45
December
2013

Regional Conference ofWMU Sasakawa Fellows in Accra

WMU graduates from all over Africa convergedon the city of Accra, the capital of Ghana, fromthe 3rd of November to attend the All-African
Regional Meeting of Sasakawa Fellows, which
incidentally coincided with the 20th anniversarycelebrations of SAFE (Sasakawa Africa Fund forExtension Education).
Graduates were expected from all over Africa,
but eventually the 21 members present camefrom Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Côte
d’Ivoire, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria
and Tanzania. The facilitators of the meetingwere two staff members of OPRF. Professor
Toshio Hikima, Rector of the Marine TechnicalCollege, Kobe, was joined by Mr. Osamu Marumoto, Project Officer of the IMO CounterPiracy Project Implementation Unit, as the main
lecturers for the meeting.

Monday 4th November

Catherine Haizel(Ghana, 2002)

younger generation for seafaring may change thetide of decline.
Mr. Osamu Marumoto addressed the issue ofthe IMO Perspective on Maritime Security &Djibouti Code of Conduct. He further explained
how maritime security issues are being dealt withfrom the basis of the SUA Convention to the
ISPS Code to current efforts in the Gulf of Edenand the Somalia region. He stressed the need forcapacity-building and regional cooperation asvery necessary if piracy in various parts of theworld is to be effectively brought under control.
He urged nations to create a legal framework at
the national level within which maritime security
can take place through the effective use of maritime law enforcement, using tools of law drafting
Tuesday 5th November
The actual program commenced on the 5th with and inter-agency working.
These presentations were followed by equallypresentations by Professor Hikima on the topic“Fundamental Problems in the MET Field”. In interesting ones from some of the Sasakawa
this lecture, for which he used the Japanese mari- Fellows on their chosen topics. Interestingtime industry as a case study, he asked the funda- discourse on presentations on the second day
mental question, “How do we keep qualified with question and answer time at the end loosofficers and instructors?” He made the point that ened the atmosphere, and members relaxed andthe maritime industry has seen a steady decline inqualified officers and instructors, particularly in theestablished maritime nations. This he attributed tohigh salary levels in these countries and othersocial factors such as separation from families,
short stay at ports and the IT environment. He
concluded that paying a higher salary in thesecountries as well as increasing the passion of the
The activity-packed program over the week commenced on the evening of the 4th with the selfintroduction of present participants, as not all were
present then. Discussions on the agenda for the
Sasakawa Fellows’ Network activities and how therest of the week was to be used were also laid out.
The working groups on the network activities wereconstituted and chairperson, co-chairpersons andsecretaries were selected. Mr. Stephen Toya from
Kenya presided at the meeting. The groups set towork immediately when their terms of reference
were made known. As the week was packed withvarious activities, presentations by Fellows on theirareas of interest had to be interspersed throughout.

Regional Conference of WMU Sasakawa Fellows in Accra
Friday 8th November

Since our departure for Accra on the morningof Friday 8th was early, we arrived at the Novotel, Accra, around 10:30 am after anuneventful voyage, with most Fellows sleeping
throughout. The afternoon session saw a continuation of presentations by graduates in thethemes of Maritime Education & Training,
Piracy & Law Enforcement, Maritime Environment, Transport & Logistics, and Ports &Maritime Industries. Fellows also worked on a
resolution for the meeting.
shared jokes. In the afternoon, four important
agendas such as 1) Fellows’ Activities, 2) Internet
Communication, 3) Friends of WMU, Japan
Newsletter, and 4) Expansion of Network werediscussed under the co-chairpersons. The day
ended with a stroll to the Mövenpick Hotel for
cocktails with SAFE delegates.

Wednesday 6th November

The day commenced with an early breakfast at
the Novotel, then the Fellows checked out, readyfor the International Conference Centre (ICC)
for the 20th anniversary celebration of ‘SAFE
Global 2000 Project’ and thence to Cape Coast.
The program at ICC commenced on schedulewith Ruth Oniang’o’s (Chairman of the Boardof SAFE and Chairman of the Symposium)
opening remarks. She introduced former US
President Jimmy Carter, who spoke via satellite.
Other dignitaries were:
H.E. Nicephore Dieudonne Soglo, former
President of the Republic of Benin (former manager of the World Bank)
Steve Obempeh – former Agricultural Ministerin the Rawlings government
Ms. Oniang’o traced the history of the Global
2000 program, which she said was inspired bymen such as Mr. Sasakawa and Dr. Norman
Borlaug.

