34

Nelli Rünk (Estonia, 2008)

I am very happy to announce that I got married on
August 6th, 2010. My husband and I have been
friends for many years and after a few years of dating
decided to take the next step in our lives and get
married. The wedding ceremony was held at the
Town Hall and it consisted of filing a civil registration
form and listening to a beautiful speech from theregistration officer. The ceremony was followed by a
traditional wedding party, which lasted for more thaneight hours and had many tests and traditional games
for the newlyweds. The picture was taken during thewedding ceremony at the Town Hall.
We are very thankful to our family and friends for
all their support. Also, we are especially thankful tomy friends from WMU, to Su Nam Kim(South-Korea), Lynn Bakar (Malaysia), and Ricardo
Rendon (Ecuador) for taking the trouble to fly all theway to Estonia just to be there with us on this special
occasion. And we thank the many friends who kindly
sent us heart-warming messages and gifts for ourwedding.

March
2011

Özlem Mulun (Turkey, 2007)

I graduated from the World Maritime University in
October 2007, and was awarded an MSc degree in
Maritime Affairs, with a specialization in Maritime
Law & Policy. WMU gave a magic touch to my life
and offered many things regarding education, career,friendship, different places and cultures. With thisregard, I am very thankful to Mr. Sasakawa for givingme this opportunity to have this experience.
Career-wise, I am still working for the Turkish
Maritime Administration and try to convey myknowledge to my work.

As for my private life, I would like to share with myfriends from WMU that I got married on October
30th, 2010. My husband is a doctor and a friend ofmine from high school. After many years we foundeach other again and decided to get married. I am very
happy and would like to take this opportunity tothank him for being such an important part of my life.
My sincerest regards to all WMU Graduates andthe “Friends of WMU, Japan” Secretariat, Ocean
Policy Research Foundation.

Our Precious Memories at WMU
and with Sasakawa Fellows

The Bruce P. Browne Family

Treasuring Our New "Life"

Fernando Bustamante (Mexico, 2004)

The last time I was on Swedish land was on October
2004. It was more than six years ago and thememories of WMU are still very fresh; anunforgettable time full of experiences, learning andgood friends. All possible thanks to OPRF and Mr.
Sasakawa, to whom I will always be grateful. Now,
thanks to the knowledge acquired, I am a proud
professional in the maritime industry, working for
Hutchison Port Holdings Mexico in the
management, planning and construction of new
container terminals, contributing to the developmentof the port sector in my country.
During my stay in WMU, I had the fortune to be

Condolencesin company of Claudia, my wife, who many of mycolleagues had the chance to meet and who was wellcared for by them. It was in Malmö where we got
married, in an amazing wedding organized by ourinternational WMU friends, and now, after six yearsof marriage, I am happy to share with you that we areproud parents of our first child, Zoe (meaning “life” inGreek) a beautiful girl one and a half years old.
It is extremely good and useful to have thisNewsletter that we can keep in contact and be
updated with the latest news of the Friends of WMU,
Japan. I am always at your service if you needsomething in Mexico for which I can be useful.

Dr. Nils Stormby passed away on December 9th, 2010, and Funeral Services were held on Dec.
23rd in Malmö, Sweden. He was the former Honorable Consulate General of Japan (1999-2008)
in Sweden, and was awarded “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon”.
He contributed greatly to the constructive relationship between WMU and Japan.

Editor’s note
I am currently taking part in the IMO STW 42 Sub-committee
meeting. The comprehensive revision of the STCW Treaty that sets thestandards for seamen’s training and education was concluded at the
Diplomatic conference held in Manila, and awaits its effectuation on
January 1, 2012.
The Conference was joined by numerous WMU graduates from many
countries who took an active interest and took part in the conference. I
have reported in the No. 32 Editor’s Note how OPRF hosted a very
successful convivial party for all participants so that they could get toknow each other better.

Mr. Kunihiko Kitabayashi

I was happy to meet 7 graduates whom I know personally at thisSTW42. Students study for 2 years so I do not get to know all of them,but the moment I walked in they all included me as a WMU family
member. I noted with interest that since graduates do not wear the
WMU ties with its logo or scarves and rings they used as students, they
did not always recognize each other as fellow graduates and often had tobegin with somewhat formal greetings at first.
Watching this scene, I had an idea. Perhaps we should make a pin or abadge that can be worn by both men and women so that Sasakawa Fellows
will be able to recognize each other. Perhaps this small symbol could be a
key to thaw the “formalities” that accompany international conventions.
Prof. Toshio Hikima (Marine Technical College)

A

Bruce

s some of you are aware I retired in
January 2011 after working at theWorld
Maritime
University(WMU), where I had the unique
opportunity to serve the worldwide
maritime community in my capacity as
Registrar and Vice President (Academic
Services) for over eighteen years. My
retirement will effectively end a 43-year
career in international education. Duringthat period I had the chance as a student,
United States Peace Corps volunteer,
teacher and university administrator totravel to over 80 countries, and to gain
living and working experience in sevendifferent countries on four different
continents.
This rich international experience has
enabled both me and my family to have thegood fortune to become exposed to manydifferent types of cultures and to gain amuch deeper understanding of what the late
Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, the founder of The
Nippon Foundation, meant when he statedthat ‘The world is a family, and all
humankind are brothers and sisters’.
Over the nearly two decades I worked at
WMU,
I
have
witnessedthetransformation of the University as it
redefined its mission during this period to
become an excellent postgraduate university

rather than an excellent training school.
Though at times frustrating, the process ofrestructuring the University’s academic
programs and procedures has certainly beena worthwhile endeavour, as our students are
now insured that the postgraduate
education they receive at WMU is of thehighest possible quality.
I must confess that what I valued mostduring my stay at WMU was the rareopportunity to not only work at the
University, but to also live in the Henrik
Smith residence with a generation oftalented young maritime professionals fromall corners of the world. I have also beenquite fortunate over the last fifteen years tohave the chance on thirteen occasions toaccompany a total of 327 of the Sasakawa
Fellows on their annual field studies
programs to Japan. These trips have allowed
me to get to know many of the Fellows andJapanese staff members of The Nippon andassociated foundations on a very personalbasis. We all shared the unique experienceof visiting and travelling to many beautiful
parts of Japan, which is something I will
always treasure.
In addition, my visits to Japan havehelped me to pursue my interest in modern
Japanese history that developed while
undertaking some genealogical research on

my family. I discovered that my great uncle(five generations removed) served as the
Fleet Surgeon for Commodore Matthew
Perry’s black fleet when it sailed into Edo(Tokyo) Bay in July 1853 to start thenegotiations that led to the opening ofJapan.
I would like to take this opportunity to
express my deep gratitude to Mr. Yohei
Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation and the
Ocean Policy Research Foundation for thegenerous support they have provided the
University over the years, enabling over 400
Sasakawa Fellows to attend WMU. It is asource of great pride amongst the staff of
WMU to see that many of the Fellows who
graduate return home to be quickly
promoted to senior posts in the maritime
industry. Their success sends a strong
message to Japan that the money they havegenerously provided has indeed been aworthwhile investment. I hope theUniversity continues to expand and prosper
over the coming decades with ongoingsupport from Japan, so that many otherdeserving maritime professionals will havethe chance to study at WMU.
In closing, Carmen and I would like towish you a fond farewell, as we look forward
to enjoying the many sights and sounds ofsunny Spain in the coming years.

Our Precious Memories at WMU
and with Sasakawa Fellows

The Bruce P. Browne Family

Directors’ Meeting of Asian Maritime
Security Organizations
Tomoya Shimizu（Japan, 2004）

Right: Zhang Wei

W
Farewell Party at the Henrik Smith Hostel

CarmenI’d like to thank the Friends of WMUJapan for generously offering to publish an
article about my living and working
experience at WMU. The following article
was written by and through the eyes of myoldest daughter Danielle:

