71
June
2020

Greetings from the Mayor

Mayor Carina Nilsson
Mayor of Malmö

It has now been just over a year since I became
the first female Mayor of Malmö. During thispast year, I have been able to bring a diversity ofexperience to my new role as Mayor of the thirdlargest city in Sweden.
I was elected Chairman of the Malmö City
Council in October of 2018 and am the firstwoman to have held this position. Previously I
was the Deputy Mayor in Charge of Welfare,
Healthcare, and Social services from 2010 to2018.
I received my degree as an occupational
therapist in 1980 and my teaching degree at
Uppsala University in 1987, after which I worked
as a teacher at Lund University’s institution foroccupational therapy (1985-92). I also worked
as a licensed occupational therapist within boththe municipality and the region until 1992. After
that, I held the position of Health Planner at
Malmö University Hospital. In 2008 I gained
my Master’s Degree in Public Health from
Malmö University.
My political career began in the 1980s
when I joined the Sanitation Committee andbecame a replacement member of the Municipal
Environmental Board in Malmö. After that,
I held a number of municipal political roles
including Chair of the Environmental Board(1997-2006) and Chair of the Cultural Board(2007-2010). From 2008 to 2010 I was the
Deputy Mayor in Charge of Culture and Leisure.
Since 2016 I have been a member of theFaculty Board of the Odontological Department,
Malmö University.
In addition to my municipal political roles,
I am also the Chair of the organisation Social
Democratic Women Malmö and was previouslyon the board of the Skåne Municipal Alliance.
Gender equality is an issue that I am passionate
about, and throughout my career I have worked
to ensure that women and men are provided
with the same opportunities.
While we have come a long way, there is
still work to be done. Nonetheless, today there
is strong female leadership in Malmö City, thelocal region, and Malmö University, as well as
the World Maritime University. Equality is acommon goal that unites Malmö City and theWMU in working towards achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals, which are also
incorporated into Malmö City Council’s goals.
We are now moving into the next phaseof reaffirming the commitments made in the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
particularly SDG 5, which aims to achieve
gender equality and empower all women andgirls.
Both the City of Malmö and the World
Maritime University also have a specific focus
on SDG 14, which concerns ocean.
Now, as part of the Board of Governors, I
am able to gain insight into and influence thework of the WMU. It is a highly interesting
assignment where I feel I have been very kindly
received.
The city of Malmö has a close cooperative
relationship with the WMU, and this has been
the case since the WMU’s opening in 1983. This
collaboration is now well established, and we arevery proud to have Sweden’s only UN institution
here in Malmö.
One of my very first assignments as Mayor
was to welcome students from all over the world
to Malmö at the beginning of the 2019 academic

year. I enjoyed meeting these students and being
able to tell them about our city, whose residents
include people of 182 different nationalities,
meaning that there will most likely be someone
in Malmö who speaks their mother tongue.
On this occasion, I took the opportunity
to speak about not only Malmö as a young,modern, and global city with a rich and varied
cultural scene, but also the city’s history, which
is closely linked with the harbor as well as theocean. In its heyday, the Kockums shipyard
was one of the largest in the world and a major
employer in Malmö. Today, the Western Harborarea where Kockums used to be located is home
to IT companies. The reality is that more people
go to work in the Western Harbor today thanthey did a few decades ago—the industry inwhich they do so has simply changed.
In other words, the history of WMU is closely
tied to that of Malmö, and we look forward to
our future being so as well.
--------------------------------------------＊This article was contributed prior to the

COVID-19 outbreak.

View from “World Bistro (WMU cafeteria)”

Climate Change and The Expected Role of Shipping Industry
Prof. Masamichi Hasebe

Visiting Professor, Kobe University
Representative for Europe, Middle East & Africa, The Japan Association of Marine Safety