Ghana was the first country in Africa to beapproached by Mr. Sasakawa in 1986 for the
Global 2000 program. In 1993, SAFE wasadopted in Ghana by the Vice Chancellor of the
University of Cape Coast, Professor K. Adjepong, who was a guest speaker at the conference.
The thrust of the meeting was to create awareness in the international community, particularlyin the developing countries, on the need to lookto the future by putting farmers center stage ofdevelopmental agenda. If we are to become foodsufficient, we need to improve the welfare of
farmers.
Technical knowledge, input and extension
services to farmers are the backbone of food security in Africa, she added.

Sasakawa Global 2000 must be operating for
SAFE to apply for mid-career extension workers. Interested universities must fulfill criteria in
regulations to be eligible for consideration tojoin in the program. Another equally important
agenda of this SAFE conference was to create a
network internally and externally to fulfill themotto of Ryoichi Sasakawa: “The world is one
family, and all humankind are brothers andsisters”.
Sasakawa Fellows made a stopover at a Winneba practice farm on the way to Cape Coast,
where there was a warm reception by the Chiefof the Efutu Traditional Area, Neeney Ghartey
VII, amidst traditional drumming and dancing
by a cultural troupe.
The group was shown around the project farmby students, who took time to explain what the
project’s achievements had been so far. After anhour’s stay, the bus finally departed for Elmina
Coconut Grove Beach Resort, where the grouplodged.

Thursday 7th November

The joint meeting commenced at 10:00am at
the Sasakawa Centre, on the campus of the
University of Cape Coast (UCC), with SAFE
past and present graduates and WMU graduates attending. This was to allow WMU graduates to join in the celebration of SAFE’s 20th
anniversary, with the sole aim of creating aplatform for sharing experiences after graduation, and to network professionally to deal withchallenges and problems as Sasakawa Program
beneficiaries.
One graduate each from WMU and SAFE
made presentations on their experiences before,
during and after Sasakawa sponsorship. Bothspeakers particularly made the point of how
Sasakawa Fellows enjoy the pride of place whenit comes to the interest shown in them by theirsponsor, Mr. Sasakawa. Like a proud father, hefollows the development and progress of his‘children’ throughout their careers.
Mr. Katsuhiro Motoyama of The Nippon
Foundation received a present of a new gown
from the SAFE students on behalf of Mr.
Yohei Sasakawa. He left members with thewise saying of “growing one year of blame, 10
years of trees and a hundred years of humanbeings” as a policy for every human development endeavor.
After lunch, WMU graduates spent the restof the afternoon sight-seeing in Cape Coastand Elmina, with visits to the Cape Coastcastle by those who still had the energy, andnaps for those who didn’t.

2Saturday 9th November

Saturday saw a continuation of presentations
and the adoption of resolutions by graduates at
the meeting and a plan for the future of
Africa’s alumni. On the whole, presentations
by the graduates were very interesting andeducative as they gave us the opportunity tolearn more about each other’s countries.

Field Trip to Tema Port

Graduates took a planned trip to Ghana Ports& Harbours Authority (GPHA) to familiarize
themselves with work there. After a two-hour
insightful lecture, we took a tour inside theport, visiting the marine operations tug berths,
the container terminal of MPS, and the container scanning point for SGS.

On the whole, the get-together was very
worthwhile as some Fellows had not communicated much with each other previously bymail or phone. This wonderful meeting therefore presented us with the golden opportunity
to right things and plan a future of better
communication and collaboration. The African Fellows resolved to keep the torch of
fellowship and unity burning by having a biennial meeting beginning in 2015 in each of thecountries present in rotation. Kenya waschosen as the first country to begin the hostingof such a conference.