Danielle

My father, mother, baby sister Denise
and I moved to Sweden in the summer of
1992. Actually, it was July 27 to be exact.
We were picked up at the ferry station by a
WMU van and sat wide-eyed as we took
the short ride to our new “home”. As mymother made her way out of the van she
looked up at the Henrik Smith Hostel andcould hear African music playing out of
one of the student’s windows. She
immediately thought to herself, “I’m going
to be OK here, this place seems like fun.”
What she felt at that moment was aconnection to a stranger via the power ofmusic. Moving to Malmö in 1992 meant
moving to an all-Caucasian world, andhearing that African music made her, a
Honduran woman, feel at home. Her
destiny was set and she didn’t even know ityet.
As the months went by, our family, andespecially my mother and sister, were
exposed to the lifestyles of Swedes andWMU students. While the Swedes were
harder to get to know (due to language
barriers and the fact that we didn’t live
among them) the students shared ourhome, which included our corridors, ourlaundry room and our “front yard”. Little
by little people began to find out that
Carmen was Bruce Browne’s wife andlittle by little they would come knocking
on our door.
Throughout all of those years that welived there I remember vividly how eachnight our dinner would be interrupted by
the sound of a student knocking on ourdoor. Not once did my mother complain.
Some of them came because their stomach
hurt (and they needed medicine), hadlocked themselves out of their rooms, or
because they had a toothache. A few evencame because they thought their wives
were about to go into labor and have ababy, and many more came as they neededa shoulder to cry on or a hug from “Mom,”
because they missed their families. No
matter why they came, my mother would
open our door with a smile, ready to do
whatever it took to make sure that they left
our place with a smile of their own.
Somewhere along this journey someone
at WMU came up with the great idea tohire my mother to assist in managing thehostel. It is hard for me to write her official
title: Assistant Hostel Manager. It is hardbecause I never saw her as an assistant. The
loyalty with which I watched my mothertake care of the students’ needs, greet
visitors, look after the cleaning staff, giveaway her own dishes, clothes, plates andfood to students in need, make healthy
connections with the Swedish City
Officials that worked with her – it was somuch. No. It was more; it was too much tojust call her an Assistant.
During all of her years at the hostel,working for WMU, my mother always
mentioned how much she was grateful forbeing given the chance to work with2

people from all over the world. How
wonderful it was to be able to help people(the students) and how much she waslearning from them every day. And learn
she did. She learned how to use a soft voice
when speaking to a shy student about adelicate matter. She learned how to use
humor when dealing with a student who
didn’t like taking orders from a woman.
She learned how to give away food or
clothes to people without ever making
anyone feel like it was charity. She learned
how to keep a secret and how to stand up
to men twice her size.
Of all of the things that she learned, Iam sure that what she is most proud of islearning how to live and get along withpeople from so many different countries.
There are many skills that one can pick up
from working, but there are not many jobs
that offer you the chance to perfect yourskills as a diplomat. I consider my motherto be a diplomat of the highest degree. Her
job is not an easy one, and it takes a personwith tremendous sensitivity to do what she
does.
So I will close this short article by sayingthat my sister and I were lucky to havebeen brought up by a woman that people
from around the globe have called “Mom”.
I am proud of her loyalty, bravery andopen-mindedness. Thank you, Mom, youhave taught me and the WMU students
more than you’ll ever know.

ith support from The Nippon
Foundation, the Japan Coast Guardand the China Maritime Safety
Administration, the 6th Directors’ Meeting of
Asian Maritime Safety Organizations was heldin Shanghai in October 2010 to further efforts topromote a cooperative framework of 23
organizations in 17 Asian countries and one
region. The Japan Association of Maritime
Safety, which I belong to, participated as the
managing organization of the meeting. With theobjective of strengthening cooperation between
the maritime safety organizations in the Asian
region, the Directors’ Meeting of Asian
Maritime Safety Organizations has been held
annually since 2004. Prior to the meeting of thedirectors, a meeting of the administrators of therespective organizations was held at the same
venue on October 14.
Comprised of the members of ASEAN, Far
East Asia, and Western Asia, the participating
countries cover a wide geographical area.
Described in the simplest terms, Asia is a vast
area of extremely diverse cultures in every aspect,
including customs, religion, language, race, anddiet. The total population of the participating
countries is approximately 3.7 billion, which ismore than half the world’s population. Despite
their strikingly different backgrounds, thesecountries must mutually accept their respective
differences and foster a common understanding
in order to achieve the ideal of “beautiful oceans
and safe navigation.”
Although this meeting was initiallyestablished as a venue for discussing how

maritime safety organizations in the Asian
region could cooperate in responding tofrequently occurring incidents of piracy in thestraits of Malacca and Singapore, as themeetings progressed, the members took up as a
topic of discussion forming a cooperative
training framework to strengthen their capacity
to respond to criminal maritime acts. In efforts
to strengthen information sharing, the mostrecent meeting undertook the collection andcollation of capacity building lists, whichsummarize capacity improvement measures
implemented by the member countries to date,as well as lists of their liaison offices.
As the manager of the International
Department of the Japan Association of
Maritime Safety, I was responsible for the
management of the meeting. Because it was totake place in Shanghai on this occasion, we wereto receive the cooperation of the Shanghai
Maritime Safety Administration. Therefore, I
had to hold discussions with the Shanghai side
regarding planning and coordination. It just so
happened, however, that the Hai Xun 21, apatrol boat from the China Maritime Safety
Administration, called into Yokohama to attend
the Japan Coast Guard inspection parade inMay. When I made a courtesy visit to thatvessel, I had a chance reunion with Zhang Wei,
one of my classmates from the Sasakawa
Fellowship, whom I had not seen in 6 years.
After this meeting, I then proceeded withcoordination work while seeking assistance from
Zhang Wei in the organization of a preliminary
meeting and other arrangements. We theninvited representatives of the respective maritime
safety organizations to Shanghai during theShanghai World Exposition. With Executive
Director Nagamitsu of The Nippon Foundation
in attendance, we conducted the preliminary
meeting with an administrators’ meeting and a
directors’ meeting, attended by representatives ofthe various maritime safety organizations.
Many WMU graduates were among theattendees, and I was once again impressed by therole WMU plays in the world’s maritime
transport and, in that context, the lives of the
Sasakawa Fellows. As a representative of theChinese delegation, Zhang Wei gave apresentation at the administrators’ meeting. In
the course of the meeting a number ofparticipants including Vice Commandant Liwagof the Philippine Coast Guard, also a Sasakawa
Fellow, recognized my necktie and came up to
me to tell me that they were also graduates.
In 2011 we plan to hold both anadministrators’ meeting and a directors’ meetingin Hanoi, Vietnam in June and Octoberrespectively. As a new topic in our discussions
this year we plan to shift our focus fromcooperation on human resource development to
responding to illegal activities at sea. Again I
intend to take charge of managing the meetingin the same capacity as I did last year. In thesame way, I would also be very pleased to be able
to again meet many WMU graduates andSasakawa Fellows from the Asian region. I also
look forward to the success of both of theupcoming meetings.

Marine Accident Investigators’ Forum in Asia

Toru Eguchi (Japan, 2009)T

he year of 2010 could be anothermilestone in the enhancement of safety at
sea as the IMO Casualty Investigation
Code came into effect and a part of the Codebecame mandatory under the SOLAS
Convention in January this year. The Coderequires States to conduct safety investigations
into marine casualties or marine incidents, incooperation with other substantially interested
States, and submit investigation reports to IMO
as well as make them available to the public andthe maritime industry.
Recognizing the importance of implementing
the Code, the Japan Transport Safety Board
hosted a forum for marine accident investigators
in Asia, held in Tokyo on October 6-7, under the
support of the Ocean Policy Research
Foundation. The purpose of the forum was topromote better understanding of the Code and todevelop international cooperation among
investigators. It was a great pleasure for us towelcome the chairman of MAIIF (the Marine
Accident Investigators’ International Forum) andparticipants from 13 administrations, especially
Mr. Pitak Wattanapongpisal (Thailand, 1999).
I’m really happy that I had a chance to meet
Sasakawa Fellows again, as I have on every
occasion like this meeting, allowing us all to work
together.
During the meeting, we exchanged views andshared our knowledge and experiences throughdiscussions on investigation systems used by eachadministration, actual cases of major marine
accidents, and other issues related to theimplementation of the Code. We also visited theJapan Radio Co., Ltd., a marine electronics

3

Right: Pitak Wattanapongpisal

manufacturer, where they gave us ademonstration of the Voyage Data Recorder, amost crucial device that helps investigators
reconstruct accidents.
What we seek through safety investigation is tolearn from accidents and to raise safety issues for
future prevention, and cooperation is a key factor
in our success. I hope this meeting promotes
mutual understanding and cooperation among
investigators, and I would like to take thisopportunity to say thank you to OPRF for theirsupport, to the participants for theircontributions, and to all those who assisted us in
hosting this fruitful forum.

