services, and solidify its position in the market, where it expects mid- and long-term growth.

Meanwhile, the vessels will be scrapped at yards that conform to the "Guidelines to sell vessels for scrapping from an environmental viewpoint" stipulated by the shipping giant. (PNA)

RMA/PFN