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http://www.wmujapan.net

December

Nippon Fellows from Black Sea and Caspian Sea Region Establisheda Network Aiming to Protect the Oceans
Anna Rabotnjova(Ukraine, 2012)

The Nippon Fellows Gathering for Blackand Caspian Sea Region co-organized by theGovernment of Georgia and The Nippon
Foundation of Japan was held in Tbilisi,
Georgia on October 23-24, 2017.
The main objective of Nippon Fellows
gathering in Georgia was to advancecooperation in order to enhance theexperience of sharing related activities, as longas most of the Fellows held high positions
either in their Government or in the private
sector. The strengthening of understanding of
the rules of International Maritime Law andthe Law of the Sea, as well as cohesive
consideration of maritime safety andenvironmental protection principles still remain challenges. Therefore, Georgia initiatedthis meeting with the aim to activate possible
cooperation platforms in order to develop
hand-in-hand experience sharing within theBlack and Caspian Sea Region.
Participants included representatives ofTurkey, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Romania,
Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,USA, Ukraine and Georgia, as well as
representatives of The Nippon Foundationfrom Japan. All of the participants were
Nippon Fellows from ITLOS, IMLI, WMU,
and DOALOS educational programmes.
The opening address was given by the Vice
Minister of Economy and Sustainable
Development of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi
Cherkezishvili, and followed by addresses of
the Chairman of The Nippon Foundation,
Dr. Yohei Sasakawa and the Director of
Maritime Transport Agency of the Economy
and Sustainable Development of Georgia,
Capt. Mamuka Akhaladze.
The first day of the meeting was quite
intense and informative. The sessions wereenriched with motivating Nippon successstories and Fellows’ reports from therepresentatives of all countries, which gave
participants a brilliant opportunity to get
acquainted with the national features of theocean governance of other countries in the
Region.
The essential problems of the Ballast Water
Management Convention's slow entry into
force and marine delimitation in the Region as
well as the need of proper education andhuman resources were raised in the roundtablediscussions and hotly debated by all
representatives. At the end of the discussion,
Dr. Sasakawa addressed the participants with amotivating and touching speech about thethree aims the Chairman has dedicated his life
to: Leprosy elimination, peace in Myanmar,and the sustainable development of ocean
governance. Dr. Sasakawa also highlighted themain threats to the ocean and called upon allparticipants to act for the common cause. The
C h a i r m a n a l s o o ff e r e d Th e N i p p o nFoundation’s support for initiatives serving theachievement of this aim.
The second day started with the drafting of
the Declaration of the Establishment of
Nippon Fellows' network from the Black andCaspian Seas Region.
Discussions on the role of Nippon regional
Fellows in the sustainable development ofocean governance took place afterwards.
During the session participants presented theirvision on the needs and opportunities forregional cooperation development, improving
the international ocean governanceframework, as well as discussing how they
could contribute to achieving betterinternational governance of the oceans for the
benefit of sustainable blue growth.
Later, the Declaration of the Establishment
Photo:IMO
of Nippon Fellows’ network from the Blackand Caspian Sea Region was agreed to by all
the participants. Concluding remarks by The
Nippon Foundation representatives andorganizers ended the meeting.
Georgia is well known all over the world for
its hospitality, and the participants had a greatchance to experience it for themselves. The
organizers did not only give the Fellows aplatform for sharing their ideas and points ofview on essential issues, but also introduced
amazing versatile and rich Georgian culture to
the participants. The closure of the official
program was followed with a city tour aroundbeautiful sunny Tbilisi, which was a greatbonus to the wonderful meeting.
I want to thank The Nippon Foundationand the organizers for such a precious
opportunity to meet my colleagues and friends
from the Black Sea and Caspian Sea Region,
and I will be happy to keep in close touchwith them aiming to make our Region
development sustainable and green.

WMU Conference in Lima, Peru, andSasakawa Fellows around the World
Jesús A. Menacho Piérola
(Peru, 2010)

I have quite a lot of things to share with you
Fellows, and I am going to try to make it brief.
In April 2016, during my tenure at IFC
Singapore, I was invited by WMU to be a
speaker for the WMU Symposium on Migration
by Sea, with the topic “Assessment of the current
situation of irregular human migration at sea in
the area of interest of the IFC”. I took thisopportunity to make the salutation, accompanied
by LCDR Nora Benavides (Peru, 2016) to
WMU President Dr. Cleopatra
Doumbia-Henry, as well as spending some timewith my classmate Safaa Al Fayyadh, who wasfinishing his PhD at WMU.

