Tag: Japan

Permanent standards for governments to allow private armed security agents Japan should continue playing a leading role in working out international regulatory standards for shipping, including those for fuel efficiency of vessels, for the sake of Japan's national interests, Koji Sekimizu, incoming chief of the International Maritime Organization, said.International standards incorporating Japanese ideas are beneficial to Japan as Japanese shipbuilders and shipping companies can readily adapt to them, Sekimizu, 58, said during a press interview.Japan's leading role in developing international shipping rules will be appreciated internationally and thus will lead to its national interests, he said, noting that Tokyo has considerably contributed to the preparation of standards for reducing the emission of global warming gases from ships.Sekimizu, director of the IMO's Maritime Safety Division, will become the first Japanese to assume the post of secretary general next January at the London-based U.N. agency, which has 169 member countries and specializes in maritime security and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.Noting that pirate activities are increasing especially in the Indian Ocean, Sekimizu said there should be permanent standards for governments to allow private armed security agents to board ships.Source: Kyodo News

No immediate reports of injuries or damage A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's northeastern coast on Sunday. Tsunami advisories were issued following the Japan earthquake, Tokyo Breaking News reported. The alert was later lifted.According to Reuters, Fukushima nuclear plant workers evacuated to higher ground following the earthquake, with no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Tokyo Electric Power said that there did not appear to be any further damage at the nuclear plant.In March, Japan's earthquake and tsunami devastated the country, and wreaked havoc at the Fukushima nuclear plant.The Associated Press reports:The quake hit at 9:57 local time (0057 GMT), and a warning of a tsunami was issued for most of the northeastern coastline. The epicenter of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's main island, Honshu, at a depth of about 20 miles (30 kilometers).Japanese officials predicted the quake could generate tsunami of up to 20 inches (50 centimeters), but the initial waves were only about 4 inches (10 centimeters).The tsunami warning was lifted after the forecast arrival time of the waves passed in most areas without any tsunami being recorded.Japan's Meteorological agency at first estimated the strength of the quake at 7.1, but ...

Increasing international interest in Vietnam's port sector The Japanese government, investors, contractors, and shipping lines are all looking to get involved in the Vietnamese ports and shipping sector, said the London-based Business Monitor International's (BMI) Vietnam freight transport report for 2011's third quarter, according to Vietnam News Briefs Service.Japanese interest in Vietnam's ports and shipping industry was surging, BMI noted, cited Kobe Steel as saying it will build its own US$244 million to $365 million port in Vietnam to secure iron nugget supplies.Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) will deploy Europe-bound container vessels for the first time that will have a handling capacity of 6,500 TEUs. MOL will operate 10 such vessels through Vietnam on a weekly basis.Besides, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) was to launch freight services between Southeast Asian countries in association with state-run Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines).Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K'' Line) along with a Vietnamese logistics firm will establish a joint venture in Hanoi to operate an international freight forwarding business by sea and air. The venture was also considering establishing a branch in Ho Chi Minh City.Meanwhile, Japan International Cooperation Agency was funding the bulk of the US$1.7 billion to Lach Huyen's new port project in the ...

Between a Taiwanese fishing boat and a Japanese coast guard vessel China's Foreign Ministry lambasted Japan yesterday after a confrontation between a Taiwanese fishing boat and a Japanese coast guard vessel near a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea."The Diaoyu Islands and attached islets have been Chinese territory since ancient times, and China has incontrovertible sovereignty over them," ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a brief statement on the ministry's website (www.mfa.gov.cn)."Any actions taken by Japan in the seas around the Diaoyu Islands are illegal and invalid," he added, referring to the incident with the fishing boat.China and Japan have bickered for years over the group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, which are also claimed by Taiwan.Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference in Tokyo that the Japanese Coast Guard found a Taiwanese fishing boat approaching the islands and warned the boat not to enter Japanese waters."From the viewpoints of history and international law, there is no doubt that the Senkaku islands are our inherent territory," Edano said.Source: The Peninsula

Intends to heighten the global competitive edge of Japan's shipyards The Japanese government is working with industry players to establish some basic guidelines in a move to strengthen the country's shipbuilding industry.The ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism (MLIT) intends to heighten the global competitive edge of Japan's shipyards through industry restructuring and business revamp.The broad outline of the guidelines include corporate alliance and business consolidation, entering new market and new sector, and strengthening the maritime cluster.Shipyards that develop their business according to those directors would receive tax incentives or other regulatory benefits.Meanwhile, the Japan Ship Exporters' Association announced Tuesday that Japanese shipbuilders signed 18 newbuilding orders totalling 550,000 gross tonnes in May, down 41% year-on-year in gross tonnes terms.Source: Seatrade-Asia

