MOL opens online secondhand ship equipment ‘shop’
Japanese shipping company starts trading in used equipment in Turkey
MOL plans to expand used equipment trading business following a pilot scheme in Turkey
MITSUI OSK Lines is starting an e-commerce business to trade used ship equipment sourced from demolition yards.
The move, in line with the company’s goal of expanding beyond the ocean transport business, will be piloted in Turkey.
The long-term aim is to expand the initiative across the world, with a focus on India and Bangladesh, where large numbers of ships are dismantled.
The group is undertaking this move in line with its goal “to globally expand its business domain outside of ocean transport,” said chief executive Takeshi Hashimoto in a statement.
He said the entry into the e-commerce business in Turkey and expansion of its logistics business domain further strengthened its operations in the country.
MOL’s business in Turkey would promote recycling and reduce waste of used ship equipment, which until now had to be stored for long periods of time or disposed of at vessel demolition yards in the country, Mr Hashimoto said.
The scheme will be limited to yards certified by the Ship Recycling Convention.
Most items listed for sale on the dedicated website are antiques, including lamps, barometers, hygrometers and an array of other small ship equipment.
But MOL Turkey was looking at ways to expand the selection in the future with large items such as ship equipment and lifeboats, he said.