Beginning of a New Set of Friendships
Lyndell Lundahl

Student Services Officer
World Maritime University“The world is a family, and all humankind arebrothers and sisters”. This philosophy was first
adopted by Ryoichi Sasakawa, and it now
hallmarks all the endeavours of The Nippon
Foundation, of which the Ocean Policy
Research Foundation is such a significant
part. Enabling real change in the world – inthis case, in the maritime industry of developing nations – through support to promising
young individuals is achieved not just throughproviding an education, but also by embracing
them into the family of Sasakawa Fellows.
These important relationships begin as soon
as an OPRF-supported student begins his or
her studies at the World Maritime University
and are encouraged in many ways. One of thefirst and most significant of these is the“Gathering Orientation with Sasakawa Fellowship” that occurs soon after the start ofeach academic year. The aim is to ensure that
all Sasakawa-sponsored students at the World
Maritime University – both seniors andjuniors - recognize each other as Sasakawa
colleagues so that they can build a firm foundation for their future interaction.
This year’s Gathering Orientation was heldat WMU on September 27, 2013. Students

from the Classes of 2013 and 2014 firstattended a presentation in the C P Srivastava
Hall, chaired by Mr Shinichi Ichikawa, where
they were welcomed by the OPRF’s Special
Advisor, Mr Eisuke Kudo. Mr Ichikawa thencontinued by giving a presentation on the basic
activities of the WMU Sasakawa Fellowship
Program.
The session then continued with presentations by senior students on the various specializations followed by Sasakawa students: Igor
Pishenin spoke on Maritime Education andTraining, Hiep Duy Khuong outlined the
Shipping and Port Management courses,
Eugene Tomas Amaazee spoke about the
Maritime Law and Policy specialization while
Jenay Ghebremariam presented the Maritime
Safety and Environmental Administration
course. This gave the newcomers the student
perspective on many of the broad range offields of study available at the World Maritime
University.
A reception followed this information
session. Held in one of the conference rooms,
Sasakawa students and University staff enjoyeda friendly evening together, chatting, getting toknow each other and swapping stories. The
reception began with each of the students
introducing themselves in an informal way:
many nicknames were quickly exchanged!
After some delicious food and drink, Ms
Syovata (Fiona) Mbandi made a short speech,
representing the senior students. She reflectedon her time at WMU which was soon to cometo a close: how much she and her fellow
Sasakawa colleagues had gained from their3studies and the relationships they had formed.
She also stressed – now towards the end of
their studies – that senior students were mostof all thankful: thankful for the knowledge
they had gained, for the friendships they had
made, for the help and support of University
staff, and last but most certainly not least, thesupport of The Nippon Foundation and the
Ocean Policy Research Foundation which
had made it all possible. She looked forward
to the continuing relationships – both personal friendships and professional contacts –enabled by her Sasakawa sponsorship.
President Björn Kjerfve joined the reception,
also enjoying the opportunity to greet all the
Sasakawa students. As is usual at any World
Maritime University event, there were many,
many cameras used to record the occasion andcries of “one more! one more!” rang out asgroups posed in various constellations with
President Kjerfve, Mr Kudo and Mr Ichikawa.
It was a very happy occasion and one thatmarks the beginning of a new set of friendships linking the newest Sasakawa students toa long chain of students, graduates and Fellows in the Sasakawa family.

The 2013 CSR Symposium Makes
the Business Case for CSR
Noriaki Usui

Senior Research Fellow
Japan International Transport Institute (JITI)

Shipping companies are increasingly flagging
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a
crucial part of their business strategy. To thisend, a document entitled “The Future weWant” was adopted in June 2002 at the UN
Conference on Sustainable Development heldin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which politicalcommitment to sustainable development was
renewed.
Following the above outcome, IMO selected“Sustainable Development: IMO’s Contribution beyond Rio+20” as the World Maritime
Day theme for 2013. It emphasized thatenhanced understanding of opportunities andpriorities towards the integration of CSR principles and practices in the shipping industry
can help support progress on ocean and coastalsustainability.
To provide a forum to address these issues,
the Northern European Shipping CSR Symposium, funded by The Nippon Foundation,and hosted by the World Maritime University(WMU), the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the Danish Shipowners Association (DSA) and the Japanese International Transport Institute (JITI), took placeon November 12, 2013, in Helsingør, Denmark. The symposium is the third one to behosted by The Nippon Foundation and JITI. It
comprised four sessions, bringing together
nearly 200 participants from a variety of backgrounds around the globe.