As there are so many challenges withwhich we are facing these days in maritime
and ocean domains, it was not so easy for me
to choose only one topic for this short piece.
Finally, I deliberately chose Climate Change
as a main topic, because this is a topic whichpeople in the world carefully observe whether
professional experts engaging in a traditional,
technical world of IMO can properly andtimely deal with this issue by taking fully into
account the ambitious global target of Carbon
Neutral by 2050, which is advocated by theEuropean Commission and will be discussed
at COP 26 in 2021.
1. Impacts of Climate Change
Since the Industrial Revolution began
in about 1750, CO₂ levels have risen morethan 30%. As a result, the world is about 1℃
warmer than before the Industrial Revolution.
According to the World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO), if the current warming
trend continues, temperatures could rise 3-5℃
by the end of this century. Global warming has
been causing many impacts such as melting
ice, sea level rise, floods, heat waves, forest fires
and droughts. Many developing countries,
including especially Small Island Developing
States, have been the most affected by these
impacts. People living there often depend on
their natural environment.
In order to mitigate and/or adapt climatechange, the Paris Agreement was adopted
in Paris in December 2015. The Agreement
aims to keep a global temperature rise inthis century well below 2℃ above preindustrial levels and pursue efforts to limit thetemperature increase even further to 1.5℃.
The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put
forward their best efforts through Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs).
2. Actions taken and being consideredby IMO(1) GHG emissions from international
shipping
While the third IMO GHG Study

2014 estimated that international shipping
emitted 796 million tons of CO₂ in 2012,accounting for about 2.2% of the total global
anthropogenic CO₂ emissions for that year.
On the other hand, according to most recent“2019 Annual Report from the European
Commission on CO₂ Emissions from
Maritime Transport” based on the EU MRV
scheme, emissions reported by 11,600 ships
have added up to over 138 million emissions
in 2018, representing 3.7% of total EU CO₂emissions. While it is not easy to compare
correctly those shares, since European share of
3.7%, is 68% larger than that of IMO, it maybe
natural for European people to feel stronger
impact by shipping emissions and to wish tohave more quicker and stricter reduction of
CO₂ from ships.
(2) Improvement of Energy Efficiency
An initial measure of combating climatechange by IMO has been an improvement ofenergy efficiency of ship, which can contributenot only indirectly to climate change but also
economically to shipping industries’ interest.
Accordingly, it was agreed that the Energy
Efficient Design Index (EEDI) was mademandatory for new ships and the Ship Energy
Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) was
also made mandatory for all ships at MEPC
62 ( July 2011) by amending MARPOL
Annex VI and these measures entered into
force on 1 January 2013. The CO₂ reduction
rates have been established until the period2025 and onwards, when a 30% reduction is
mandated for applicable ship types.
In May 2019, MEPC 74 approved
amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, foradoption at MEPC 75, to strengthen theexisting EEDI for some categories of new ships.
In particular, the entry into effect of “phase 3”
will be brought forward from 2025 to 2022 forseveral ship types – including containerships,
gas carriers, general cargo ships and LNG
carriers – and the reduction rate of phase 3 forcontainerships is significantly enhanced, e.g.
it is set at 50% for containerships of 200,000
DWT and above, from 2022 (instead of 30%
from 2025).
2

The SEEMP also provides an approach forshipping companies to manage ship and fleet
efficiency performance over time using, forexample, the Energy Efficiency Operational
Indicator (EEOI) as a monitoring tool. The
EEOI enables operators to measure the fuelefficiency of a ship in operation and to gauge
the effect of any changes in operation, e.g.
improved voyage planning or more frequent
propeller cleaning, or introduction of technicalmeasures such as waste heat recovery systems
or a new propeller.
(3) Data collection system for fuel oil
consumption of ships
In response to the EU Monitoring,
Reporting and Verification of CO2 emissions(EU MRV ), MEPC 70 (October 2016) agreed
to introduce mandatory MARPOL Annex VI
requirements for ships to record and reporttheir fuel oil consumption from 1 March 2018.
Under the data collection system (DCS), shipsof 5,000 gross tonnage and above are required
to collect consumption data for each type offuel oil they use from 1 January 2019. The
aggregated data is reported to the flag Stateafter the end of each calendar year and the flag
State is required to subsequently transfer thisdata to an IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption
Database. IMO is required to submit anannual report to MEPC, summarizing thedata collected.
(4) Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of
GHG emissions from ships
On 13 April 2018, MEPC 72 adopted
resolution MEPC.304 (72) on Initial IMO
Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions
from ships. According to the Initial Strategy,
GHG emissions from ships shall be peaked assoon as possible and the total annual GHG
emissions shall be reduced by at least 50% by
2050 compared to 2008. In October 2018,
IMO Member States approved a Programmeof follow-up actions of the Initial Strategy up
to 2023.
According to the Initial Strategy, measures
to improve the operational energy efficiencyof existing ships have been discussed at theIntersessional Working Group (ISWG) of
GHG. Proposed measures can be classified
into two approaches. The first approach is atechnical approach including the proposal fromJapan and Norway on EEXI and proposals from
Greece and BIMCO on power reduction. The
second approach is an operational approach
including the proposal from Denmark et al.
on strengthening SEEMP, the proposal from
China on the rating mechanism and proposals
from France and CSC. At the ISWG-GHG
6, there seemed to be a general agreement thata mandatory global-based approach would
provide the needed flexibility and incentive forinnovations. The Chair of the ISWG submitted
a concept paper to ISWG-GHG 7, including
a possible regulatory framework reflecting thepossibility to combine the two approaches so
as to assist progress of discussions.

