Vol. 16 No. 4 July/August 2019

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Voicesfrom theSeafarers
Page 3

JSU demands safety of seafarers,
ships sailing near Strait of Hormuz
Task Force calls on MLIT, other relevant parties to give information, protection
The All Japan Seamen’s Union (JSU) received reports on June 13,
2019 that two oil tankers, including one owned by a Japanese enterprise, had been shot while sailing near the Strait of Hormuz in
the Gulf of Oman. On June 14, JSU President Yasumi Morita andoceangoing-shipping shop stewards asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to ensure safety for vessels carrying cargo near the Strait of Hormuz and seafarers working
on board those ships. More specifically, the JSU made the following
three requests: (1) to immediately disclose information on and factsof the tanker attacks, (2) to convene a public-private liaison meetingto establish a necessary liaison and cooperative consultation system,and (3) to take all possible actions to ensure the safety of ships running near the strait and for seamen working on such vessels.

T

he JSU set up an
emergency task force
under its International Affairs Bureau
on June 13 upon learning thattwo oil tankers, one of which isowned by a Japanese firm, hadbeen attacked while navigatingnear the Strait of Hormuz in the
Gulf of Oman, and establishedan emergency liaison system andshared information with relevant
parties.
The union then asked theJapanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA)’s oceangoing shipping
labor committee and the International Mariners Management
Association of Japan (IMMAJ)
to convene meetings as soon as
possible to discuss safety issues.

The JSU also demanded that information be obtained from andshared with the MLIT, which
has jurisdiction over the tanker
attacks, and the managementcompany of the tanker owned bya Japanese enterprise.
On June 14, the JSU convened
a liaison meeting with oceangoing shop stewards, sharing information with them on actions
that it can take in the future andother subjects. After the meeting, it made emergency requests
with the MLIT.
At the MLIT, the requests
were made with Mr. Satoru
Mizushima, director-general of
the Maritime Bureau. In respect
to the incidents in which two
oil tankers, which included one

JSU President Yasumi Morita (left) submits a document of requests with Chairman Seishiro Etoof Kaiji Shinko Renmei (right).

owned by a Japanese company,
were hit on June 13, while traveling near the Strait of Hormuz
in the Gulf of Oman, President
Morita strongly asked Director-

From left: Director-General Satoru Mizushima of the MLIT’s Maritime Bureau receiving a document of requests, JSU President Yasumi Morita presenting the document, Shop Steward Masakazu Funabashi from Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Shop Steward Hiroki Kiyooka from Mitsui
O.S.K. Lines (MOL)

General Mizushima to disclose
information on the incidents
immediately, launch a publicprivate liaison meeting to establish a necessary liaison systemand ensure safety for both ships
and seafarers.
Having pointed out that there
could be another attack, the JSU
delegation suggested that shipping companies not be responsible for taking care of such cases.
It demanded that cooperation
among relevant parties remaintight to enable them to continue
to share information. The union
also asked the government ofJapan to make utmost efforts toensure safety of seamen.
Shop stewards accompanying President Morita to visit the
MLIT to make the requests onbehalf of the shipping companies
they belong to said that it is important to take necessary actions
to keep union members working
onsite from feeling uneasy anddisclose information on a timely
basis.
On June 18, the JSU submitted a document with Mr.
Seishiro Eto, chairman of Kaiji
Shinko Renmei (Association of
Lawmakers Promoting Maritime

Affairs) and a member of the
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)and the House of Representatives, demanding that safety beensured for vessels sailing near
the Strait of Hormuz and mariners working on board such vessels.
At the meeting the JSU heldon June 14 with the JSA’s oceangoing shipping labor committee, the partners confirmed recent developments and agreed
with each other to enhance theiremergency liaison system andcontinue to share information.
On June 18, the JSU met with
the IMMAJ to discuss safety issues. Similar to the June 14
meeting, they confirmed that toensure safety for ships runningin the said waters and seamen on
duty on board such ships, laborand management would both
strive to reinforce their emergency liaison system, and that they
will share detailed information.
The JSU will continue to run
its emergency liaison section toensure safety for ship operations
and demand that Tokyo and other relevant parties do whatever
they can do to ensure safety forships and seamen.