Although TEPCO told that it will release the water after removing radioactive substances Tokyo Electric Power Cos plan to release water containing traces of radioactive materials from the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant to the sea has been stopped due to stiff opposition from the Fisheries Agency, sources close to the mater said Wednesday.Although TEPCO told the agency that it will release the water after removing radioactive substances to an undetectable level, the agency is not approving the plan, leaving the fate of the 3,000 tons of the water accumulated in the nuclear power station, located 15 kilometers south from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi power plant, undecided.If the water remains in tanks for a prolonged time, the storage facility may be corroded by salt in the water.After being flooded by tsunami following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on March 11, the Fukushima Daini power station saw about 7,000 tons of water accumulate in its facilities.Of the water, 3,000 tons in the reactor, turbine and other buildings has been found to contain a small amount of radioactive materials such as cobalt.TEPCO initially planned to let the water stay in the tank, but changed its mind after seeing ...

The Port of Hachinohe and the Port of Sendai Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping firm, announced the partial resumption of services at two Japanese ports damaged by the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern part of the country on March 11.The Port of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture and the Port of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, will resume partial services, Maersk K.K., Maersk Lines Japanese subsidiary, said Monday.Maersk Lines services -- for both exports and imports -- had been completely suspended at the Port of Hachinohe, the Port of Sendai and the Port of Onahama in Fukushima Prefecture -- since the March 11 twin natural disasters.The three ports are all located on the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, which bore the brunt of the disasters.Maersk Lines services at the Port of Hachinohe and the Port of Sendai have been suspended due to heavy damage to terminal facilities and barge and feeder service suspension caused by the huge earthquake and tsunami, Maersk K.K. said in a press release.Now that we confirm the operational feasibility after repair works and resumption of barge and feeder service, we are pleased to announce that Maersk Line partly re-opens acceptance at those ...

$122.4 million credit agreements Safe Bulkers, Inc., an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced that it has entered into three credit agreements with Japanese governmental financial institutions amounting to US $122.4 million to finance the acquisition of three Japanese Post-Panamax class newbuild vessels.The previously-announced vessel acquisitions from Japanese shipyards relate to one vessel which was delivered in 2010 and two vessels which are expected to be delivered in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The structure of the financing is in accordance with the Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development-approved export credit schemes.The amount is repayable over twelve years with very competitive financial terms. The credit agreements were concluded with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, (JBIC), and Citibank Japan, Ltd acting as lead arranger.The JBIC is the international wing of Japan Finance Corporation, a Japanese governmentalfinancial institution which conducts lending, investment and guarantee operations while complementing private sector financial institutions, promoting Japanese industry.Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, the official export credit agency of Japan, insured almost half of the amount.Safe Bulkers, Inc. is believed to be the first Greece-based shipping company to enter into financing arrangements of this kind with Japanese governmental financial institutions. The transaction expands the Companys strong ...

Possibly from nearby oil tanks damaged in the March earthquake and tsunami Oil has been found leaking into the sea near the crisis-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, possibly from nearby oil tanks that may have been damaged in the March earthquake and tsunami, the plant operator said Tuesday, adding that it will set up oil fences to prevent the liquid from spreading into the Pacific Ocean.The oil slick was found at 8 a.m. by Tokyo Electric Power Co workers who were patrolling the premises of the plant on the Pacific coast, and is believed to be spreading at a 200-300 meter range inside breakwaters.As the leakage appears to have remained inside the breakwaters, the governments Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency spokesman Hidehiko Nishiyama said that the impact on areas outside the breakwaters is likely to be extremely limited so far.Tokyo Electric suspects that the oil may have leaked from tanks located near the water intake for the Nos. 5 and 6 reactors or pipes that deliver the oil, because the March 11 disaster took place when a tanker was supplying oil. One of the tanks was moved from its original location because of the tsunami.The tanks, each with a 960-kiloliter ...

Increase in steaming coal imports Malaysian Bulker Carriers (MBC) is anticipating the dry bulk market to recover over the medium-term with an increase in steaming coal imports in place of Japan's decommissioned nuclear power plants.The reconstruction of Japan's devastated areas are also likely to spur demand in the dry bulk sector, it added. In the short-term, the dry bulk sector will be adversely affected by the Japanese disaster as cargo volumes are taken off the market due to plant shutdowns and logistical slowdowns, the company said in a statement.As with many other dry bulk owners, MBC has experienced weak charter rates that have affected its bottomline. The Kuala Lumpur-listed firm managed to post a marginal increase in net profit in the first quarter while revenue dipped due to a 28% fall in the hire rates. MBC recorded net profit RM52.7m in the quarter ended 31 March 2011, edging up from RM51.4m in the same quarter last year as operating expenses were reduced. Revenue declined by 25.8% to RM84.9m compared to RM114.4m in the previous year's quarter.The company raised concerns over an over-tonnage market as newbuildings continue to flood the market. Managing overcapacity will remain a challenge in coming years, it ...