and submit their revised NDCs to the UN
by the end of 2020. However, as COP 26 was
postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19
pandemic, most parties seem to postpone
their consideration on revised NDCs to
2021 too. While it is premature to assume
possible results of COP 26 concerning
possible higher target of revised NDCs,
as the European Commission has alreadyproposed, it is expected that quite a few likeminded countries including EU and UK,
would voluntarily commit Carbon Neutral by
2050. In that case, those ambitious countries
will surely strengthen to put pressure on
the shipping industry and on IMO to show
concrete short-term measures, which canmake them sure that IMO is surely on theright way to achieve the 50% reduction goalby 2050.

3. EU Green Deal and EU ETS

On the other hand, due to COVID-19
pandemic, IMO postponed ISWG-GHG
7 and MEPC 75 and has not yet decided
whether and when those meetings can be heldin 2020 (at the time of drafting this writinge.g. end of May). If IMO unfortunately failto demonstrate that member countries canreach an agreement on practical and effective
short-term measures by 2023 as scheduledin the Initial IMO Strategy, importance ofalternative market-based mechanism will be
inevitably highlighted. If majority of IMO
member countries prefer an own universal
market-based mechanism to EU ETS, IMO
and shipping industries need to seriously andpromptly consider a concreate and practicalsystem and level of fuel levies based on the
proposed idea of the IMRB, which is ideallyexpected to start from 2023.

The new President of the European
Commission, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen’s firstpriority rests on a European Green Deal, whichaims to have no net emission of GHG in EU by
2050. She has already presented the European
Green Deal in December 2019 and proposed a
European Climate Law in March 2020. Whileshipping is under umbrellas neither of the Paris
Agreement nor the EU Emission Trading
System (ETS), the European Commission is
now working on an ETS-extension proposal,
which makes shipping to be included in the
ETS. The proposal could be published at theearliest in mid-2021. However, for example
the Netherlands, a country owning the largest
port in EU, would insists on a thoroughimpact assessment of the extension and fullcoordination with the IMO.
In order to avoid EU-ETS extension
to shipping, shipping industries, including
ICS and BIMCO, alternatively proposed
to establish an International Maritime
Research and Development Board (IMRB),
in order to accelerate the introduction of
low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies
and fuels. The total cost of the IMRB is
expected to be approximately $5bn, generated
by total contributions from shipowners ofapproximately $500m per year between 2023
and 2035, which would be levied via a $2 per
ton global tax on fuel.
4. Short-term Prospects by 2023
According to the Paris Agreement, allparties have to review their existing NDCs

5. Great Green Recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic
While I have not been subjectively
involved in discussions at IMO regarding
GHG reduction from ships, I have fully
acknowledged and appreciated; firstly,
IMO has already succeeded in improving
energy efficiency of ships; secondly, it was aremarkable achievement for IMO to agree
on 50% reduction of GHG by 2050 without
having required concrete technologies toachieve this goal; lastly, under very severe
economic recovery from the pandemic, itwill be huge financial burden for shipping
industry to achieve this goal. According to
ICS, it will cost $5 billion just for R&D over a
10-year period, and according to the Getting
to Zero Coalition, it will cost $1-1.4 trillion
3