MARITIME NEWS(2)

JULY/AUGUST 2019Japan considering US-led ME maritime security effortTaccording to a transcript provided
by the defense department. He
was specifically asked whether Japan should join, according to thetranscript.
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense
Force has been in operation in
the Gulf of Aden offshore Somalia
since 2009 to protect vessels withJapanese interests in the wake ofpiracy attacks.
The UK has joined the US in amaritime security mission in the
Persian Gulf, its defense ministry
said Monday, following tanker attacks in the region and the seizureof a UK-flagged tanker by Iranianforces in the Strait of Hormuz.

making efforts to diversify a partof its crude supply and bypass theStrait of Hormuz, a company executive said Wednesday.
“We are paying very close attention to [situations in] the Persian
Gulf in the Middle East because
Middle Eastern crude oil accounts
for more than 80% of our [requirements],” Yoshiaki Ouchi, director and senior vice president of
JXTG Holdings, the parent of therefining arm, said at an earnings
press conference in Tokyo.
JXTG has a combined 1.93
million b/d of installed refining
capacity across 11 refineries in Japan. It also has a combined crude
storage capacity of 7.35 million
kl, or 46.23 million barrels, across
57 tanks at its Kiire terminal, oneof the world’s largest crude oil
storage terminals.
“While the Middle East is anextremely important [crude] procurement source, it might not beeasy to make a shift but we areconsidering making efforts to diversify a part of our procurement
sources,” Ouchi said. JXTG is also
considering crude procurements
without transiting Hormuz, hesaid, declining to elaborate on alternative sources.
Saudi Arabia has access to the
Red Sea via Yanbu port, using theroughly 5 million b/d Petroline(East-West Pipeline). A 1.5 million b/d pipeline also links Abu
Dhabi’s onshore fields to the portof Fujairah.
The Middle East accounted
for 88.6% of Japan’s crude imports, or an average of 3.07
million b/d, over January-June,
according to the Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Industry
data. (Source: Platts)

he government ofJapan is considering
a U.S.-led maritime
security coalition for
the Strait of Hormuz as it tries tofind ways to protect Japan-related
ships and ensure stable crude supply, Takeshi Iwaya, defense minister, said after meeting his U.S.
counterpart.
Speaking to reporters after
meeting with U.S. Secretary of
Defense Mark Esper in Tokyo,
Iwaya was asked whether Esper
had mentioned the U.S.-led coalition to protect the Strait of
Hormuz, according to a Japanese
defense ministry official.
While declining to elaborate on
specific topics discussed, Iwaya
said: “the government will make acomprehensive judgment, considering various aspects,” according
to the official.

Iwaya said that Japan needs toseek a balance between its need toensure the safety of navigation ofJapan-related tankers and its relationship with the U.S. while keeping an amicable relationship with
Iran, according to the official.
Japan’s oil supply security cameunder the spotlight on June 13
when two vessels, including one
operated by a Japanese shipping
company, were attacked just outside of the Strait of Hormuz. The
waterway, a key route for oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, is used foraround 80% of Japan’s crude imports.
While en route to Tokyo Tuesday, Esper told reporters that:“any and every country that has
an interest in freedom of navigation and freedom of commerceneeds to really consider” being
involved in monitoring the strait,

First cruise shipon battery powersails for the Arctic

ClassNK joins in alternative fuel working group

The world’s first cruise ship propelled partially by battery power
is set to head out from northern
Norway on its maiden voyage,
cruise operator Hurtigruten said.
The hybrid expedition cruise
ship, the Roald Amundsen, cantake 500 passengers and is designed to sail in harsh climate
waters.
Named after the Norwegian
explorer who navigated theNorthwest Passage in 1903-1906
and was first to reach the South
Pole in 1911, the ship heads for
the Arctic from Tromsoe thisweek and will sail the Northwest
Passage to Alaska before heading
south, reaching Antarctica in October.
While the engines run mainly
on marine gasoil, the ship’s battery pack enables it to run solely
on batteries for around 45 to 60
minutes under ideal conditions,
Hurtigruten Chief Executive
Daniel Skjeldam told Reuters.
The company estimates thatthe battery pack will reduce fuelconsumption and save about
20% in carbon dioxide emissions, compared to if the ship
was operating on marine gasoil
alone.
“It’s designed to take excessive
energy from the engines and put
into the battery when the ship
doesn’t need it, and put it backinto the engine when the shipneeds it – it is a way of reducing
emissions significantly without
having charging stations available,” Skjeldam said.
Battery technology for propelling ships is in its infancy,
even on shorter routes, as few
ports provide charging stations.
(Source: MB 2019-7-03)