Following the opening, Mr. Mitsuyuki Unno,
Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation,delivered a welcoming speech. He stressed that
CSR has a more crucial role to play in the faceof challenges such as continued piracy, casualties, and damage to the environment, andexpressed his view that passing on a healthy
ocean and a sustainable maritime industry to
future generations should be a goal. Whilementioning positive efforts being made by somecompanies, he highlighted the importance of aclear common direction for CSR, in order toavoid a fragmented approach, which could
become a burden, rather than an improvement
for enterprises, in particular small and medium
ones.

Finally, he expressed his hope that the industry works collectively to develop a clear
common direction in CSR activities, withinternational shipping associations playing acoordinating role, and his willingness to provide support for positive efforts.
Mr. Sekimizu, Secretary General of IMO,
speaking passionately about his efforts to support CSR through IMO, began by expressing
his view that sustainability translates into CSR.
He listed major events held by the UN every
ten years since 1972 that have contributed tothe advancement of CSR concepts. Highlighting the importance of IMO as a coordinating
body for sustainable maritime transportsystems, he raised the proactive application ofregulations, the welfare of seafarers, and theimportant role WMU plays in human resource
development, as the core elements that need tobe addressed.
In Session 2, entitled “CSR Conceptualised”, presentations by various keynote speakers
took place, including those of Mr. Edward
Humes, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist; Mrs.
Coady, University of British Columbia; andProfessor Olof Linden of WMU. An expert infinance was also invited to provide a presentation from an outside perspective. Mr. Humes
brought a compelling case study to the table,
introducing CSR activities undertaken by
Wal-Mart, in which CSR was transformed
into a business opportunity, and another caseinvolving the US military, both of which

4

resulted in significant reductions in GHG(Greenhouse Effect Gases) emissions. He
concluded by expressing his view that CSR isan opportunity rather than a risk.
Mrs. Coady briefly introduced the outcomeof her research project on CSR, which, in herview, is a hybrid system having both regulations and voluntary initiatives. The findings
include: 1) segmentation is more evident, 2)
gaps between large and small/medium enterprises have increased, and 3) absence of coordination in the shipping industry has led tofragmentation in regulations and respective
voluntary initiatives.
Session 3, which addressed good practice in
CSR applications to further promote the casefor CSR, had several presentations from Shell,
NORDEN, BSR and A.P. Moller Maersk.
Most focused on consequential GHG reductions, whereas some addressed CSR as part ofpreventive measures towards corruption andpiracy. Following the presentations, a panel
debate took place moderated by Mr. Figueres,
followed by questions and answers between
the panel and the audience, which saw somespirited debate.
In the closing session, Mr. Figueres summarized that CSR should not be viewed negatively as increased costs; it should rather beconsidered an opportunity with a view
towards “a better world”, represented by the 3Ps (people, planet, and profit). In conclusion,
he invited all participants to be “an agent ofchange for a better world”.
It is hoped that this symposium provides anopportunity for the shipping industry to boost
its efforts to pursue CSR activities, in light of
the fact that CSR constitutes a crucial part ofbusiness strategy for sustainability.

Tokyo MOU: Twenty Years of Development,
Progress and Achievement on Port State Control
in the Asia-Pacific Region
Year 2013 is the twentieth anniversary of theTokyo MOU. Two decades ago, the maritime
Authorities in the Asia-Pacific region gathered inTokyo, Japan, and concluded the Memorandumof Understanding on Port State Control in the
Asia-Pacific Region (Tokyo MOU), aiming at
establishment of an effective and harmonized
port State control system in the region to eliminate substandard ships and to promote maritime
safety and protection of the marine environment,
as well as safeguard working and living conditions onboard ships.
On October 28, 2013, the Tokyo MOU 20th
Anniversary Forum, in conjunction with the 24th
meeting of the Port State Control Committee of
the Tokyo MOU, was organized to celebrate thisevent. At the opening, Mr. Ryuji Masuno,
Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministryof Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourismof Japan, made a congratulatory address. Mr.
Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of IMO, wasinvited as the guest of honor to the forum anddelivered a keynote speech, in which he commended the great achievements of the Tokyo
MOU during the past twenty years and encouraged it to take every challenge in the years tocome. Mr. Mitsutoyo Okada, Secretary, Tokyo
MOU Secretariat, also made a keynote presentation. Furthermore, Mr. Mick Kinley, Deputy
Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), representing themember Authorities; Mr. Richard Schiferli,
General Secretary of the Paris MOU Secretariat,
representing observers; and Mr. Takuya Yoneya,