for infrastructure investment between 2030
and 2050. On the other hand, I heard someshort-sighted shipowners have abandoned
their planned investments for improving
energy efficiency, because they need not saveenergy cost thanks to recent plummeted
bunker oil price. Accordingly, I can fully share
sympathy with people in shipping industries
and professional delegations to IMO andunderstand how hard for them to achieve
their ambitious goal to halve emissions by
2050.
Having said that, changing sights frominside of IMO to external world, as UN
Secretary General has already made it clear
we shall pursue to Great Green Recovery
rather than recovery to status-quo fromCOVID-19 pandemic, it will be essential
how we can maintain our environmental
ambitions and incorporate them into theGreat Green Recovery plan even during
very harsh economic recessions within acoming few years. Accordingly, it will be very
important and crucial whether majority ofcountries can agree to upgrade their NDCs
to an ambitious target of Carbon Neutral
by 2050 at COP 26 in the next year. If the
carbon neutral goal by 2050 will be agreed
and shared by majority of countries, it is very
easy to foresee that shipping industry and
IMO will inevitably face with a very stronger
pressure from all over the world even before
2023. That’s why I’d like to draw distinguishedreaders’ attention to the fact that; if IMO andshipping industry really want to keep their
credibility of achieving their own target, theyneed to continuously demonstrate to external
world that they are capable of successfully
progressing their short-term, middle-termand long-term measures with very clear
plan to be understood and without spending
precious time too much for very detailed andprofessional discussions such as which shortterm measure will be the best solution.
While I have been very grateful to find manyWMU Sasakawa Fellows have contributed
to discussions at IMO as a delegate of theircountry or as a member of Secretariat of
IMO, it would be appreciated if you would
have not only dedicated professional views
but also have understanding on external andwider discussions of Great Green Recovery
from the COVID-19 pandemic. It would
be appreciated if you would contribute to
discussions at IMO from progressive siderather from defensive side of status quo.

My Longstanding Relationship with the WMUProf. Måns Jacobsson
Member of the WMU Board of Governors
Former Director of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (1985-2006)
President of Chamber of the Stockholm Court of Appeal (ret.)
Doctor of Laws honoris causa

I am privileged to have a longstanding
relationship with the World Maritime
University (WMU). In fact, as a Swedish civil
servant in the Ministry of Justice, I was alreadypart of discussions in the early 1980s between
the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Swedish Government regarding
the creation of WMU. I must confess that at thattime I was not at all convinced that the envisaged
institution would be viable and achieve its
objective, namely to contribute to capacity
building in developing countries in the maritime
field. How wrong I was!
Having lectured at WMU on maritime law
issues every year since 1984 (except 2020, due tothe COVID-19 crisis) and served as a memberof the Board of Governors since 2010, I havebeen able to closely follow the developmentsof this unique institution. During the WMU’s
early years the scope of the courses offered
was relatively narrow, but the curriculum has
expanded over time. In the beginning, theWMU offered only a course leading to a Masterof Science in Maritime Affairs degree, whereas
in recent years it has been offering a range ofcourses in the maritime field. Co-operation
with the Maritime Universities in Dalian andShanghai (People’s Republic of China) has beenof great value for both WMU and these Chinese
Universities. By offering courses in the form of
distance learning, WMU has given professionals
in the maritime sector the opportunity tostrengthen their credentials in parallel with
continuing their usual professional activities.
Another positive development is that WMU
faculty members have in recent years become
involved in numerous research projects, often
in the form of consultancy agreements. Thisnot only contributes to their professional
development but also generates considerable

income for the institution. In addition, WMU
has attracted a number of PhD students who
have carried out, or are currently carrying out,
important research.
Of great importance is the inauguration in2018 of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean
Institute, which operates as an independent
focal point for all those involved in ocean affairs,
giving interested stakeholders a forum in whichto discuss how to manage the oceans and theirprecious resources. In this way, the Institute willcontribute to progress towards accomplishmentof the Sustainable Development Goals set out inthe United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.
The impressive development that has takenplace within the WMU is to a large extent due
to the leadership of the successive Presidents andthe quality and devotion of the academic faculty
and other staff. However, a major reason for the
WMU’s success is the quality and motivationof its students. When lecturing at the WMU,
I have always been impressed by students’professional approach to the various subjects
taught. Indeed, teaching at the WMU is quitedemanding because the students often raise very
difficult questions.
It has been very rewarding for me to be amember of the Board of Governors, where
I have had the privilege of being involved in
discussions of policy issues and been able tosee the difficulties that the President and senior
management continuously face as they steer the
WMU through sometimes troubled waters. This
year has of course been particularly difficult as aresult of the crisis caused by the global spread of
the COVID-19. I fear that this crisis will casta shadow over the activities of the WMU for
many years to come.
It would be amiss of me not to mention the

crucial importance of the strong support that
the WMU has received over the years from the
Nippon Foundation in the form of numerous
scholarships and in many other ways.
I am a true Malmö boy, born and bred in that
City. It is therefore greatly satisfying for me that
the WMU is contributing to the internationalflavor of this multi-cultural City. I am also proudof the support that the Government of Sweden
and the City of Malmö have given the WMU
since its inception.