Leading Classification Society
ClassNK is participating in the“Cross-industrial Working Group
Related to Zero Emission Alternative Ship Fuels” established by the
CCR Study Group (*). This working group which ClassNK acts as
secretariat to aims to reduce CO2
emissions in the international
value chain by use of methane
synthesized through methanation
technology which combines CO2
and hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources.
In the international shipping

Close attention
Japan’s largest refiner JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy, which relies
on more than 80% of its requirements from the Middle East, issector, the IMO is carrying out
initiatives to counter the global emission of greenhouse gas(GHG). In 2018, the Initial IMO
Strategy on Reduction of GHG
Emissions from Ships was adopted, aiming to improve carbon
intensity of the sector by at least
40% in 2030 and reduce annual
GHG emissions by at least 50%
in 2050, both compared to 2008
levels, and eventually phase out
GHG emissions as early as possible within the century. In orderto reach these goals, it is essential

to make the transition over to alternative fuels which can be usedwith the existing power plants onships.
Fuel methanation has gatheredglobal attention as a highly expected technology for the realization of GHG zero emission. The
working group aims to implement
fuel methanation for ships andconstruct its supply chain by collaborating with other industries,
companies, and administrations,and will hold discussions/deploy
initiatives for the widespread useof methanation.
(*) “CCR (Carbon Capture &Reuse) Study Group” was established with the aim of supplying
alternative energy like synthetic
methane or methanol by combining industrial carbon emissions with hydrogen produced
from renewable energy sources
toward achieving effective carbon neutrality that reduces useof fossil fuels, and contributing
to the creation of a new energy
supply system for 2050. (Source:
ClassNK)‘Sustainable shipping for sustainable planet’: IMO
As part of the United Nations
family, IMO is actively working towards the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and theassociated SDGs. Indeed, most of
the elements of the 2030 Agenda
will only be realized with a sustainable transport sector supporting world trade and facilitating
global economy.
“Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet” has been selected
as the World Maritime theme for2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of
the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), andshowcase the work that the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and its Member States areundertaking to achieve the targets.
The IMO Council, meeting forits 122nd session at IMO Headquarters in London, endorsed thetheme, following a proposal by
IMO Secretary-General KitackLim.
“I believe that this theme will
provide flexibility to the Secretariat and the Member States inhighlighting the myriad topics

and challenges in meeting the2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda. At the same time, it will
provide excellent opportunities tohighlight the already significant
contributions of shipping and the
IMO to building that sustainable
future,” Mr. Lim said.
“The year 2020 will mark the
beginning of a decade of action
and delivery. It will be a decisive
decade not only for the shipping industry, but for life on theplanet,” Mr. Lim said. He notedthat September 2019 would see agathering of Heads of State at theUnited Nations in New York, totake stock of how far the world
has come in realizing the sustainable development commitments.
The SDG Summit, the Climate
Action Summit and further highlevel meetings planned for 2020,
such as the Our Ocean and the
UN Ocean Conferences, will
provide opportunities for leadersfrom various sectors, including
shipping, to both reflect on thework done and the urgent steps
they further plan towards a sustainable future.

“The shipping industry, withthe support of the IMO regulatory framework, has already started
the transition towards this sustainable future. We have adopted
and continue to develop measures
to cut greenhouse gas emissions,
reduce the sulphur content ofships’ fuel oil, implement the Ballast Water Management Convention, protect the polar regions,
reduce marine litter, improve theefficiency of shipping through theelectronic exchange of information, meet the challenges of thedigitalization of shipping and enhance the participation of womenin the maritime community,” Mr.
Lim said..
“We are strategically equipped,in line with the approach laid out
in the IMO Secretariat’s SDGs
Strategy, to showcase our contribution to the SDGs and to act
upon untapped opportunities oftechnologies, finance and new
partnerships for the future benefitof the shipping industry and humankind,” Mr. Lim said.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, 193 countries adopted
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This Agenda calls for action by
all countries to eradicate poverty
and achieve sustainable development by 2030 world-wide – andthe SDGs are seen as an opportunity to transform the world forthe better and leave no one behind.
As part of the United Nations
family, IMO is actively working
towards the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development andthe associated SDGs. Indeed,most of the elements of the 2030
Agenda will only be realized witha sustainable transport sector
supporting world trade and facilitating global economy. IMO’s
Technical Cooperation Committee has formally approved linkages between the Organization’s
technical assistance work and the
SDGs.
While SDG 14 is central to
IMO, aspects of the Organization’s work can be linked to allindividual SDGs. (Source: IMO)JULY/AUGUST 2019