After that, I took time off to travel to Japan,
visiting my good friend Mr. Eisuke Kudo, who
invited my family and me to a wonderful evening
at his home. I also visited my classmates Masashi
Sugomori (Japan, 2010) and Shinji Usui (Japan,2010).
Back again in Singapore, in August 2016, I
met Poppy Sartika (Indonesia, 2009) who camefrom Indonesia for training, and we had a nicedinner with other WMU Graduates.
Also in August I participated in the
Safety@Sea Week, organized by the Maritime
and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), where
I met Mr. Kitack Lim, IMO Secretary General.
Holidays again, this time in Myanmar during
October, visiting my classmates Swe Swe Zin(Myanmar, 2010) and Thida Win(Myanmar,
2010), as well as another Fellow, Kyaw Kyaw
Myo Win (Myanmar, 2009). In January 2017, I

traveled to the United ArabEmirates, where I met WMU Past
President Dr. Björn Kjerfve, current
Chancellor of the American
University of Sharjah.
In May, as part of the Peruvian
Delegation, I participated in the Third
Joint Ministerial Conference of theParis and Tokyo MOUs on Port State
Control in Vancouver, Canada, where
I ran into Masashi Sugomori again, as
well as Yusuke Mori (Japan, 2014). It
was a good opportunity to meet theTokyo MOU staff: Secretary Mr.
Hideo Kubota, and Technical Officer
Ning Zheng (China, 1993). With the
IMO Secretary General, we went
onboard the Japanese training ship
KAIWO MARU, having a glimpse of theJapanese approach to effective MET.
During the 28th Meeting of the Tokyo MOU
Port State Control Committee, held in
Vladivostok, Russian Federation, last September,
I met Nguyen Hai Nam (Vietnam, 2002),
Director of the Maritime Administration of Ho
Chi Minh City - Vietnam Maritime
Administration, and Pham Hai Bang (Vietnam,1998), Director of Seagoing Ship - Vietnam
Register.
Finally, on October 23, for the first time, Lima
held the WMU Regional Conference for theAmericas, a partnership between WMU and theGeneral Directorate of Captaincies andCoastguards (DICAPI), Maritime Authority ofPeru.
The three-day event brought together over 200
participants from 22 countries across theAmericas to address the topic of “Maritime andPort Sectors in the Americas - Challenges andopportunities in light of the SDGs”.
WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra
Doumbia-Henry called on the region - whichplays an important role in shipping and ports andwhich has one of the biggest ocean areas - to takeadvantage of the 456 WMU alumni, a global
force of trained experts from the region, toaddress challenges, take advantage of theopportunities to support implementation of the
UNSDGs in the maritime, ports sectors and withrespect to the oceans.
Mr. Lawrence Barchue, WMU Class of
1991, Assistant Secretary-General, delivered
remarks on behalf of IMO. Vice Admiral
Manuel Vascones, General Director
Captaincies and Coastguard, delivered2

welcoming remarks and noted the strong ties
between WMU and Peru, as well as Peru’scommitment to the UN Sustainable
Development Agenda.
WMU Faculty members who participated as
speakers or moderators included Professor
Larry Hildebrand, Professor Takeshi
Nakazawa and Associate Professor Maria
Carolina Romero. In addition, several WMU
alumni were speakers at the conference.
The event is the first of its kind in the region,
highlighting the importance of postgraduate
maritime education, research and capacity
building for the Americas. As a result of theconference, a WMU Regional Alumni
Association for the Americas will beestablished.
I was the Master of Ceremony for the
WMU Conference. Analia Soledad Viggiano(Argentina, 2013) from Argentina was one of
the speakers, and Nora Benavides from Peru
participated as well.
As WMU alumni, and especially WMU
Sasakawa Fellows, our world is small, and I am
sure that our strong connections will keepincreasing in time, which is crucial for the
future of our countries, and consequently, ourpersonal futures as well.