At the reception after the graduation ceremony

Studying at the WMU gives students an indepth knowledge of the entire shipping industry
and the international framework of regulations
governing it; shipping is by its very nature a
global industry. I am convinced that throughtheir understanding of this framework they willas alumni contribute to an enhanced uniform
application of shipping-related international
legal instruments. The students who haveresided in Malmö will also have learned how towork together with colleagues without regard
to nationality, cultural background, or religious
beliefs. The WMU alumni maintain close ties
with each other, and this has created a uniquemaritime global network that is of great value
to not only the alumni themselves but also theentire shipping industry.

Photos courtesy of WMU

4

Sasakawa Fellows Class of 2019 on Horizon for Determination
Tangeni Haimbala(Namibia, Class of 2019)On 2 November, 2019 (Saturday), theSasakawa Fellows Class of 2019 had the privilegeof attending an awards ceremony and reception
hosted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation(SPF). This event was held at the magnificent
Sasakawa Auditorium at the World Maritime
University. Among the ceremony’s attendees
were WMU President Dr. Cleopatra DoumbiaHenry and Mr. Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive
Director of the Nippon Foundation. In his
address, Mr. Unno emphasized that graduates
are encouraged to make significant contributions
to the development of their respective countries
upon their return home.
For the Sasakawa Fellows Class of 2019,
this was an auspicious day to celebrate not
only our academic achievements but also theprecious moments we had spent together at the
WMU, the friendships cultivated as well as thecultural values shared. During our studies wewere equipped with the knowledge, skills, andconfidence to thrive in a challenging international
environment where we will continue to pursue
improvements. The WMU prepared us for theworld, to perform in diverse global segments ofour respective professions—particularly in themaritime sector, which is highly competitive andtechnologically innovative and where sustainableoceans, green energy, and safe and secureshipping are celebrated.
The ceremony was marked with thepresentation to Mr. Unno of a remarkable
document entitled “Determination to Contributeto the Sasakawa Fellows Network”. Proposed by
the Sasakawa Fellows Class of 2019 and adopted
on 20 September, 2019, the determination
aims to highlight Fellows’ commitment andcontributions to the Sasakawa Fellowship
Network. In the document, the Fellows of 2019recall the SPF mission statement to enhancecooperation with international communities andestablish ocean governance of the future. The

group also remarks on the mission statement of
the WMU, which serves as a global maritime
institution regarding shipping, maritime, andoceans. Also highlighted in the document is thepromotion of the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG
14, by The Nippon Foundation, SPF, WMU,
and IMO. Moreover, the Sasakawa Fellows
Class of 2019 commits to acknowledging andhonouring the distinguished philanthropist Dr.
Yohei Sasakawa for his tireless vision, initiatives,and concern about the complexity of social issues
around the globe. Dr. Yohei Sasakawa is indeed
an inspiration and motivation for all of us; hence,
we endeavor to emulate his exceptional work.
As members of the Sasakawa Fellows Class
of 2019, we commit to making a significant
contribution to the IMO. Even more, we pledge
to make a strong commitment to support ourown countries. As maritime leaders, we aredetermined to steer our countries towards a more
inclusive and sustainable path through efforts
to address climate change and meet the goals
set by the Paris Agreement. We are therefore
keen to continue engaging with each other bysharing the challenges faced by our institutions,organizations, and countries and finding
approaches that can mitigate these challenges.
Furthermore, we will endeavor to strengthen
the Sasakawa Fellow Network by expanding

directory information as well as contributing
to this Newsletter. Finally, we will strive toshare both our professional and personal stories
with the WMU Alumni through The Nippon
Foundation and SPF.
As 2019 drew to an end (a few weeks after our
graduation), we saw the COVID-19 pandemic
disrupting lives worldwide. The pandemic
has brought even more threat to the alreadyfragile world, killing hundreds of thousands ofpeople and infecting millions while affecting
the well-being of billions more. Moreover,the pandemic has exposed broader structural
weaknesses in world governance systems. As aresult, existing global challenges such as climatechange are being abandoned. Now more thanever, the voices of those at the forefront ofsaving the planet are at risk. For this reason,collective action is needed across international
institutions, national governments, and regionalorganizations. We should not use the crisis as
an excuse to push through completely different
agendas. Above all, we must ensure that we
do not harm or inflict wounds on the alreadybleeding planet.
Indeed, our academic experience gained at
the WMU could help to shape our goals andaspirations for the world. In particular, theknowledge we gained throughout the courseof our education as well as in our field studies
and within our specializations has proved tobe crucial in developing more systematic andsolution-oriented approaches to unforeseen
situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
I therefore emphasize that the Sasakawa
Fellows of 2019 have an obligation to create
opportunities and find solutions that will
make a difference in our respective countries,
organizations, and communities, as well as in
the lives of others.
Go to the next page5