SEAFARERS’ CORNER(3)

VOICES from SEAFARERS

Capt. Warren M. Pineda and crew of MV JP CORAL
On behalf of the officers and crew of JP CORAL, pleaseextend our warmest appreciation to all of the JSU staff.
Thank you for regularly visiting us.

Capt. Michael T. Aguirre, C/E Ricky S.Lebuna andcrew of MV MIIKE
We are glad to have JSU staff onboard and we appreciate
the time spent with us. Our benefits, welfare and betterment of Filipino seafarers had been discussed during thevisit. We hope the JSU will continue helping us to reachour goals and dreams. Please come and visit us again in
the near future.

Capt. Roel N. Cenon and Crew of MV CAPE GREEN
Thanks for choosing our vessel to be included in yourvisitation duties. We hope that you could include our
picture on the next issue of JSU magazine. So long andregards to the staff of JSU.

C/O Genevieve L. Balinas and some crewmembers of
MV VENUS LEADER
We appreciate the JSU compliments of the current maritime news and souvenirs. Though we are quite busy, yourefforts in checking our working and living condition isvery good for us, seafarers.

Capt. Limwell H. Gabiosa and crew of
MV JP VERDURE
We, crewmembers of JP Verdure are pleased to say ourappreciation to the JSU welfare services. Looking at ourliving and working conditions, we hope that you continue
to campaign for its enhancement.

Capt. Leo Glenn A. Cubita and crew of
MV CAPE MAGNOLIAThe JSU visiting staff had discussed members’ welfares
and benefits. Particularly the retirement system of themembers under the ship’s agreement was explained in thediscussion. We are hoping the JSU will improve the contents in favor of the members.

Some crewmembers of MV DURBAN HIGHWAY
A piece of advice from the JSU visitor has encouraged us
to observe safety precautions at all times. It has helped us
realize that by putting it to practice/exercise could improve
one’s health and safe working condition. Thank you JSU.

Capt. Ireneo M. Fualo Jr. and crew of
MV ORANGE PHOENIXWith the increase of vessels with JSU agreements, weappreciate the welfare services provided by the JSU to its
members. Similarly, we wish that the JSU activities be
conducted to other vessels in other ports so that moremembers could benefit.

Capt. Alden F. Lucero and crew of
MV GLOBAL AMBITIONThe Officers and crew of MV Global Ambition are
grateful for the JSU visit. We really appreciate the information provided to us regarding the important issues ofour benefits from JSU/AMOSUP. We hope to see you
again on the next voyage here in Japan.

Master and crew of MV ASIAN NAGA
All crewmembers are very pleased to the JSU staff invisiting our ship. Thank you for giving us the informationand ideas on how the JSU deals with its members. Yourkind deeds are appreciated.

Capt. Venancio P. Dela Cruz and crew of
MV MALTO HOPE
We are happy you visited us. We’ve learned of our rights
and benefits as members of the JSU. Thank you and wewish you all the best.

Capt. Love A. Sastrillas, C/E Antonio Nacional andcrew of MV ARGO WIND
The JSU’s activity of checking our shipboard condition should continue. We value the information disseminated and we are hopeful the JSU would introduce
additional improvement of the CBA. Thank you andsee you again.