Sasakawa Peace Foundation Officially Welcomes
WMU Class of 2018 Fellowship RecipientsElias Chiaca Mwenyo (Namibia, 2018)

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) once
again showed its benevolence by funding 30
students from Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon,
Cape Verde, East Timor, Egypt, Georgia,
Ghana, Greece, India, Iraq, Japan, Liberia,
Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Panama, Peru,
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Togo andVietnam, to pursue post graduate degrees at theWorld Maritime University in Malmö. This year
is historical as it recorded the highest number of
Sasakawa Fellowship students at WMU.
In true SPF tradition, these students, whowere all in attendance, were warmly welcomed at
the orientation event on September 22, 2017, in
the Sasakawa Auditorium at WMU. The event is
an integral part of the SPF’s annual calendar, as
it creates a conducive platform to foster integration between the graduating Class of 2017 andthe incoming Sasakawa sponsored students in a
network that promotes and facilitates lifelongcommunication.
The event was officiated by Mr. Mirza Zeeshan Baig, as the Director of Proceedings, a
student from the graduating Class of 2017 who
could not hide his joy at being given the opportunity to advance his academic qualifications at
the World Maritime University. The orientation
program began with a group photograph of bothClasses outside WMU, followed by opening
remarks by Mr. Tsutomu Akita, Senior Specialist at SPF, who emphasized the importance ofmaking connections with other Sasakawa
Fellows. The purpose is to advance the network
through nurturing and maintaining relationships
among Fellows, independent of those activities

cultivated by SPF. This was followed by apresentation by Mr. Shinichi Ichikawa, providing
information on the Sasakawa Fellowship Programand its relation to The Nippon Foundation andJapan’s Boat Race. He delivered a synopsis of how
revenue from the famous boat race is directed tophilanthropic activities and how the fellowship
program benefits from this noble gesture.
The Class of 2017 followed with presentationsof their experience at WMU reflecting back to thetime they arrived in Malmö, the third largest city
in Sweden. Representatives from the different
course specializations were: Leena Kagola(Namibia), Maritime Education & Training;
Johan Solórzano (Honduras), Shipping Management & Logistics; Mohammad Azizul Moula(Bangladesh), Port Management; Aynur Maharranova (Azerbaijan), Maritime Law & Policy;
Mohmmed Shahnawaz (India), Marine Safety &Environmental Administration; Mark Philip
Cassar (Malta), Maritime Energy Management;
and Rachel Bare–Anita (Solomon Islands), Ocean
Sustainability, Governance and Management.
Ms. Bare–Anita‘s presentation was very captivating because her specialization in the Class of 2017
was the first in the history of WMU and the
Sasakawa Peace Foundation. Presenters sharedvaluable insights on ideal ways of coping withstudies and how best to maximize learning opportunities during field studies, as well as not forgetting to have fun.
The most memorable experience that distinguished the Sasakawa Fellowship students fromthe others, according to the Class of 2017, was thevery popular visit to Japan where they met Dr.
Sasakawa, their benefactor, as one of the highlights. The opportunity to crisscross Japan andspend time at the boat race will forever leave apositive mark on their lives.
All 27 students from the Class of 2017 and 30
students from Class of 2018 were given theopportunity to introduce themselves as a start toexpanding the network among Fellows. The event3

also discussed the best ways to build and maintain the network. Preference was given to everexpanding social media as a tool to keep the
network alive. The Class of 2018 nominated Ngu
Kay Khine (Myanmar) to be the focal point in
updating the database of the 2017/18 students,
and Naohiro Saito (Japan) was tasked with the
responsibility of identifying a tool as a communication platform.
A reception followed at the WMU World
Bistro, where students mingled and socialized ina more relaxed atmosphere. The event was graced
with the presence of WMU President, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry and her husband, whowere generously interacting with students andsharing memorable experiences of their days as
students. The WMU President thanked The
Nippon Foundation for their extraordinary,ongoing support for maritime capacity-building
by providing fellowships to WMU students,
thereby equipping them with knowledge for the
benefit of their nations and the world.
In the closing remarks, Nadeeka Jaysundara
Mudiyanselage (Sri Lanka) from the Class of2017 extended profound gratitude on behalf ofthe 2017 recipients of The Nippon Foundation& SPF for providing a life-changing opportunity
to them all. She also thanked the staff and management of the World Bistro for a delicious
dinner. Special appreciation was also extended to
Ms. Lyndell Lundahl, the WMU staff member
who works tirelessly to make sure that Sasakawa
Fellowship students are not stressed during theirtime in Malmö.

