MITSUI O.S.K. Lines and miner Rio Tinto have agreed to the Designated Owners and Operators program.

The DOO program is a Rio Tinto initiative to enhance safety and improve crew welfare in the dry bulk industry.

MOL said it was a foundational member of the DOO programme, and it had been closely involved in a series of meetings with Rio Tinto in the conceptualisation and design of the programme, leading to MOL’s eventual membership, as one of five initial members, in January.

By drawing on existing industry best practices, the DOO programme aims to achieve zero fatalities on ships and improve safety and management on ships. It also aims to uplift crew welfare through self-assessment tools that identify areas for improvements with verification by independent nominated parties.

MOL said it and Rio Tinto would continue to work together on the stable transportation of resources through safe vessels’ operation.