(4)ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

JULY/AUGUST 2019

Crews of some ships can refuse to sail through Hormuz

T

he crews of some ships
transiting the Straitof Hormuz have theright to refuse working
on the vessels as they pass throughthe waterway — the world’s mostimportant energy chokepoint —due to the recent danger associated with operating in the region.
The change is part of a temporary agreement by the so-called
Warlike Operations Area Committee, which held an extraordinary meeting earlier this week anddesignated the strait as a high-risk
area, according to a statementfrom union Nautilus International, one of the committee’s mem-bers. The committee also includes
the UK Chamber of Shipping and
Britain’s National Union of Rail,
Maritime and Transport Workers.
“Crew can request to leave theship at a preceding port” before
entering the strait, according to
the statement dated Aug. 2. Thisand other clauses in the agreement can be enacted only if theoperator ignores flag-state andindustry advice, Nautilus International spokeswoman Helen Kelly
said by email.
The agreement applies to all
vessels listed on the UK Chamberof Shipping, which can include
British ships or those flagged un-

der another country, she said. It
also applies to seafarers of any nationality aboard those ships.
The Strait of Hormuz, at themouth of the Persian Gulf, is the
key waterway for about a third of
all of the world’s oil shipped ontankers. In recent months, theGulf region has been marred bya spate of vessel attacks, tanker
seizures and the shooting down ofdrones, amid heightened geopolitical tensions and U.S. sanctions
on Iran’s oil exports. Tanker captains are increasingly wary about
traveling through the strait.
British vessels in particular havebeen at risk, following the UK’s

seizure of an Iranian tanker near
Gibraltar. Last month, Iran impounded a British-flagged vessel,
the Stena Impero, which remains
in the Middle Eastern nation’s
custody. British oil giant BP Plc
is now avoiding sending UK ships
and crews through the strait.
The Warlike Operations Area
Committee reached its agreement
following government advice to
avoid the area without U.K. naval
support, according to the statement from Nautilus International, which has members in Britain,
the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The clauses apply only if flag-stateand industry guidance aren’t com-

plied with, it said.
“That includes UK-flagged vessels that refuse a military accompanied transit and vessels that do
not take account of relevant guidance from industry bodies” like
BIMCO and the International
Chamber of Shipping, it said.
Seafarers on vessels transiting
through the area may also receive
double basic pay due to the risk
involved, according to the statement. The strait’s temporary designation as a high-risk zone will
be reviewed on Sept. 2 or earlier
if advice from the British government changes, it said. (Source:
Bloomberg)

Ships urged not to hire private armed teams in ME gulf Battery-powered
ships next up in

Shipping
companies
sailing
through the Middle East Gulf
are being urged to avoid having
private armed security guards onboard as the risk of escalation in
the region rises, industry associations say.
Relations between Iran andthe West have become increasingly strained after Britain seized
an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
last week and London said its
warship HMS Montrose had tofend off Iranian vessels seeking
to block a British-owned tanker
from passing through the Straitof Hormuz.
The most recent incidents followed a spate of attacks on tankers since May around the Straitof Hormuz and the Gulf ofOman, which the United Stateshas blamed on Iran and are denied by Tehran.
An advisory issued in recent

days by leading shipping associations warned against using private armed guards in the criticalareas.
“The use of force against
threats recently encountered in
the Gulf of Oman carries significant risk and has the potential toescalate security situations to thedetriment of the safety of ship
and crew,” the advisory said.
“The use of unarmed maritime
advisors to assist with onboard
security and watch-keeping issensible,” it said, noting relevant
legal guidelines.
A rise in Somali piracy, which
was at its height a decade ago,
prompted shipping companies
to deploy private armed security
teams in the Gulf of Aden.
Guy Platten, secretary generalof the International Chamberof Shipping, said there were
stringent restrictions on the useof armed guards in the Gulf,
whereas there was approval byflag states for their deployment
off Somalia.
“The message is do not use
private armed guards in thesewaters – it is not advised,” hetold Reuters on Friday.
While it is still possible forships to sail through the Straitof Hormuz with private armed
guards on board, few ports in
the Gulf allow ships carrying
weapons to enter.
“The legal implications for
insurers and vessel owners arewidespread. Breaches of rules
bring about significant financial
penalties, adverse reputational
issues and in some cases custodial sentences,” said Jonathan
Moss, head of transport andshipping with law firm DWF.
“The navies will be aware that
additionally recruited armed se-curity personnel may lead to thepossible escalation of violence.”
Mark Gray, co-founder ofBritish company MNG Maritime, which runs a UK regulated
floating armoury some 26 nautical miles from the coast of theUnited Arab Emirates, said UK
security companies that werelicensed to carry and move firearms in the region were restricted to counter-piracy activity.
“Any British security company
that uses those firearms … tocounter the forces of a state like
Iran would be in breach of thatlicense and therefore breaking
the law,” he said.
“Armed guards are not the solution – all you need are moreeyes and ears looking at all sidesof the ship especially the rearwhen passing through those waters.” (Source: Reuters 2019-715; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