Our Precious Memories at WMU
and with Sasakawa Fellows

The Bruce P. Browne Family

Directors’ Meeting of Asian Maritime
Security Organizations
Tomoya Shimizu（Japan, 2004）

Right: Zhang Wei

W
Farewell Party at the Henrik Smith Hostel

CarmenI’d like to thank the Friends of WMUJapan for generously offering to publish an
article about my living and working
experience at WMU. The following article
was written by and through the eyes of myoldest daughter Danielle:

Danielle

My father, mother, baby sister Denise
and I moved to Sweden in the summer of
1992. Actually, it was July 27 to be exact.
We were picked up at the ferry station by a
WMU van and sat wide-eyed as we took
the short ride to our new “home”. As mymother made her way out of the van she
looked up at the Henrik Smith Hostel andcould hear African music playing out of
one of the student’s windows. She
immediately thought to herself, “I’m going
to be OK here, this place seems like fun.”
What she felt at that moment was aconnection to a stranger via the power ofmusic. Moving to Malmö in 1992 meant
moving to an all-Caucasian world, andhearing that African music made her, a
Honduran woman, feel at home. Her
destiny was set and she didn’t even know ityet.
As the months went by, our family, andespecially my mother and sister, were
exposed to the lifestyles of Swedes andWMU students. While the Swedes were
harder to get to know (due to language
barriers and the fact that we didn’t live
among them) the students shared ourhome, which included our corridors, ourlaundry room and our “front yard”. Little
by little people began to find out that
Carmen was Bruce Browne’s wife andlittle by little they would come knocking
on our door.
Throughout all of those years that welived there I remember vividly how eachnight our dinner would be interrupted by
the sound of a student knocking on ourdoor. Not once did my mother complain.
Some of them came because their stomach
hurt (and they needed medicine), hadlocked themselves out of their rooms, or
because they had a toothache. A few evencame because they thought their wives
were about to go into labor and have ababy, and many more came as they neededa shoulder to cry on or a hug from “Mom,”
because they missed their families. No
matter why they came, my mother would
open our door with a smile, ready to do
whatever it took to make sure that they left
our place with a smile of their own.
Somewhere along this journey someone
at WMU came up with the great idea tohire my mother to assist in managing thehostel. It is hard for me to write her official
title: Assistant Hostel Manager. It is hardbecause I never saw her as an assistant. The
loyalty with which I watched my mothertake care of the students’ needs, greet
visitors, look after the cleaning staff, giveaway her own dishes, clothes, plates andfood to students in need, make healthy
connections with the Swedish City
Officials that worked with her – it was somuch. No. It was more; it was too much tojust call her an Assistant.
During all of her years at the hostel,working for WMU, my mother always
mentioned how much she was grateful forbeing given the chance to work with2

people from all over the world. How
wonderful it was to be able to help people(the students) and how much she waslearning from them every day. And learn
she did. She learned how to use a soft voice
when speaking to a shy student about adelicate matter. She learned how to use
humor when dealing with a student who
didn’t like taking orders from a woman.
She learned how to give away food or
clothes to people without ever making
anyone feel like it was charity. She learned
how to keep a secret and how to stand up
to men twice her size.
Of all of the things that she learned, Iam sure that what she is most proud of islearning how to live and get along withpeople from so many different countries.
There are many skills that one can pick up
from working, but there are not many jobs
that offer you the chance to perfect yourskills as a diplomat. I consider my motherto be a diplomat of the highest degree. Her
job is not an easy one, and it takes a personwith tremendous sensitivity to do what she
does.
So I will close this short article by sayingthat my sister and I were lucky to havebeen brought up by a woman that people
from around the globe have called “Mom”.
I am proud of her loyalty, bravery andopen-mindedness. Thank you, Mom, youhave taught me and the WMU students
more than you’ll ever know.

ith support from The Nippon
Foundation, the Japan Coast Guardand the China Maritime Safety
Administration, the 6th Directors’ Meeting of
Asian Maritime Safety Organizations was heldin Shanghai in October 2010 to further efforts topromote a cooperative framework of 23
organizations in 17 Asian countries and one
region. The Japan Association of Maritime
Safety, which I belong to, participated as the
managing organization of the meeting. With theobjective of strengthening cooperation between
the maritime safety organizations in the Asian
region, the Directors’ Meeting of Asian
Maritime Safety Organizations has been held
annually since 2004. Prior to the meeting of thedirectors, a meeting of the administrators of therespective organizations was held at the same
venue on October 14.
Comprised of the members of ASEAN, Far
East Asia, and Western Asia, the participating
countries cover a wide geographical area.
Described in the simplest terms, Asia is a vast
area of extremely diverse cultures in every aspect,
including customs, religion, language, race, anddiet. The total population of the participating
countries is approximately 3.7 billion, which ismore than half the world’s population. Despite
their strikingly different backgrounds, thesecountries must mutually accept their respective
differences and foster a common understanding
in order to achieve the ideal of “beautiful oceans
and safe navigation.”
Although this meeting was initiallyestablished as a venue for discussing how

maritime safety organizations in the Asian
region could cooperate in responding tofrequently occurring incidents of piracy in thestraits of Malacca and Singapore, as themeetings progressed, the members took up as a
topic of discussion forming a cooperative
training framework to strengthen their capacity
to respond to criminal maritime acts. In efforts
to strengthen information sharing, the mostrecent meeting undertook the collection andcollation of capacity building lists, whichsummarize capacity improvement measures
implemented by the member countries to date,as well as lists of their liaison offices.
As the manager of the International
Department of the Japan Association of
Maritime Safety, I was responsible for the
management of the meeting. Because it was totake place in Shanghai on this occasion, we wereto receive the cooperation of the Shanghai
Maritime Safety Administration. Therefore, I
had to hold discussions with the Shanghai side
regarding planning and coordination. It just so
happened, however, that the Hai Xun 21, apatrol boat from the China Maritime Safety
Administration, called into Yokohama to attend
the Japan Coast Guard inspection parade inMay. When I made a courtesy visit to thatvessel, I had a chance reunion with Zhang Wei,
one of my classmates from the Sasakawa
Fellowship, whom I had not seen in 6 years.
After this meeting, I then proceeded withcoordination work while seeking assistance from
Zhang Wei in the organization of a preliminary
meeting and other arrangements. We theninvited representatives of the respective maritime
safety organizations to Shanghai during theShanghai World Exposition. With Executive
Director Nagamitsu of The Nippon Foundation
in attendance, we conducted the preliminary
meeting with an administrators’ meeting and a
directors’ meeting, attended by representatives ofthe various maritime safety organizations.
Many WMU graduates were among theattendees, and I was once again impressed by therole WMU plays in the world’s maritime
transport and, in that context, the lives of the
Sasakawa Fellows. As a representative of theChinese delegation, Zhang Wei gave apresentation at the administrators’ meeting. In
the course of the meeting a number ofparticipants including Vice Commandant Liwagof the Philippine Coast Guard, also a Sasakawa
Fellow, recognized my necktie and came up to
me to tell me that they were also graduates.
In 2011 we plan to hold both anadministrators’ meeting and a directors’ meetingin Hanoi, Vietnam in June and Octoberrespectively. As a new topic in our discussions
this year we plan to shift our focus fromcooperation on human resource development to
responding to illegal activities at sea. Again I
intend to take charge of managing the meetingin the same capacity as I did last year. In thesame way, I would also be very pleased to be able
to again meet many WMU graduates andSasakawa Fellows from the Asian region. I also
look forward to the success of both of theupcoming meetings.

Marine Accident Investigators’ Forum in Asia

Toru Eguchi (Japan, 2009)T

he year of 2010 could be anothermilestone in the enhancement of safety at
sea as the IMO Casualty Investigation
Code came into effect and a part of the Codebecame mandatory under the SOLAS
Convention in January this year. The Coderequires States to conduct safety investigations
into marine casualties or marine incidents, incooperation with other substantially interested
States, and submit investigation reports to IMO
as well as make them available to the public andthe maritime industry.
Recognizing the importance of implementing
the Code, the Japan Transport Safety Board
hosted a forum for marine accident investigators
in Asia, held in Tokyo on October 6-7, under the
support of the Ocean Policy Research
Foundation. The purpose of the forum was topromote better understanding of the Code and todevelop international cooperation among
investigators. It was a great pleasure for us towelcome the chairman of MAIIF (the Marine
Accident Investigators’ International Forum) andparticipants from 13 administrations, especially
Mr. Pitak Wattanapongpisal (Thailand, 1999).
I’m really happy that I had a chance to meet
Sasakawa Fellows again, as I have on every
occasion like this meeting, allowing us all to work
together.
During the meeting, we exchanged views andshared our knowledge and experiences throughdiscussions on investigation systems used by eachadministration, actual cases of major marine
accidents, and other issues related to theimplementation of the Code. We also visited theJapan Radio Co., Ltd., a marine electronics

3

Right: Pitak Wattanapongpisal

manufacturer, where they gave us ademonstration of the Voyage Data Recorder, amost crucial device that helps investigators
reconstruct accidents.
What we seek through safety investigation is tolearn from accidents and to raise safety issues for
future prevention, and cooperation is a key factor
in our success. I hope this meeting promotes
mutual understanding and cooperation among
investigators, and I would like to take thisopportunity to say thank you to OPRF for theirsupport, to the participants for theircontributions, and to all those who assisted us in
hosting this fruitful forum.