Executive Vice President of the Nippon Kaiji
Kyokai (ClassNK), representing the industry,
made congratulation speeches. In addition to themembers, co-operating members and observers of
the Tokyo MOU, representatives from the International Association of Classification Societies(IACS), the Association of Asian Classification
Societies (ACS), INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, the International Chamber of Shipping
and the International Shipping Federation(ICS/ISF), the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF),
and the Japan Shipowners’ Association (JSA)participated in the forum.
At present, the Tokyo MOU consists of 19
Member Authorities, namely: Australia, Canada,
Chile, China, Fiji, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, MarshallIslands (which became a member at this meetingin Tokyo), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, thePhilippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore,
Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. Peru adhered
to the Tokyo MOU as a Co-operating Member
Authority. The Authorities of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, Macao (China), theSolomon Islands, the United States Coast Guard,
the International Maritime Organization, theInternational Labour Organization and the Secretariats of the Paris, the Indian Ocean and theBlack Sea Memoranda of Understanding on Port
State Control and the Viña del Mar Agreement
are associated with the Tokyo MOU as observers.
During the past twenty years, the Tokyo MOU
has made significant developments, progress andachievements on port State control in the Asia-

5

Ning Zheng
Technical Officer
Tokyo MOU Secretariat

Pacific region. The total number of inspections
conducted by member Authorities has
increased from 8,000 in 1994 to more than
30,000 in 2012, which creates a new record not
only of its own but also for the regional PSC
regimes around the world. Detentions havedecreased both in number and in percentage in2012. It is for the first time that the regional
detention rate is below 5%, except for the yearof starting operations of the Tokyo MOU. Thiscan be seen as a positive outcome of effective
operation of the PSC program by the TokyoMOU Authorities. In addition to normal PSC
inspections, the Tokyo MOU also organizes
concentrated inspection campaigns (CIC) for
facilitating enforcement and implementation ofcertain important convention regulations,which are conducted almost every year by tackling different subjects.
One of the most important achievements of
the Tokyo MOU is the development andimplementation of effective and comprehensive
technical co-operation activities. From the very
beginning, the Tokyo MOU has kept the training and improvement of professional qualification of port State control officers as a highpriority. For that purpose, a strategic plan for
training was developed, and various technicalco-operation programs were implemented. To
date, more than 2,000 PSC officers in theregion have participated in the technicalco-operation programs organized by the Tokyo
MOU in one way or another. It is important tomention that The Nippon Foundation kindly
offered generous financial support for the
Tokyo technical co-operation activities.
The success of the Tokyo MOU is the resultof co-operation, contributions and efforts of the
Authorities and the Port State Control Committee. The Tokyo MOU will take the twenty
years of achievement as a new starting pointand continue its efforts and further enhancement of its activities, so as to achieve the ultimate objective of elimination of substandard
ships throughout the region.

New Members of WMU Sas

Algeria
S14010 (MSEA)

Bangladesh
S14054 (MET )Bangladesh
S14056 (MET )Colombia
S14009 (MSEA)

Haiti
S14060 (MLP)

India
S14061 (MSEA)

Mohamed Taalbi

Vijay Raju

Second Engineer Onboard Passenger Ship, Engine Department
Entreprise Nationale de Transport Maritime de Voyage(E.N.T.M.V-Algerie Ferries)

Commandant ( JG)
Headquarters, Coast Guard District No. 3, Indian Coast Guard

The WMU MSc Program, since it provides the essential
understanding of maritime administration issues and expertise in
essential management tools, will allow me to share in theimplementation of international maritime standards of safety andenvironmental protection in my country, in order to improve theliving conditions of seafarers, the reliability of ships and thecleanliness of the seas.

India
S14048 (MSEA)

I will be utilizing the knowledge gained at WMU to strive for asafer maritime environment in and around Indian waters. I will
also train and share my knowledge with my peers and colleagues.
I will also create awareness about maritime environmental issues
and address them at every possible level, which will beadvantageous to my country.