ICS provides guidance with 6-month countdown to ‘Global Sulfur Cap’
With six months to go until theimplementation of the ‘Global
Sulfur Cap’ the International
Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has
issued updated guidance to help
shipowners comply with new UN
International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. Taking
full effect on Jan. 1, 2020 the legal
framework will require merchantships worldwide to use fuel with asulphur content of less than 0.50
percent or use alternative mitiga-

tion technologies.
Guy Platten, secretary-generalof ICS said: “These new regulations are good for human healthand good for the environment.
With just six months to go before implementation these free
ICS guidelines will help shipping
companies with the vital task of
preparing for compliance. We
strongly recommend that shipowners prepare an Implementation Plan for each of their ships

using the template agreed by
IMO.”
The ICS guidance incorporates
the latest IMO decisions addressing issues such as fuel oil nonavailability reporting, fuel safety
and fuel quality. The updated
guidelines will help ships avoid
port state control difficulties thatmight arise, through no fault of
the operator, and enable shipowners and ships’ crews to overcome
the practical challenges presented

by this multi-fuel scenario.
The free resource, Compliancewith the 2020 “Global Sulfur
Cap”, contains details of the newrequirements to allow on board
sampling to verify fuel oil compliance, includes a new section
on managing different fuels, an
updated FAQ and a new appendix with the IMO standard template Fuel Oil Non-Availability
Report (FONAR). (Source: International Chamber of Shipping)

Daniamant welcomes making electronic inclinometers carriage mandatory
The Marine Safety Committee(MSC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has
recently approved the German
government’s proposal to makethe carriage of electronic inclinometers mandatory for all newbuild container vessels and bulk
carrier vessels.
Kevin Rough, CEO of Daniamant, comments, “Electronic in-clinometers are an important safety product designed to support the
onboard decision-making process
and help reduce risk to crew andvessels. As a safety company thatdesigns and creates products to
help keep crew safe at sea, we fully
welcome the decision of the MSC
Committee to make electronic
inclinometers mandatory for container and bulk carrier vessels.”

Designed for carrier and bulk
container vessels, and type approved to the IMO performancestandard, Daniamant’s DanEI-300
Electronic Inclinometer is an advanced heel and pitch measuring
device which is not sensitive tohorizontal and vertical accelerations.
On rolling vessels, the usual bubble or pendulum inclinometers can

indicate values which are too high.
This margin of error can be up to
30% of the measured value. As the
DanEI-300 is not affected by theseaccelerations, it shows the true inclination and roll period. As well
as safety benefits, the DanEI-300
can also help contribute to the reduction of fuel consumption andhelp improve efficiency onboard.
(Source: Daniamant)

battling emissions
Four Japanese companies haveteamed up to build the world’s
first zero-emission tanker by mid2021 that will be powered bylarge-capacity batteries and will
operate in Tokyo Bay, according toa statement on Tuesday. The newcompany e5 Lab Inc. is a venture
between Asahi Tanker Co., Exeno
Yamamizu Corp., Mitsui O.S.K.
Lines Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp.
The global maritime industry
is facing an onslaught of legislation to improve its environmental performance. From next year,
a majority of vessels will have toburn fuel containing less sulfur.
A challenge requiring even moreinnovation, though, is a goal tohalve shipping’s carbon emissions
by 2050.
While fully-electric ships havestruggled to penetrate major
markets, momentum is gathering. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc
said last year that it had started
offering battery-powered ship
engines, while Norway’s Kongsberg Gruppen ASA is developing an electric container vessel.
Still, there are challenges in making the technology applicable toships navigating thousands ofmiles across oceans because of
the need to recharge batteries.
(Source: Bloomberg)

All JApAn SeAmen’S Union
15-26, Roppongi 7-Chome,
Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Tel.: (03) 5410-8320
Fax: (03) 5410-8336
E-mail: iss@jsu.jp
Internet: http://www.jsu.or.jp
Publisher: Hiroyuki Tachikawa
Send inquiries to the attention of
Mr. Hiroyuki Watanabe,
Director, Foreign Trades Dept.