Sincere Appreciation for Fellows’ Swift Gathering
Bridge TeamManagement

Sharing Wonderful
Memories in Hanoi

Tomonori Okamura(Japan, 2002)
Photo Credit: Marine Technical CollegeT

he requirements for bridge resource
management (BRM) were adopted in
the mandatory code in the STCW
Manila Amendments adopted in June 2010.
What then is BRM? BRM is a system forpromoting optimal use of available resources
on a ship’s bridge as a means of reducing
mistakes, preventing human error, andimproving communications through the
improvement of the man-machine interface toultimately prevent accidents on ships.
There is a general perception that BRM
training requires the introduction of a fullmission ship-maneuvering simulator, which isvery costly. However, it is BTM that requires

the mandatory use of a simulator. While asimulator may be used for BRM, it is notmandatory. This is because training using a fullmission ship-maneuvering simulator is notmandatory under the revised STCW
Convention and its code (excluding theRADAR-ARPA simulator).
Of course, a simulator is useful for recreating
appropriate scenarios for training purposes.
According to the STCW Convention,
however, it is acceptable for MET-institutions
without full mission ship-maneuvering
simulators to incorporate aspects of BRM
training into their existing training programs.
During both classroom lectures and shipboard

training, a sound, systematic study of thehuman elements from a BRM perspective isessential.
Highly skilled captains with long experienceat sea have until now acquired the essentials of
BRM through what we refer to as“seamanship” during their early years. Today
we should probably consider BRM as a clearly
defined part of the broad concept ofseamanship that has been incorporated into
formal training. If we could develop better
education and training methods and widely
share them in the international arena, we could
probably contribute significantly to theprevention of accidents.

Security concerns
for the Seafarer

Wire netting to prevent unauthorized access in port area“2010:

A

t noon on Oct 31st 2010, Mr Yohei
Sasakawa, the chairman of The Nippon
Foundation – one of the world’s largest
philanthropic organizations – met with sixteen
Vietnamese alumni of the World Maritime
University at the Nikko Hotel in Hanoi,
Vietnam. All the Vietnamese alumni were very
happy even though this was the second chance
to meet Mr Sasakawa and The Nippon
Foundation delegates, the first time coming in
Dec 2003. These alumni are presently working
in the maritime field in Vietnamese
Government agencies, the Vietnam Maritime
University, the Vietnam Register, the Vietnam
Maritime Administration, and ports andshipping companies. They are contributing to
the development of their organizations andtheir beloved country with knowledge gained
from different Master’s Degree programs at
WMU, Thanks to the support of Mr Sasakawa
and the Foundation.
Mr Dang Van Uy – present Rector of theVietnam Maritime University – on behalf of allalumni sponsored by The Nippon Foundation –reported to Mr Sasakawa on the present
employment and performance of all alumni
who are applying knowledge learnt to actual
jobs. They have made friends not only withcountrymen in their own field, but also withforeigners in other fields during business trips
out of Vietnam. The friendships created at
WMU link all alumni to a harmonized world,whether at work or not, allowing for manyexchanges. All participants shared fondmemories and fun at a wonderful lunch before
Mr Sasakawa had to leave on another charity
trip.
Mr Dang Van Uy expressed everyone’s
heartfelt gratitude to Mr Sasakawa and theFoundation for their support of Vietnamesestudents in their studies, improving theirnecessary skills. Mr Uy also thanked Mr
Sasakawa for spending some of his valuable
time to visit Vietnam, presenting him with asmall gift and wishing him and his family good
health and happiness. This visit made all thealumni realize how much they owe Mr
Sasakawa and The Nippon Foundation for
their hospitality and nurturing along theircareer paths, no matter how long ago they left
WMU.

also with other fellowship recipients, namely
the Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship
Fund (SYLFF) and the Asian PublicIntellectual Fellowship Program (API). Bothfellowships are also supported by The Nippon
Foundation. The fact that the meeting was
also meant to gather the three different
fellowship recipients of the Malaysian
Chapter was a great idea. Such an opportunity
has allowed all of us to expand our connections
not only among professionals from our own
field but also from a wide pool of experts, andhas definitely benefited each and every one of
us in one way or another.
Mr. Sasakawa in his speech expressed his

gratitude to all of us who attended themeeting. And other things, he highlighted theneed to keep in close contact with this network
established through all of these fellowships
supported by The Nippon Foundation, since it
is very vital, if not now, then in the very near
future. He also talked about all the futureplans of The Nippon Foundation, which aregoing to be implemented globally as
continuous support towards the world’s
sustainable development programs.
He finally expressed his sincere thanks to
the Government of Malaysia for awarding
him the ‘Tan Sri’ title, which is conferred by
His Majesty, The King.

Interlinking with SYLFF
and API in Malaysia

Carolyn Graham(Jamaica, 2008)

The Year of the Seafarer”
has ended, and there isdue cause to reflect on thelife of seafarers and the progress that has been
made to secure their welfare. From allindications progress has been slow, andseafarers continue to carry out their duties insituations that threaten their well-being, theirlivelihood and at times their lives.
The world of the seafarer is an insecure one
on a number of levels. Security concerns forthemincludepiracy,criminalization,
abandonment, denial of customary right toshore leave, and an overall poor welfare system.
These concerns place additional pressures on theseafarer in an already demanding environmentand have implications for mental and physicalhealth. Security concerns for the seafarer should
therefore be discussed within the context of“human security,” where the individual’s safety

Trinh Quang Tuan
(Vietnam, 2001)

and freedom are protected from threats. These
threats include issues of health care, humanrights and other psycho-social concerns, as well
as more traditional concerns for the protectionof the seafarer from criminal activities such as
terrorism, theft or espionage. As such, seafarers’
security goes beyond traditional notions of
security.
Seafarers’ security (or insecurity) impacts theoverall health of the human side of shipping.
The solution lies in a holistic approach, as wellas active participation by seafarers in promoting
their security. The shipping community stillneeds to be reminded that seafarers are avaluable part of the whole maritime structure,and their security is necessary to achieve overall
security within the industry. The hope is thatthe security concerns facing seafarers will
become central in all deliberations.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is

4

seeking to address one element of theseconcerns, that of their welfare (particularly
working and living conditions), but it isprogressing slowly. The ISPS Code protects, by
default, the seafarer to some extent from acts ofterrorism, as it is assumed that if ships and ports
are safe then the seafarer is likewise safe.
However, it is through this same instrumentthat seafarers are denied the customary right toshore leave in a number of countries.
Additionally, piracy on the high seas is yet to beaddressed effectively, and criminalization isproving difficult to address, as States are
determined to punish for pollution incidents
whether or not the seafarer is responsible. Moreurgency is needed from the wider shipping
community to develop and implement
measures to protect the most valuable, yet themost vulnerable element in shipping, theseafarer.

Khairul Tazril Tarmizi(Malaysia, 2010)I

was still fresh from my return from theWorld Maritime University (WMU),
when I received an email from the Ocean
Policy Research Foundation informing me
about Mr. Sasakawa’s visit to Malaysia.
Personally, I thought that this would be agreat opportunity, not only for me but for all
WMU Sasakawa Fellows in Malaysia. Eightof us moved our schedules around to meetwith Mr. Sasakawa on November 22nd, 2010at the Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, as it was
rather easy for those of us based in the city, interms of arranging time, as compared to other
Fellows scattered all over the country. Had webeen given earlier notice, I believe a larger
number of us could happily have turned up to
meet with Mr. Sasakawa.
The meeting was very warm and friendly,
not only among WMU Sasakawa Fellows, but

5Sincere Appreciation for Fellows’ Swift Gathering
Bridge TeamManagement

Sharing Wonderful
Memories in Hanoi

Tomonori Okamura(Japan, 2002)
Photo Credit: Marine Technical CollegeT

he requirements for bridge resource
management (BRM) were adopted in
the mandatory code in the STCW
Manila Amendments adopted in June 2010.
What then is BRM? BRM is a system forpromoting optimal use of available resources
on a ship’s bridge as a means of reducing
mistakes, preventing human error, andimproving communications through the
improvement of the man-machine interface toultimately prevent accidents on ships.
There is a general perception that BRM
training requires the introduction of a fullmission ship-maneuvering simulator, which isvery costly. However, it is BTM that requires

the mandatory use of a simulator. While asimulator may be used for BRM, it is notmandatory. This is because training using a fullmission ship-maneuvering simulator is notmandatory under the revised STCW
Convention and its code (excluding theRADAR-ARPA simulator).
Of course, a simulator is useful for recreating
appropriate scenarios for training purposes.
According to the STCW Convention,
however, it is acceptable for MET-institutions
without full mission ship-maneuvering
simulators to incorporate aspects of BRM
training into their existing training programs.
During both classroom lectures and shipboard

training, a sound, systematic study of thehuman elements from a BRM perspective isessential.
Highly skilled captains with long experienceat sea have until now acquired the essentials of
BRM through what we refer to as“seamanship” during their early years. Today
we should probably consider BRM as a clearly
defined part of the broad concept ofseamanship that has been incorporated into
formal training. If we could develop better
education and training methods and widely
share them in the international arena, we could
probably contribute significantly to theprevention of accidents.