Mst Farhana Diba

Aleik Nurwahyudy

Instructor, Marine Technology
Bangladesh Institute of Marine Technology

Marine Safety Investigator
National Transportation Safety Committee, Ministry of Transportation

This course is very much relevant to my present occupation andwill be very helpful to upgrade my position at my present
organization. This education will be very effective for myinstitution and obviously for my country. I will share my very
valuable experience that I achieve during this period with mycolleagues and especially with my students.

I wish to gain more knowledge about how marine safetysystems (safety defenses) can be sufficiently developed toprevent accidents, and I also want to understand thelimitations of their implementation. This knowledge willallow me to conduct analyses to determine the causes ofmarine accidents, and which safety recommendations should
be issued to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Indonesia
S14007 (MSEA)

Md Manjurul Kabir

Yuichi Monji

Senior Engineer Instructor,
Marine Engineering, Bangladesh Marine Academy

Official
Education Administration, Japan Coast Guard

Studying at WMU is a dream come true for me. WMU MET willcertainly impart to me the real needs of the maritime industry,offering an expert balance of academic study and practicalexperience. Returning home, I shall try to bring significant
improvement in learning and teaching skills, management andpolicy matters within my organization, taking into account thedemands of the maritime industry.

Through this precious opportunity to study abroad, ininternational circumstances, with experts from many
countries, I want to establish strong friendships withcolleagues while appreciating their respective differences,
cultures, ways of thinking, etc. I would also like to contributeand help my friends to understand Japan.

Japan
S14005 (MSEA)

Jairo Eligio Orobio Sánchez

Yusuke Mori

Assistant Manager
Maritime Safety, General Maritime Directorate

1st Navigation Officer and Instructor of Training Ship
Practical Training Bureau Planning Division, National Institute for Sea Training

First, I strongly believe that while studying at WMU I will
acquire the knowledge to identify, research, and propose
solutions for maritime-related problems in Colombia, such as
maritime pollution. I will also share a lot experience with other
WMU students who come from different countries. Finally, I
will transfer my knowledge and by sharing it help towards
maritime development.

Studying at WMU gives me a great opportunity to gain
knowledge in the latest Maritime affairs and Maritime
Education and Training. In addition, it is also a great chance todevelop good relationships with colleagues from 52 different
countries. After graduation, I am sure I can contribute to thedevelopment of Maritime Education and Training in mycountry.

Japan
S14006 (MET)Michaelle Pierre

Masahiko Okubo

Legal Counselor, Legal Department
Service Maritime et de Navigation d'Haiti (SEMANAH)

Section Chief
Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

WMU will give me the possibility to combine theoretical studies
with practical skills in maritime law, which will not only enable
me to become a good specialist in implementing policies in themaritime sector of my country but also will help me to become ateacher. WMU is also a great place to enhance social networking
in the maritime field.

By studying at WMU and sharing experiences with mycolleagues, I'd like to acquire precise and fundamental information and knowledge related to maritime matters, which willdefinitely contribute to my administrative skills ininternational affairs and technical abilities in the maritime
sector. Also, I hope relationships among the members of the
Sasakawa Fellowship will lead to international cooperation.

Japan
S14008 (MSEA)

Abul Kalam Azad Ismath Batcha Sellakkannu

Revy Mati Malikanzi

Nautical Surveyor-cum-Dy. DG (Tech), Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai
Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.

Assistant Operations Officer
Inland Container Depots, Kenya Ports Authority

Studying at WMU in Malmö is a “dream come true” opportunity.
I will endeavour to utilise this to the fullest in order to broaden
my outlook towards the Maritime sector and the proper functioning of Maritime Administration. I will do my best to acquire
further knowledge and skills from my colleagues and Friends of
WMU in order to become a better maritime professional. I
sincerely hope to apply the acquired knowleldge in myday-to-day functioning in order to promote safety at sea.

WMU is a global center of excellence for maritime education
and research. I am glad to be a part of it. I want to participate in
the development and implementation of maritime educationand training curricula for MET institutions in Kenya. MET
specialization will equip me with the necessary knowledge andskills to achieve the above mentioned resolution.

6

Kenya
S14057 (MET)akawa Fellowship, Class of 2014
The Following 22 new Sasakawa Fellowship Students in the class of 2014
have joined the WMU Academic Program in the middle of September,2013. These students are experts in their own right and expected to excel
in their chosen maritime courses under the stringent supervision of thebest experts in the world in the maritime field. Upon the completion of
their courses, their new knowledge and skills shall contribute further toenhance their countries’ maritime community.

