MOL, Metro Weather unveil wind measurement solution

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Metro Weather Co., Ltd. have announced the launch of a wind condition measurement device trial on the Tokyo–Fukuoka line.

Metro Weather’s Doppler LiDAR, a long-range wind condition measuring device mounted aboard the RoRo vessel Musashi Maru, is operated by MOL Group company MOL Sunflower Ltd.

This is reportedly the world’s first Doppler LiDAR installation on a big seagoing vessel.

MOL and Metro Weather will use Doppler LiDAR to monitor wind conditions more than 10 kilometres away from Musashi Maru and display them aboard.

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Furthermore, as part of the marine industry’s digital transformation (DX), large data, such as wind conditions measured aboard, is transmitted to shore via Starlink, a high-speed data connection system.

This is intended to minimise fuel oil usage aboard and contribute to safer operations.

MOL invested in Metro Weather through MOL PLUS Co., Ltd., a MOL Group corporate venture capital subsidiary that seeks commercial alliances in a variety of areas.

In January, MOL and Hokutaku Co., Ltd., a Japanese wind turbine maintenance firm, agreed to create a capital alliance through MOL’s acquisition of the majority of Hokutaku’s outstanding shares.