Resolution

As a member of maritime society, Sasakawa Fellowship 2019 determined to cooperate with each other and contribute to these issues.

Adopted on 20 September 2019

VISION STATEMENT

DETERMINATION FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SASAKAWA FELLOWS NETWORK

We belong to different organizations located in more than 28 countries.
Even after our graduation, we should keep action plans which Sasakawa fellowship 2019 discussed at Sasakawa Gathering 2019, as shown below, in our mind
and take actions.

SASAKAWAFELLOWSHIP 2019,
RECALLING SPF Mission Statement, to make efforts to enhance cooperation
with the international community to establish the ocean governance of the future,

ACTION PLAN
1. Contribution to one’s own country
Our affiliated organizations are different from each other between maritime bureau, coast guard, navy, research institution, educational institution, classification society and shipping company; and each aim andbenefit sometimes conflict.
On the basis of Sasakawa Fellows’ common ideal, we should cooperatewith each other and try to solve the domestic issues in our own country.

RECALLING ALSO WMU Mission Statement, to serve as global maritime
leaders in maritime and oceans,
RECALLING FURTHER Goal 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals by
UN, to manage life below water carefully,
ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING the vision, initiatives and concerns with the increasing complexity of social issues of the distinguished philanthropist, Dr. Yohei SASAKAWA,

2. Contribution to IMO
We come from 28 countries and each aim and benefit sometimes conflict
On the basis of Sasakawa Fellows’ common ideal, we should cooperatewith each other and try to solve the diplomatic issues beyond country
and region.

APPRECIATING the efforts and contributions of SPF, Nippon Foundation,
WMU and IMO in the promotion of Sustainable Development,
RECOGNIZING the Contribution of Sasakawa Fellows including all of Sasakawa Fellow
WMU alumni, more than 600 people from more than 70 countries, so far,

For Action plan 1 and 2, it is important to construct and deepen Sasakawa
Fellows Network with measures introduced as below. Also, this network should
not be limited within classmates and region but beyond the generation and region.

RECOGNIZING ALSO the further need for a global network to optimise individual potential in promoting the Sustainable Development,

3. Contact each otherWe have a lot of opportunities to contact each other (i.e. business travel,
private travel and social media). We should deepen our network even after
our graduation. Especially, at IMO conferences, we should check the listof representatives in advance and boost exchanges actively.

BEING COMMITTED to ensming the fulfilment of our aims and objectives
on a global basis of Sasakawa Fellows Network,
Do hereby RESOLVE to join and contribute to Sasakawa Fellows Network
through Contribution to own country and Contribution at IMO, as set out in annex.

4. Renew and expansion of Sasakawa Fellows network directory
We consider the importance to renew and expand the information in the
directory, which enable to contact with another Sasakawa Fellow when
we want.
If possible, one of graduates on the year from each country should checkthe
directory and encourage alumni from his/her country to renew the directory on the year.

INVITE all of Sasakawa Fellowship 2019 to consider and follow this determination.

Annex

5. Contribution to Newsletter
Newsletters, Friends of WMU JAPAN, have been published once a quarter and been a measure to know the recent Sasakawa Fellows’ activity.
Also, it could be a measure to let others know what we are doing. We
recognize the importance of Newsletter and our contribution to it.

DETERMINATION FOR CONTRIBUTION TO SASAKAWA FELLOWSNETWORKMISSION STATEMENT

6. Letter to the chairman
As we sent letters to the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Dr. Yohei
SASAKAWA from WMU, we should keep on informing of not only ourofficial event but also private event such as our promotion and marriage,
which make it possible to cooperate with each other around the Nippon
Foundation and SPF.

International initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are calling for global action against a diverse range of crises including global warming, ocean
acidification, biodiversity loss, and pollution. At the same time, new movements are
emerging such as the voluntary “Our Ocean” commitments and the concept of the“Blue Economy,” which encompasses the environment, society, and economy.