Security concerns
for the Seafarer

Wire netting to prevent unauthorized access in port area“2010:

A

t noon on Oct 31st 2010, Mr Yohei
Sasakawa, the chairman of The Nippon
Foundation – one of the world’s largest
philanthropic organizations – met with sixteen
Vietnamese alumni of the World Maritime
University at the Nikko Hotel in Hanoi,
Vietnam. All the Vietnamese alumni were very
happy even though this was the second chance
to meet Mr Sasakawa and The Nippon
Foundation delegates, the first time coming in
Dec 2003. These alumni are presently working
in the maritime field in Vietnamese
Government agencies, the Vietnam Maritime
University, the Vietnam Register, the Vietnam
Maritime Administration, and ports andshipping companies. They are contributing to
the development of their organizations andtheir beloved country with knowledge gained
from different Master’s Degree programs at
WMU, Thanks to the support of Mr Sasakawa
and the Foundation.
Mr Dang Van Uy – present Rector of theVietnam Maritime University – on behalf of allalumni sponsored by The Nippon Foundation –reported to Mr Sasakawa on the present
employment and performance of all alumni
who are applying knowledge learnt to actual
jobs. They have made friends not only withcountrymen in their own field, but also withforeigners in other fields during business trips
out of Vietnam. The friendships created at
WMU link all alumni to a harmonized world,whether at work or not, allowing for manyexchanges. All participants shared fondmemories and fun at a wonderful lunch before
Mr Sasakawa had to leave on another charity
trip.
Mr Dang Van Uy expressed everyone’s
heartfelt gratitude to Mr Sasakawa and theFoundation for their support of Vietnamesestudents in their studies, improving theirnecessary skills. Mr Uy also thanked Mr
Sasakawa for spending some of his valuable
time to visit Vietnam, presenting him with asmall gift and wishing him and his family good
health and happiness. This visit made all thealumni realize how much they owe Mr
Sasakawa and The Nippon Foundation for
their hospitality and nurturing along theircareer paths, no matter how long ago they left
WMU.

also with other fellowship recipients, namely
the Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship
Fund (SYLFF) and the Asian PublicIntellectual Fellowship Program (API). Bothfellowships are also supported by The Nippon
Foundation. The fact that the meeting was
also meant to gather the three different
fellowship recipients of the Malaysian
Chapter was a great idea. Such an opportunity
has allowed all of us to expand our connections
not only among professionals from our own
field but also from a wide pool of experts, andhas definitely benefited each and every one of
us in one way or another.
Mr. Sasakawa in his speech expressed his

gratitude to all of us who attended themeeting. And other things, he highlighted theneed to keep in close contact with this network
established through all of these fellowships
supported by The Nippon Foundation, since it
is very vital, if not now, then in the very near
future. He also talked about all the futureplans of The Nippon Foundation, which aregoing to be implemented globally as
continuous support towards the world’s
sustainable development programs.
He finally expressed his sincere thanks to
the Government of Malaysia for awarding
him the ‘Tan Sri’ title, which is conferred by
His Majesty, The King.

Interlinking with SYLFF
and API in Malaysia

Carolyn Graham(Jamaica, 2008)

The Year of the Seafarer”
has ended, and there isdue cause to reflect on thelife of seafarers and the progress that has been
made to secure their welfare. From allindications progress has been slow, andseafarers continue to carry out their duties insituations that threaten their well-being, theirlivelihood and at times their lives.
The world of the seafarer is an insecure one
on a number of levels. Security concerns forthemincludepiracy,criminalization,
abandonment, denial of customary right toshore leave, and an overall poor welfare system.
These concerns place additional pressures on theseafarer in an already demanding environmentand have implications for mental and physicalhealth. Security concerns for the seafarer should
therefore be discussed within the context of“human security,” where the individual’s safety

Trinh Quang Tuan
(Vietnam, 2001)

and freedom are protected from threats. These
threats include issues of health care, humanrights and other psycho-social concerns, as well
as more traditional concerns for the protectionof the seafarer from criminal activities such as
terrorism, theft or espionage. As such, seafarers’
security goes beyond traditional notions of
security.
Seafarers’ security (or insecurity) impacts theoverall health of the human side of shipping.
The solution lies in a holistic approach, as wellas active participation by seafarers in promoting
their security. The shipping community stillneeds to be reminded that seafarers are avaluable part of the whole maritime structure,and their security is necessary to achieve overall
security within the industry. The hope is thatthe security concerns facing seafarers will
become central in all deliberations.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 is

4

seeking to address one element of theseconcerns, that of their welfare (particularly
working and living conditions), but it isprogressing slowly. The ISPS Code protects, by
default, the seafarer to some extent from acts ofterrorism, as it is assumed that if ships and ports
are safe then the seafarer is likewise safe.
However, it is through this same instrumentthat seafarers are denied the customary right toshore leave in a number of countries.
Additionally, piracy on the high seas is yet to beaddressed effectively, and criminalization isproving difficult to address, as States are
determined to punish for pollution incidents
whether or not the seafarer is responsible. Moreurgency is needed from the wider shipping
community to develop and implement
measures to protect the most valuable, yet themost vulnerable element in shipping, theseafarer.

Khairul Tazril Tarmizi(Malaysia, 2010)I

was still fresh from my return from theWorld Maritime University (WMU),
when I received an email from the Ocean
Policy Research Foundation informing me
about Mr. Sasakawa’s visit to Malaysia.
Personally, I thought that this would be agreat opportunity, not only for me but for all
WMU Sasakawa Fellows in Malaysia. Eightof us moved our schedules around to meetwith Mr. Sasakawa on November 22nd, 2010at the Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, as it was
rather easy for those of us based in the city, interms of arranging time, as compared to other
Fellows scattered all over the country. Had webeen given earlier notice, I believe a larger
number of us could happily have turned up to
meet with Mr. Sasakawa.
The meeting was very warm and friendly,
not only among WMU Sasakawa Fellows, but

5

Major List

New Members of WMU Sasakawa Fellowship,
Class of 2011

Bangladesh
S11001 (PM)Fiji
S11098 (MET)

Ghana
S11061 (MSEA)

Honduras
S11043(MLP)

India
S11009 (PM)MEOM (Marine Environmental & Ocean Management)
MET (Maritime Education and Training)
MLP (Maritime Law and Policy)
MSEA (Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration)
PM (Port Management)
SM (Shipping Management)

Alim Fazley Mohammad

Mittal Rajesh

Nyein Ei Phyu

Sibal Asistores Jedini Nur

Engineer, Mechanical, Chittagong Port Authority

Commandant ( JG), Indian Coast Guard,
Ministry of Defence, Government of India

Lecturer, IT Department, Myanmar Mercantile Marine College

Shipping Operations Specialist, Maritime Safety Office,Maritime Industry Authority

To be a true leader, one must earn it through knowledge. It isgreat that the most talented people of this era are gathered hereat WMU to share their customs, cultures, experiences andunderstanding. This is a world where everyone can takeadvantage of opportunities, and by sharing with each other wegain confidence. We should continue to grow to make this abetter world.

I hope to acquire maximum knowledge during the MSc
program at the World Maritime University and apply thisknowledge to my professional assignments with the Indian
Coast Guard. It would be a privilege to be an alumnus of WMU.
I also look forward to actively participate and strengthen theclose networking amongst Sasakawa Fellows, which in itself is agreat source of knowledge.

India
S11066 (MLP)

Rahman Tabibur Md

Bangladesh
S11026 (MLP)The Following 24 new Sasakawa Fellowship Students in the class of 2011 havejoined the WMU Academic Program early October, 2010. These students areexperts in their own right and expected to excel in their chosen maritime courses
under the stringent supervision of the best experts in the world in the maritime
field. Upon the completion of their courses, their new knowledge and skills shallcontribute further to enhance their countries’ maritime community.

Myanmar
S11075(SM)WMU not only gives its students invaluable knowledge inmaritime affairs but also offers different cultures, different
knowledge and a different environment. After getting my
Master’s Degree, I will go back to my country in order to sharemy precious knowledge with future generations and colleagues
as well, as a lecturer. Myanmar Mercantile Marine College
breeds well-trained and qualified officers and seafarers annually.
That’s why our lecturers must have a lot of knowledge to train
them, and that’s why I am persevering in my studies.

Philippines
S11088 (MSEA)

Acquiring advanced knowledge in maritime affairs, particularlyin the field of maritime safety and environmental protection, is
my main objective in pursuing MSEA. WMU is an institutionthat can provide me with the knowledge and experience which
can make me an effective and efficient public servant and best
serve the interests of my country, particularly our domestic
maritime sector, when I go back.

Rathod Singh Giriraj

Semnoe Gurumyen Geoffrey

Gunasekara Jagath Mendis Agampodi

Special Officer Marine Safety and Executive Magistrate,
Department of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping

Deputy Secretary, Secretary, Mumbai Port Trust

Senior Legislative Aide, House Committee on Marine Transport,
National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria

Assistant Manager (Operations), Ministry of Environment,
Marine Environment Protection Authority

The WMU MSc program is a well-organized study plan which
will give me the unique opportunity to get acquainted withmaritime laws, conventions and protocols. I would like toenrich my knowledge of maritime affairs and improve mywriting and presentation skills. After graduating from WMU,
I would like to put into action the effect of IMO conventions in
my national legislation. I shall also try to upgrade the efficiencyof the maritime sector of my country in my official capacities.