Kenya
S14046 (MET)

Liberia
S14049 (MET)

Myanmar
S14011 (MEOM)

MET: Maritime Education & Training
MLP: Maritime Law & Policy
MSEA: Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration
SPM: Shipping & Port Management

Julius Matusia OkindoCharlie Moises Pandongan

Legal Assistant
Board Secretariat and Legal Services Department, Kenya Maritime Authority

Assistant Dean
College of Marine Engineering, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy

The world-class training I will receive at WMU will equip mewith the relevant skills and expertise to help me to transform mycountry's maritime education sub-sector and thus produce
highly qualified seafarers for placement nationally andinternationally. In addition, I will join a team of highly qualified
professionals who are guiding the maritime industry in Kenya.

Enhancing my knowledge and capability in the management ofmaritime education and training is my objective here at WMU,
and after my studies, I'm looking forward to applying this to mynominating agency and to various maritime agencies in myhome country to further improve the knowledge, understanding and proficiency of Filipino seafarers.

Philippines
S14058 (MET)

Mulbah Kabedeh Yorgbor, Jr.

Nilantha Indika Piyadasa Hapan Tilage

Manager, Research and Institutional Development
Liberia Marine Training Institute, Liberia Maritime Authority

Assistant Manager
Technical Division, Marine Environment Protection Authority

Training and manpower development is one of the single mostimportant initiatives of institutions - public and private. I
believe that an advanced degree in Maritime Affairs (MET)
places me in a position of responsibility to contribute to thetraining of competent seamen, which will inevitably contributeto the overall growth of the industry.

Sri Lanka plans to develop its maritime sector as one of themain sectors in the economy. Therefore, the knowledge andpractical experiences that I gain from WMU are very
important to my country. I hope to share my knowledge with
our young generation at special universities. Meanwhile, I
would like to use this opportunity to build up relationships
with students of other countries. It is also important to gaininternational assistance for my country.

Sri Lanka
S14055 (MSEA)

Thet Hlaing Swe

Imali Udeshika Manikarachchige

Instructor
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Department
Myanmar Maritime University, Ministry of Transport

LecturerNational Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering of Sri Lanka

I am eager to share my acquired knowledge from WMU not
only with my students but also with my colleagues in my field.
Moreover, I intend to study until, with my advanced knowledge,
I can solve the issues concerning the Marine Environment of mycountry.

Sri Lanka
S14045 (MEOM)

Even though the ocean is a part of most Sri Lankans' life, as acountry, we lack proper knowledge on how to utilize available
marine resources. After I complete my postgraduate studies, I
will return to Sri Lanka as one of the few people who canactually mitigate the issues of the Sri Lankan coastal belt andencourage its sustainable usage.

Muhammad Yasir SiddiqueTantai Wongsaeree

Staff Officer
Administration, Maritime Security Agency

Habour MasterMarine Department Phuket, Ministry of Transport

I intend to gain the maximum from this opportunity, bylearning from the world-class faculty at WMU, as well as thefinest student colleagues from across the globe. I wish to utilize
this effectively towards the improvement of the maritime sectorof my country and the world.

Studying at WMU is a good opportunity to learn new things in
the maritime field. I can use the knowleage gained to improvemy country and make our standards equal to global ones. At
WMU I will have a strong international connection andcooperation from many countries to develop maritime
transportation and global safety and the environment.

Pakistan
S14062 (MET)

Papua New Guinea
S14047 (MLP)

Specialization Courses

Thailand
S14012 (MSEA)

Ore Ovia Toua

Trang Thu Pham

Staff Development and Training Officer
Human Resources Department, National Maritime Safety Authority

Deputy Manager
Administration Department, Vietnam MRCC

The Master of Science Program will give me an in-depth
knowledge of the industry and teach me how important laws,
policies, and programs play a key role in decision-making at anorganization like mine. Upon graduating, I will join the
Maritime Standards and Enforcement Department and help
re-evaluate and update existing policies.

I am the first person of my organization studying at WMU. I
believe this great opportunity will definitely enhance myknowledge and skills, especially in maritime safety, which is
directly relevant to my job. The international environment at
WMU will strengthen cooperation in the maritime field, and I
will surely become active in the Sasakawa Fellows' Network.

