The Japan Times reports the country’s aspiration on accelerating the switch to IMO-compliant fuel, such as natural gas fuel for its shipping fleet, and its halt on establishing a refuelling hub in Asia. Therefore, Japan is now implementing projects to construct vessels that will conduct ship-to-ship LNG operations as soon as possible.
Mitsubishi Corporation announced that November 4 is the day that Japan will celebrate 50 years of LNG imports, as Mitsubishi Corporation acting as a buyer’s agent, started receiving LNG in 1969 from the Alaska LNG Project with Phillips Petroleum, today’s ConocoPhillips as a seller.
Researchers discovered the wreck of the Imperial Japanese Navy carrier ‘IJN Kaga’ which sank at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The wreck is located in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument off the Midway Atoll.
The Japanese Government donated 17 patrol boats to Kenya’s Maritime Police, boosting the country’s efforts in the promotion of maritime security and the fight against terrorism. The Japanese Ambassador to Kenya further noted that Japan could not afford to ignore Kenya’s problem, due to the warm cordial relations between the two nations of more than 50 years.
The Chinese Embassy confirmed to Xinhua that five Chinese crewmembers died, three are missing and four have been rescued from the Panama-registered vessel that sank in Tokyo Bay, Saturday October 12. The vessel was discovered undersea on October 13.
The Liberian Registry announced the opening of a full-service office in Imabari, Japan, in line with the registry’s plan on expanding its presence in Asia to meet the demands of this market and come a step closer to their clients.
A Japanese Fisheries Agency patrol ship collided with a North Korean fishing vessel on the morning of Monday, October 7, which led to the sinking of the fishing vessel. A search for survivors has been established and as announced by the agency that all of the sixty individuals that were on board at the time have been safely rescued.
Carnival Corporation has begun the construction of what it claims to be the cruise industry’s first cruise terminal in Japan, located at the port of Sasebo, planned to begin operations in summer 2020. Following the 20-year agreement that was signed in March 2018 with the of Sasebo and MLIT Japan, the cruise company will build and operate the new terminal.
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Group), the Japanese shipping company, has announced the delivery of a methanol carrier, Takaroa Sun, equipped with a two-stroke dual-fuel engine technology that enables the vessel to be powered by methanol.
K Line, Japan’s shipping major, has jointly agreed with Hiroshima University, the National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology and Marubeni Corporation to work on the research and analysis of maritime logistics and shipping market conditions using artificial intelligence (AI).