WMU- A Cradle of Maritime Leadership
Rajinder Kumar(India, 2019)

Commander, Indian Coast Guard

Every moment spent at the World Maritime
University was an enriching experience thathas shaped my personal and professionalviews. Imbibing education with 131 top-notch
students from 57 countries has broadened myperspective of the maritime arena. My dream ofstudying at a premier institution would never

have become reality without the unflinchingsupport of the Nippon Foundation. It is mysincere hope that such assistance continues
so that we Sasakawa Fellows may continue
to make this world a better place by creating“Cleaner Oceans and Safer Ships”.

6Better education at WMU contributes to higher performance
Enas Nadi Al-Mahariq(Jordan, 2019)
Head of Planning and Developing the Institutional Performance Unit
Jordan Maritime Commission

According to Dr. Cleopatra DoumbiaHenry, the President of the World Maritime
University (WMU),“You are the vanguard, theelite experts who will become the leaders of ourenterprises.” WMU thinks beyond the sky’s
limits by offering phenomenal opportunities toconnect with the global maritime communityand ocean leaders. Students have a tendency toforget the importance of learning in the midstof submitting assignments and studying forexams. However, the WMU provides effective

opportunities through field studies to learn
how the theory taught in specialized subjects
can be practically applied. This way of learning
gives me the chance to learn from experts
in diverse fields and explore my passions inorder to tailor my academic and career paths.
In addition to enabling me to explore andimmerse myself in new horizons, the WMU
has given me the experience of travellingabroad.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, thisway of learning has given me the chance tobroaden my perspectives by performing myprofessional and leadership responsibilities,
thereby demonstrating the practical valueof my education. This was evident in IMO
Circular Letter No. 4235/Add. 1, dated 21
April 2020, regarding Communication fromthe Government of the Hashemite Kingdomof Jordan (Action taken by the Jordan
Maritime Commission for the prevention of
COVID-19).

Student life at the WMUNatig Hasanov(Azerbaijan, 2019)Student life is a special time, full of activity—
gaining knowledge, discovering innovations,and making new acquaintances. During theirtime at the WMU, students are not limited
to studying, lectures, seminars, examinations,and assignments, but also have opportunities
to express themselves. They can expand theireducational opportunities, show their special
talents in a liberal atmosphere, and/or get
involved in sports activities.
During my time at the WMU, there were 131
students from 57 different countries studying
there. This was a great opportunity for students
to share their cultures with each other as wellas propagate information about the history andtraditions of their respective countries.
At WMU, we were one team. Students
studied together, preparing group presentations
and assignments together. We also cooked andate together, and even organized parties together.
During their time studying at WMU, themost comfortable place for students was theHenrik Smith Residence (HSR). All kinds ofsocial activities were held at the HSR, including
parties, movies, watching big football games, andgroup studies.

Social parties were an irreplaceable partof student life at WMU. Different types ofwelcome and farewell parties were organized
by students. During party preparation, students
worked together as a team to make special
meals, prepare drinks, and put up decorations.
Moreover, everyone had a fun time dancing to
the music. These parties were an excellent chancefor students to relieve the stress and pressures ofstudy and to relax for a while.
Undoubtedly, a healthy lifestyle is key tobeing able to focus on study. WMU offered
students opportunities to participate in sports
acivities. During free time, we could play
football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, chess,and various other games. Furthermore, special
sports competitions and contests were organized
for students to display their abilities.
For students with a special interest in singing
and/or dancing, the “Maritime Boys Band”
provided an excellent stage for displaying theirtalents. Moreover, on International Day—a
WMU tradition—students had a great
opportunity to show off their own national
7

culture, traditions, cuisine, dress, music, and/or
dance.
The WMU Student Council played a majorrole in enhancing student life by presenting theideas and requests of students to the University
as well as protecting students’ rights and welfare.
The Student Council worked closely with the
WMU administration and students services in
discussing and solving students’ problems, aswell as implementing new ideas and projects.
WMU offers students the best chance togain valuable knowledge about the maritime
community, as well as see different types ofcultures, enjoy both education and social
activities together, and gain new friends from allover the world.