At WMU, I first intend to gain a good grasp of the nuances
concerning efficient management of ports. Later, my desire is toeffectively modify this knowledge base to suite the local
conditions of my port, and then share it amongst my colleagues,
not only to improve the system but to make my port an
attractive destination for sea trade.

I wish to add great value to the quality of legislative instruments
on maritime issues in Nigeria. This I will do through incisive
analysis of proposed bills and by encouraging the domesticationof IMO conventions, especially the 'Green conventions'. Also, tobecome an active Sasakawa Fellow by contributing articles andparticipating in workshops.

Ever since I joined the Marine Environment Protection
Authority, I have dreamed of attending the World Maritime
University. Now, I'm sure that I can acquire new skills and thenecessary knowledge about shipping and the marine
environment. It will be advantageous to my organization as wellas to my country. Henceforth, WMU will give me a great chance
to contribute to the development of my nation.

India
S11080 (PM)Nigeria
S11085 (MLP)

Sri Lanka
S11050 (MEOM)

Waqa Isikeli

Nurjannah Amin

Muhammad Idrees

Kiatopas Damrongkiat

Lecturer, Marine Engineering,
School of Maritime Studies, Fiji National University

Assistant for Head of Administration Section,
Directorate of Port and Dredging, Ministry of Transportation

Education Officer, Pakistan Marine Academy Karachi,
Ministry of Port and Shipping

Navigator (Operational Level), Marine Department,
Ministry of Transport of Thailand

My immediate resolution while doing the MSc course here in
Malmö, Sweden would be to be successful in the program byattaining the highest possible marks in all the subjects andlearning as much as possible.
The qualification gained would be used back home in Fiji in thecourses I will be lecturing and also to develop new courses inmarine engineering at the School of Maritime Studies.

Studying at WMU gives me both educational and practicalknowledge, in a professional and a scientific manner. Moreover,
WMU is also a great place to learn about other cultures.
Therefore, I will use this opportunity to prepare myself with an
integrated knowledge in maritime affairs and to build a strong
network. Subsequently, I will contribute to improve maritime
transportation in my country through my institution.

Indonesia
S11023(PM)The main purpose of my coming is to get updated on new trends
in the maritime field. Since WMU is a subsidiary of UNO, I
think this is the right place to be. My specialization, MSEA, is
not so well-established in my country, so one of my hopes is to act
as a pioneer in that field. That is why I intend to do a Phd in due
course. Since my association is with PMA, one of my first tasks is
to transfer this valuable knowledge to the next generation of
Pakistan
S11069 (MEOM) cadets in Pakistan to contribute to a safe marine environment.

Thailand
S11016 (MSEA)

I will try my best to learn the latest theories and technologies
from WMU regarding safety, security and the environment.
After graduation, I will transfer this knowledge to students at
my maritime institution. Then, I intend to apply the invaluableknowledge from WMU to develop and improve maritime
regulations in my country to meet international standards.

Laryea Eric Dallas

Rional Gus

Denzon Quismundo Jose Romualdo

Nguyen Thuy Duong

Lecturer/Captain, Maritime Safety Department,
Regional Maritime University

Staff, Directorate of Navigation,
Directorate General of Sea Transportation - Ministry of Transportation

Faculty, Engine Section, Maritime Training Division,
National Maritime Polytechnic

Executive, Commerce and Planning Division,
PetroVietnam Coal Import & Supply Company

It is my outmost determination to explore and gain all possible
knowledge concerning maritime safety and the marine
environment in order to assist in training needed humanresources in my home country, Ghana. This is even more vital as
Ghana has just started deep-sea oil drilling and exploration.
Also the global network I would have upon graduating from
WMU would be something I would hold dear.

As an university established under the auspices of IMO,
studying at WMU offers broad knowledge and firsthandexperience from experts in the maritime field throughout theworld. These will give me ample knowledge in my line of work.
International interactions at WMU also promote global
cooperation in the future and should be cherished.

Being a mentor in the only government-owned training centerin my country, one of the things that I wish to learn and acquireat WMU are ships' latest innovations and technology. Thesemay vary, but are not limited to Power Management Systems. All
knowledge, skills, and information obtained will unselfishly beshared with my students back home.

After 14 months at WMU, I hope to bring back to my country
not just knowledge about the shipping industry and useful skills
in some specific aspects supporting my career, but also
invaluable experiences drawn from a dynamic and internationally diversified learning environment, which eventually will aid
in my organisation's development.

Indonesia
S11089 (SM)Philippines
S11011 (MET)

Vietnam
S11073 (SM)Castillo Luis Claudio

Yamane Sachiko

Erese Carino Virvic PaulTo Thi Bich Ngoc

Lawyer, Legal Department,
National Port Authority

Education and Training Division, Administrative Department,
Japan Coast Guard

Lecturer,
Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

Attending such a prestigious Institution as WMU is amagnificent opportunity, one that I will certainly make themost of. The specialized knowledge that I will acquire here will
be a great asset when performing my duties as a professional,
and I am sure it will enable me to make significant contributions to my organization and my country.

I know that maritime fields are very internationalized from myexperience as a coast guard officer. And for my job, I strongly
feel that I should have a broader perspective to deal with work
related to international issues. After graduation, I would like tomake good use of my studies and experience at WMU in the
future not only for my country but also for others.

Maritime Industry Dev't. Specialist II,
Maritime Manpower Dev't. Division, Manpower Development Office,Maritime Industry Authority

Japan
S11034 (MSEA)

Philippines
S11047 (MET)

Education is a continuing process, and the opportunity to be
educated at a higher level at a prestigious maritime institution
such as WMU that will not just improve my whole being but
more importantly my future contributions in the field ofcourses/training programs development, among others, whose
beneficiaries are Filipino seafarers and the whole Philippine
maritime industry.

Vietnam
S11091(SM)I strongly believe that the practical knowledge and experience I
gain will not only strengthen my career path but also play animportant role in improving the level of maritime education in
our university as well as that of our country. Moreover, studyingat WMU gives me the opportunity to enhance international
friendships and the social network in the maritime field, which
is definitely an advantage to all of us in the future.

Choudhary Krishna Gopal

Aung Kyaw Moe

Roldan Endique Ivan

Tran Thi Anh Tam

Section Officer, Ministry of Shipping,

Demonstrator,
IT Department, Myanmar Maritime University

Coast Guard Officer, Marine Environmental Protection Command,
Philippine Coast Guard

Lecturer, Faculty of Transport Economics,
Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

Studying at WMU is a great opportunity for me to enhance myknowledge of the world maritime sector as well as interact withstudents in the maritime field from all over the world. After
graduation, I will try to convey the knowledge and exposure
gained here to my colleagues and subordinates, with theintention of serving our institution and nation as a team, toachieve the goal of cleaner oceans and safer ships.

Because Myanmar Maritime University provides marine
environment-related subjects, Marine Environmental andOcean Management plays a vital role at our university. Our
nation possesses 3060km of coastal area and a very long river, theAyeyarwady, which is the life blood of our national economy.
That’s why, in order to preserve our coastal environment andprecious rivers, Marine Environmental and Ocean Management
helps to fulfill the needs of our nation.

Myanmar
S11005 (MEOM)

6

While at WMU, I will do my utmost to gain greater knowledge
in the field of Marine Environmental Protection and Ocean Use
Management. This endeavor is in line with the Philippine Coast
Guard’s current objective on continuous enhancement of rules
pertaining to Marine Pollution Prevention in the Country,
particularly on regulations for mobile offshore drilling units andthe development of appropriate national contingency plans for
Philippines
S11082 (MEOM) hazardous and noxious substances.

7

Vietnam
S11093(PM)Making the best of studying at WMU, I am determined to grasp
the latest know-how and in-depth knowledge in the maritime
industry so that I can be a good contributor to my country’s
education after graduation. At the same time, making friends
with other colleagues is one way to find the same voice in solving
global-scale issues together.

Major List

New Members of WMU Sasakawa Fellowship,
Class of 2011

Bangladesh
S11001 (PM)Fiji
S11098 (MET)

Ghana
S11061 (MSEA)

Honduras
S11043(MLP)

India
S11009 (PM)MEOM (Marine Environmental & Ocean Management)
MET (Maritime Education and Training)
MLP (Maritime Law and Policy)
MSEA (Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration)
PM (Port Management)
SM (Shipping Management)

Alim Fazley Mohammad

Mittal Rajesh

Nyein Ei Phyu

Sibal Asistores Jedini Nur

Engineer, Mechanical, Chittagong Port Authority

Commandant ( JG), Indian Coast Guard,
Ministry of Defence, Government of India

Lecturer, IT Department, Myanmar Mercantile Marine College

Shipping Operations Specialist, Maritime Safety Office,Maritime Industry Authority

To be a true leader, one must earn it through knowledge. It isgreat that the most talented people of this era are gathered hereat WMU to share their customs, cultures, experiences andunderstanding. This is a world where everyone can takeadvantage of opportunities, and by sharing with each other wegain confidence. We should continue to grow to make this abetter world.