7

Viet Nam
S14059 (MSEA)

9th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (9th HACGAM)in Pattaya, Thailand
Thanatip Jantarapakde(Thailand, 1998)

HACGAM (Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting) is ahigh level meeting for Coast Guard Agencies in Asian countries. This
forum was initiated in 2004 to discuss cooperation to combat piracy.
Since then, each Coast Guard Agency has kept on discussing law
enforcement, maritime security, disaster prevention and capacity building. There are more than 20 member organizations from 18 countries
and one region, which serve 3.6 billion people, consisting of Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong
Kong (SAR), with the participation of observers including representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, ReCAAP-ISC
and the Japan Association of Marine Safety, within a framework thatfully respects the competence and the principle of voluntary engagement of each Coast Guard Agency.
Coast Guard Agencies have long been regarded as an enforcement
mechanism essential for the regulation of marine affairs of all nations.
Consequently, a forum, where the heads of Coast Guard Agencies in
the region come to exchange their knowledge, experiences and views aswell as to discuss how to cope with prevailing issues or situations like
HACGAM, is welcome to emphasize the role of such agencies inbringing prosperity and peace to the individual countries and thatparticular region in a broader context.
The 9th HACGAM meeting was co-hosted by the Marine
Department of Thailand, the Royal Thai Marine Police and Japan
Coast Guard under the auspices of The Nippon Foundation, and washeld on October 29-30, 2013, in Pattaya, Thailand. The Meeting
agreed to work together proactively on the 5 areas (Pillars) of urgent
and common issues that the HACGAM member countries now face,which are search and rescue, environmental protection,WMU Sasakawa Fellow Mr. Thanatip Jantarapakde, Ms. Retno
Windari (Indonesia, 2001), Mr. Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director of
The Nippon Foundation and Mr. Damrongkiat Kiatopas (Thailand, 2011)

countermeasures against massive natural disasters, controlling unlawfulacts at sea and capacity building, which serve as a basis for
improvements in coast guard capacity and to work out a roadmap forthis 9th HACGAM and the forthcoming 10th HACGAM.
As the coordinator of the meeting, I had a chance to meet with Mr.
Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation andtwo other WMU Sasakawa Fellows, Ms. Retno Windari (Indonesia,
2001) and Mr. Damrongkiat Kiatopas (Thailand, 2011). I hope that
the WMU family working in all maritime areas can continue tosupport the development of maritime affairs and also other issues, andI look forward to meeting them again in the near future.

Our prayers go out to our friends affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
On November 8th, 2013, a powerful cyclone, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), hit the central Philippines, creating tidal waves, extensive damage
and wreaking havoc around Leyte island. Many lives were lost, and many people have become victims of the typhoon. We would like toexpress our condolences to them and our heartfelt sympathy to all those involved, including neighboring countries. We wish for a fast recovery
to those affected by the disaster.
The Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat, via mail and the internet (Social Utility Site), was able to confirm the safety of Fellows living on
Leyte Island through the Filipino Sasakawa Fellows. We would like to thank our Fellows for their prompt action.
OPRF, Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat

Editor’s note

First of all, let me express my deepest sympathy to the peopleof the Philippines for the loss of life and devastation caused bytyphoon Haiyan (Yolanda). It is my earnest hope that the Philippines will recover swiftly from this disaster. I am reminded of
the terrible earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011,
when many countries brought us heartwarming support for ourrecovery. I am grateful for their relief activities and will neverforget.
I was really impressed by the first article of this newsletter
regarding the African regional conference. I hope their enthusiastic activities will be significant for regional development in

the maritime field. Since I was transferred to the Port State
Control Office in Japan last year, I have come across many
WMU graduates in meetings such as Tokyo MOU’s PSC
committee and seminar. The same is true for IMO meetings. I
always believe the network of WMU graduates can enhancecooperation among their countries. I greatly appreciate WMU,
and I am sure I will maintain this relationship forever. Obviously, it is much more precious than gold.
Masashi Sugomori

PSC Office, Maritime Bureau,
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

Toranomon 35 Mori Building, 3-4-10 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001 JAPAN
Tel: +81-(0)3-5404-6843 Fax: +81-(0)3-5404-6800 URL: http://www.sof.or.jp/