From WMU: WMU appoints Alumni Assistant

Ms. Charlotte WaraWMU Alumni Assistant

WMU was very pleased to welcome Charlotte
Wara to the University on 1 October as our new
Alumni Assistant.
Charlotte is looking forward to working with
the Sasakawa Fellows Network as part of her new
role. Holding Master’s degrees from Linköping
University and the University of Yaoundé 1,
Charlotte was born in Cameroon but has lived,
worked, and studied in Sweden for over 11 years.
She has previously worked for the Swedish
Migration Agency, Region Skåne, and the UNHCR
in Copenhagen.

“This new role offers a new dimension to myprevious work in capacity building and advocacy,”
said Charlotte. “Many exciting initiatives arecoming on stream in 2020—new alumni webinars inthe ‘Knowledge for Life’ series, for example, and ofcourse the 2020 Alumni Homecoming Conference.”
If you have not heard from WMU recently, thenyour current contact details need to be updated. If
this is the case, please send an update to Charlotte(alumni@wmu.se). She is always delighted to receive
news and photos for our website’s new alumni
section and newsletters.

We tied the knot!
Hussain ZAMEEL (Maldives, 2019)

Here is some good news I would like to share.
I got married on 21 December, 2019! My wife,
Aminath, and I first met eight years ago when she
was in high school. Since the very first moment I
saw her, I knew she was the one, and all thanks
to the Almighty, we have now tied the knot!
Our wedding ceremony was held on my island,
Hithadhoo, which is one of the southernmost

islands of the Maldivian Archipelago.
I appreciate the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
giving me this opportunity to share my happinesswith my brothers and sisters in the WMU Sasakawa
Fellows’ global network! May the Almighty bestow
his blessings and protect all of us and our loved
ones amid the COVID-19 crisis. Stay safe and takecare.

WMU: holding fast in an uncertain world
The world is facing unprecedented
disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,
and when we emerge from this crisis, we need
the international maritime economy to get backon course as quickly as possible. A strong andresilient maritime industry is a vital driver forworld trade, and is a fundamental necessity
for building sustainable global development.
Without highly educated maritime and ocean
experts, the international community will havea much more difficult task in the years ahead.
WMU has been very much open for business,and the faculty and staff are all working as
normal, whether from home or from the office.
The main building, including the library, hasbeen open to any student who wants to use thefacilities, and students have been welcome tocome in for dissertation supervision. Since 16
March, faculty have been delivering the classes
taught in the Specialisation Term remotely
while students have remained safely in the
Residence. The students have been magnificent,facing the situation with great courage andcommitment, and have embraced the challenge
of learning at a distance.

The whole WMU community regrets that
implementing the field study programme
has not been possible, but we are constantly
assessing the situation in the hope that, in thenear future, we will be able to offer at least
some experiences to link students’ academic
and technical knowledge to practical experienceand provide valuable insights into professional
practice.
The health and well-being of our students
has been paramount for WMU. The University
President, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, hasmade several visits to the Residence to speak tostudents, as have other senior faculty members.
This programme of weekly visits has been
warmly welcomed by students. As graduates willremember, WMU students have always formed
close bonds within their specialisations, and thevisits by senior faculty have reinforced these.
The University is also helping student in their
non-academic lives. The Assistant Registrar forStudent Services, Lyndell Lundahl—who many
graduates will remember fondly—has visited
the Residence every day, and has arranged
regular Zumba classes to relieve students’ stress.

The University has also been able to deliver freshly
made meals from the World Bistro to the students
in the Residence every day.
The English & Study Skills Programme will bedelivered online as scheduled from 15 June 2020, as
incoming students will likely face continuing travel
restrictions. For the intake to the standard MSc
course beginning on 14 September, we are moving
forward on the basis that we will be teaching eitherin person or online, with plans formulated for bothscenarios.
I must admit that those of us who have been in
the office every day have found WMU a very quiet
and lifeless place—clearly, our students are theheart and soul of the University. We cannot wait towelcome them all back to normal classes!

Sue Jackson

Registrar, World Maritime University
Editor, Friends of WMU Japan Newsletter

This newsletter is published under a grant from The Nippon Foundation

to promote communication among the Sasakawa Fellows of WMU (World Maritime University)and edited by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in cooperation with Dr. Yoshiaki Kunieda
Ms. Maki Tominaga, Ms. Marika Nishimuro, Mr. Eisuke Kudo and Ms. Sue Jackson.
Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation
The Sasakawa Peace Foudation Bldg., 1-15-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8524 Japan
Tel: +81-(0)3-5157-5263 Fax: +81-(0)3-5157-5230 URL: http://www.spf.org/e/