I hope to acquire maximum knowledge during the MSc
program at the World Maritime University and apply thisknowledge to my professional assignments with the Indian
Coast Guard. It would be a privilege to be an alumnus of WMU.
I also look forward to actively participate and strengthen theclose networking amongst Sasakawa Fellows, which in itself is agreat source of knowledge.

India
S11066 (MLP)

Rahman Tabibur Md

Bangladesh
S11026 (MLP)The Following 24 new Sasakawa Fellowship Students in the class of 2011 havejoined the WMU Academic Program early October, 2010. These students areexperts in their own right and expected to excel in their chosen maritime courses
under the stringent supervision of the best experts in the world in the maritime
field. Upon the completion of their courses, their new knowledge and skills shallcontribute further to enhance their countries’ maritime community.

Myanmar
S11075(SM)WMU not only gives its students invaluable knowledge inmaritime affairs but also offers different cultures, different
knowledge and a different environment. After getting my
Master’s Degree, I will go back to my country in order to sharemy precious knowledge with future generations and colleagues
as well, as a lecturer. Myanmar Mercantile Marine College
breeds well-trained and qualified officers and seafarers annually.
That’s why our lecturers must have a lot of knowledge to train
them, and that’s why I am persevering in my studies.

Philippines
S11088 (MSEA)

Acquiring advanced knowledge in maritime affairs, particularlyin the field of maritime safety and environmental protection, is
my main objective in pursuing MSEA. WMU is an institutionthat can provide me with the knowledge and experience which
can make me an effective and efficient public servant and best
serve the interests of my country, particularly our domestic
maritime sector, when I go back.

Rathod Singh Giriraj

Semnoe Gurumyen Geoffrey

Gunasekara Jagath Mendis Agampodi

Special Officer Marine Safety and Executive Magistrate,
Department of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping

Deputy Secretary, Secretary, Mumbai Port Trust

Senior Legislative Aide, House Committee on Marine Transport,
National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria

Assistant Manager (Operations), Ministry of Environment,
Marine Environment Protection Authority

The WMU MSc program is a well-organized study plan which
will give me the unique opportunity to get acquainted withmaritime laws, conventions and protocols. I would like toenrich my knowledge of maritime affairs and improve mywriting and presentation skills. After graduating from WMU,
I would like to put into action the effect of IMO conventions in
my national legislation. I shall also try to upgrade the efficiencyof the maritime sector of my country in my official capacities.

At WMU, I first intend to gain a good grasp of the nuances
concerning efficient management of ports. Later, my desire is toeffectively modify this knowledge base to suite the local
conditions of my port, and then share it amongst my colleagues,
not only to improve the system but to make my port an
attractive destination for sea trade.

I wish to add great value to the quality of legislative instruments
on maritime issues in Nigeria. This I will do through incisive
analysis of proposed bills and by encouraging the domesticationof IMO conventions, especially the 'Green conventions'. Also, tobecome an active Sasakawa Fellow by contributing articles andparticipating in workshops.

Ever since I joined the Marine Environment Protection
Authority, I have dreamed of attending the World Maritime
University. Now, I'm sure that I can acquire new skills and thenecessary knowledge about shipping and the marine
environment. It will be advantageous to my organization as wellas to my country. Henceforth, WMU will give me a great chance
to contribute to the development of my nation.

India
S11080 (PM)Nigeria
S11085 (MLP)

Sri Lanka
S11050 (MEOM)

Waqa Isikeli

Nurjannah Amin

Muhammad Idrees

Kiatopas Damrongkiat

Lecturer, Marine Engineering,
School of Maritime Studies, Fiji National University

Assistant for Head of Administration Section,
Directorate of Port and Dredging, Ministry of Transportation

Education Officer, Pakistan Marine Academy Karachi,
Ministry of Port and Shipping

Navigator (Operational Level), Marine Department,
Ministry of Transport of Thailand

My immediate resolution while doing the MSc course here in
Malmö, Sweden would be to be successful in the program byattaining the highest possible marks in all the subjects andlearning as much as possible.
The qualification gained would be used back home in Fiji in thecourses I will be lecturing and also to develop new courses inmarine engineering at the School of Maritime Studies.

Studying at WMU gives me both educational and practicalknowledge, in a professional and a scientific manner. Moreover,
WMU is also a great place to learn about other cultures.
Therefore, I will use this opportunity to prepare myself with an
integrated knowledge in maritime affairs and to build a strong
network. Subsequently, I will contribute to improve maritime
transportation in my country through my institution.

Indonesia
S11023(PM)The main purpose of my coming is to get updated on new trends
in the maritime field. Since WMU is a subsidiary of UNO, I
think this is the right place to be. My specialization, MSEA, is
not so well-established in my country, so one of my hopes is to act
as a pioneer in that field. That is why I intend to do a Phd in due
course. Since my association is with PMA, one of my first tasks is
to transfer this valuable knowledge to the next generation of
Pakistan
S11069 (MEOM) cadets in Pakistan to contribute to a safe marine environment.

Thailand
S11016 (MSEA)

I will try my best to learn the latest theories and technologies
from WMU regarding safety, security and the environment.
After graduation, I will transfer this knowledge to students at
my maritime institution. Then, I intend to apply the invaluableknowledge from WMU to develop and improve maritime
regulations in my country to meet international standards.

Laryea Eric Dallas

Rional Gus

Denzon Quismundo Jose Romualdo

Nguyen Thuy Duong

Lecturer/Captain, Maritime Safety Department,
Regional Maritime University

Staff, Directorate of Navigation,
Directorate General of Sea Transportation - Ministry of Transportation

Faculty, Engine Section, Maritime Training Division,
National Maritime Polytechnic

Executive, Commerce and Planning Division,
PetroVietnam Coal Import & Supply Company

It is my outmost determination to explore and gain all possible
knowledge concerning maritime safety and the marine
environment in order to assist in training needed humanresources in my home country, Ghana. This is even more vital as
Ghana has just started deep-sea oil drilling and exploration.
Also the global network I would have upon graduating from
WMU would be something I would hold dear.

As an university established under the auspices of IMO,
studying at WMU offers broad knowledge and firsthandexperience from experts in the maritime field throughout theworld. These will give me ample knowledge in my line of work.
International interactions at WMU also promote global
cooperation in the future and should be cherished.

Being a mentor in the only government-owned training centerin my country, one of the things that I wish to learn and acquireat WMU are ships' latest innovations and technology. Thesemay vary, but are not limited to Power Management Systems. All
knowledge, skills, and information obtained will unselfishly beshared with my students back home.

After 14 months at WMU, I hope to bring back to my country
not just knowledge about the shipping industry and useful skills
in some specific aspects supporting my career, but also
invaluable experiences drawn from a dynamic and internationally diversified learning environment, which eventually will aid
in my organisation's development.

Indonesia
S11089 (SM)Philippines
S11011 (MET)

Vietnam
S11073 (SM)Castillo Luis Claudio

Yamane Sachiko

Erese Carino Virvic PaulTo Thi Bich Ngoc

Lawyer, Legal Department,
National Port Authority

Education and Training Division, Administrative Department,
Japan Coast Guard

Lecturer,
Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

Attending such a prestigious Institution as WMU is amagnificent opportunity, one that I will certainly make themost of. The specialized knowledge that I will acquire here will
be a great asset when performing my duties as a professional,
and I am sure it will enable me to make significant contributions to my organization and my country.

I know that maritime fields are very internationalized from myexperience as a coast guard officer. And for my job, I strongly
feel that I should have a broader perspective to deal with work
related to international issues. After graduation, I would like tomake good use of my studies and experience at WMU in the
future not only for my country but also for others.

Maritime Industry Dev't. Specialist II,
Maritime Manpower Dev't. Division, Manpower Development Office,Maritime Industry Authority

Japan
S11034 (MSEA)

Philippines
S11047 (MET)

Education is a continuing process, and the opportunity to be
educated at a higher level at a prestigious maritime institution
such as WMU that will not just improve my whole being but
more importantly my future contributions in the field ofcourses/training programs development, among others, whose
beneficiaries are Filipino seafarers and the whole Philippine
maritime industry.

Vietnam
S11091(SM)I strongly believe that the practical knowledge and experience I
gain will not only strengthen my career path but also play animportant role in improving the level of maritime education in
our university as well as that of our country. Moreover, studyingat WMU gives me the opportunity to enhance international
friendships and the social network in the maritime field, which
is definitely an advantage to all of us in the future.

Choudhary Krishna Gopal

Aung Kyaw Moe

Roldan Endique Ivan

Tran Thi Anh Tam

Section Officer, Ministry of Shipping,

Demonstrator,
IT Department, Myanmar Maritime University

Coast Guard Officer, Marine Environmental Protection Command,
Philippine Coast Guard

Lecturer, Faculty of Transport Economics,
Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport

Studying at WMU is a great opportunity for me to enhance myknowledge of the world maritime sector as well as interact withstudents in the maritime field from all over the world. After
graduation, I will try to convey the knowledge and exposure
gained here to my colleagues and subordinates, with theintention of serving our institution and nation as a team, toachieve the goal of cleaner oceans and safer ships.

Because Myanmar Maritime University provides marine
environment-related subjects, Marine Environmental andOcean Management plays a vital role at our university. Our
nation possesses 3060km of coastal area and a very long river, theAyeyarwady, which is the life blood of our national economy.
That’s why, in order to preserve our coastal environment andprecious rivers, Marine Environmental and Ocean Management
helps to fulfill the needs of our nation.

Myanmar
S11005 (MEOM)

6

While at WMU, I will do my utmost to gain greater knowledge
in the field of Marine Environmental Protection and Ocean Use
Management. This endeavor is in line with the Philippine Coast
Guard’s current objective on continuous enhancement of rules
pertaining to Marine Pollution Prevention in the Country,
particularly on regulations for mobile offshore drilling units andthe development of appropriate national contingency plans for
Philippines
S11082 (MEOM) hazardous and noxious substances.

7

Vietnam
S11093(PM)Making the best of studying at WMU, I am determined to grasp
the latest know-how and in-depth knowledge in the maritime
industry so that I can be a good contributor to my country’s
education after graduation. At the same time, making friends
with other colleagues is one way to find the same voice in solving
global-scale issues together.

34

Nelli Rünk (Estonia, 2008)

I am very happy to announce that I got married on
August 6th, 2010. My husband and I have been
friends for many years and after a few years of dating
decided to take the next step in our lives and get
married. The wedding ceremony was held at the
Town Hall and it consisted of filing a civil registration
form and listening to a beautiful speech from theregistration officer. The ceremony was followed by a
traditional wedding party, which lasted for more thaneight hours and had many tests and traditional games
for the newlyweds. The picture was taken during thewedding ceremony at the Town Hall.
We are very thankful to our family and friends for
all their support. Also, we are especially thankful tomy friends from WMU, to Su Nam Kim(South-Korea), Lynn Bakar (Malaysia), and Ricardo
Rendon (Ecuador) for taking the trouble to fly all theway to Estonia just to be there with us on this special
occasion. And we thank the many friends who kindly
sent us heart-warming messages and gifts for ourwedding.

March
2011

Özlem Mulun (Turkey, 2007)

I graduated from the World Maritime University in
October 2007, and was awarded an MSc degree in
Maritime Affairs, with a specialization in Maritime
Law & Policy. WMU gave a magic touch to my life
and offered many things regarding education, career,friendship, different places and cultures. With thisregard, I am very thankful to Mr. Sasakawa for givingme this opportunity to have this experience.
Career-wise, I am still working for the Turkish
Maritime Administration and try to convey myknowledge to my work.

As for my private life, I would like to share with myfriends from WMU that I got married on October
30th, 2010. My husband is a doctor and a friend ofmine from high school. After many years we foundeach other again and decided to get married. I am very
happy and would like to take this opportunity tothank him for being such an important part of my life.
My sincerest regards to all WMU Graduates andthe “Friends of WMU, Japan” Secretariat, Ocean
Policy Research Foundation.

Our Precious Memories at WMU
and with Sasakawa Fellows

The Bruce P. Browne Family

Treasuring Our New "Life"

Fernando Bustamante (Mexico, 2004)

The last time I was on Swedish land was on October
2004. It was more than six years ago and thememories of WMU are still very fresh; anunforgettable time full of experiences, learning andgood friends. All possible thanks to OPRF and Mr.
Sasakawa, to whom I will always be grateful. Now,
thanks to the knowledge acquired, I am a proud
professional in the maritime industry, working for
Hutchison Port Holdings Mexico in the
management, planning and construction of new
container terminals, contributing to the developmentof the port sector in my country.
During my stay in WMU, I had the fortune to be

Condolencesin company of Claudia, my wife, who many of mycolleagues had the chance to meet and who was wellcared for by them. It was in Malmö where we got
married, in an amazing wedding organized by ourinternational WMU friends, and now, after six yearsof marriage, I am happy to share with you that we areproud parents of our first child, Zoe (meaning “life” inGreek) a beautiful girl one and a half years old.
It is extremely good and useful to have thisNewsletter that we can keep in contact and be
updated with the latest news of the Friends of WMU,
Japan. I am always at your service if you needsomething in Mexico for which I can be useful.

Dr. Nils Stormby passed away on December 9th, 2010, and Funeral Services were held on Dec.
23rd in Malmö, Sweden. He was the former Honorable Consulate General of Japan (1999-2008)
in Sweden, and was awarded “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon”.
He contributed greatly to the constructive relationship between WMU and Japan.

Editor’s note
I am currently taking part in the IMO STW 42 Sub-committee
meeting. The comprehensive revision of the STCW Treaty that sets thestandards for seamen’s training and education was concluded at the
Diplomatic conference held in Manila, and awaits its effectuation on
January 1, 2012.
The Conference was joined by numerous WMU graduates from many
countries who took an active interest and took part in the conference. I
have reported in the No. 32 Editor’s Note how OPRF hosted a very
successful convivial party for all participants so that they could get toknow each other better.

Mr. Kunihiko Kitabayashi

I was happy to meet 7 graduates whom I know personally at thisSTW42. Students study for 2 years so I do not get to know all of them,but the moment I walked in they all included me as a WMU family
member. I noted with interest that since graduates do not wear the
WMU ties with its logo or scarves and rings they used as students, they
did not always recognize each other as fellow graduates and often had tobegin with somewhat formal greetings at first.
Watching this scene, I had an idea. Perhaps we should make a pin or abadge that can be worn by both men and women so that Sasakawa Fellows
will be able to recognize each other. Perhaps this small symbol could be a
key to thaw the “formalities” that accompany international conventions.
Prof. Toshio Hikima (Marine Technical College)

A

Bruce

s some of you are aware I retired in
January 2011 after working at theWorld
Maritime
University(WMU), where I had the unique
opportunity to serve the worldwide
maritime community in my capacity as
Registrar and Vice President (Academic
Services) for over eighteen years. My
retirement will effectively end a 43-year
career in international education. Duringthat period I had the chance as a student,
United States Peace Corps volunteer,
teacher and university administrator totravel to over 80 countries, and to gain
living and working experience in sevendifferent countries on four different
continents.
This rich international experience has
enabled both me and my family to have thegood fortune to become exposed to manydifferent types of cultures and to gain amuch deeper understanding of what the late
Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, the founder of The
Nippon Foundation, meant when he statedthat ‘The world is a family, and all
humankind are brothers and sisters’.
Over the nearly two decades I worked at
WMU,
I
have
witnessedthetransformation of the University as it
redefined its mission during this period to
become an excellent postgraduate university

rather than an excellent training school.
Though at times frustrating, the process ofrestructuring the University’s academic
programs and procedures has certainly beena worthwhile endeavour, as our students are
now insured that the postgraduate
education they receive at WMU is of thehighest possible quality.
I must confess that what I valued mostduring my stay at WMU was the rareopportunity to not only work at the
University, but to also live in the Henrik
Smith residence with a generation oftalented young maritime professionals fromall corners of the world. I have also beenquite fortunate over the last fifteen years tohave the chance on thirteen occasions toaccompany a total of 327 of the Sasakawa
Fellows on their annual field studies
programs to Japan. These trips have allowed
me to get to know many of the Fellows andJapanese staff members of The Nippon andassociated foundations on a very personalbasis. We all shared the unique experienceof visiting and travelling to many beautiful
parts of Japan, which is something I will
always treasure.
In addition, my visits to Japan havehelped me to pursue my interest in modern
Japanese history that developed while
undertaking some genealogical research on

my family. I discovered that my great uncle(five generations removed) served as the
Fleet Surgeon for Commodore Matthew
Perry’s black fleet when it sailed into Edo(Tokyo) Bay in July 1853 to start thenegotiations that led to the opening ofJapan.
I would like to take this opportunity to
express my deep gratitude to Mr. Yohei
Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation and the
Ocean Policy Research Foundation for thegenerous support they have provided the
University over the years, enabling over 400
Sasakawa Fellows to attend WMU. It is asource of great pride amongst the staff of
WMU to see that many of the Fellows who
graduate return home to be quickly
promoted to senior posts in the maritime
industry. Their success sends a strong
message to Japan that the money they havegenerously provided has indeed been aworthwhile investment. I hope theUniversity continues to expand and prosper
over the coming decades with ongoingsupport from Japan, so that many otherdeserving maritime professionals will havethe chance to study at WMU.
In closing, Carmen and I would like towish you a fond farewell, as we look forward
to enjoying the many sights and sounds ofsunny Spain in the coming years.