IMO Technical Initiatives for GHG Emission Reductions fromInternational Shipping
Yasufumi Onishi

Japan Ship Technology
Research Association

As you are all aware, measures for reducing
GHG emissions from international shipping are
considered to be outside the limits of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), and a detailed review of
emissions has been left up to the International
Maritime Organization (IMO). Due to anincrease in the volume of trade in tandem withthe world’s economic growth, GHG emissions in
the area of international shipping are expected toincrease significantly in the future, and there is aneed for IMO to take active steps to address thisissue. Therefore, IMO has been introducing andimplementing measures in stages. I have participated in discussions on technical standards for
GHG reductions in the Marine Environment
Protection Committee (MEPC), and in thisarticle I would like to present details of discussions
to date and the current situation based on myexperience.
In 2011, IMO decided to introduce the Energy
Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newly built
vessels, ahead of other transport modes. This
index, based on the average value of fuel consumption of vessels built between 1999 and 2008,
prescribes fuel consumption, i.e. the EEDI value,
for new vessels built from 2013 onwards to be ator below the reference value (phase 0), to reduce itby 10% from the reference value (phase 1) from2015, 20% (phase 2) from 2020, and 30% (phase3) from 2025.
At the same time, under provisions of the
MARPOL convention, development of energy
saving technologies is to be reviewed and, if

necessary, the reduction rate or other requirements are to be revised in accordance with relevant
provisions. A review of the EEDI phase 2 index(20% reduction from 2020) was conducted from
MEPC67 in 2014 to MEPC70 in 2016, and after
lengthy discussions, it was agreed that the 20%
reduction would be maintained. During deliberations, an opinion that the reduction rate should be
strengthened was expressed and, in light of thisopinion, a decision was made to commence thenext review after MEPC71 in 2017, which was
initially set for around 2022, as a compromise
proposal with a view to commencing phase 3 in
2022. In accordance with this agreement, a Correspondence Group (CG) for conducting the review
was established at MEPC71 held in July this year,
and it was agreed that a review of the EEDI
requirements beyond phase 2 would be conducted.
According to the review schedule of the CG, a
recommendation for the requirements of Phase 3
will be made at MEPC73, and an overall recommendation will be made at MEPC74. I am serving
as a coordinator of the CG, and hope to proceedwith discussions that will lead to reasonable EEDI
requirements based on the feasibility of applying energy saving
technologies.
Furthermore, one of theoutstanding issues regarding the
EEDI is the risk of safety as aconsequence of lowering engine
power excessively to improve
EEDI value, and a review iscurrently underway to establish
new minimum power guidelines
to maintain the same safety level.
At the moment, while the interim
guidelines have been put in placein time for the implementation of
the phase 0 EEDI requirements,
this is an interim measure andshould be reviewed based onacademic research. To this end,
the SHOPERA project undertaken in Europe and the Japan
project were fastidiously reviewed,4

and draft guidelines based on the results of thisreview were reported at MEPC71. At MEPC71,
however, there were some differences in opinion
about adverse weather conditions, which wereprerequisites. Therefore, it was agreed that current
interim guidelines would be extended and that
discussions for developing new guidelines would
continue.
Vessels with relatively lower design speeds, suchas tankers and bulkers in particular, lowering thedesign speed of the vessel to meet the EEDI
requirements, which are being progressively
strengthened, may be inevitable. However, if theminimum power requirement is set extremely
high, it will be impossible to lower the design
speed, and options for complying with the EEDI
index may be lost. Therefore, it is desirable to set
standards no higher than necessary and to formulate reasonable guidelines based on scientificevidence. To formulate reasonable standards,
Japan will continue to work on technical considerations and strive to form a consensus throughcoordination with relevant countries.
In addition, IMO has also agreed to introduce
a data collection system for fuel oil consumptionof ships as a second stage measure following on
from the EEDI regulations. This system will
become effective in March 2018, and the reporting of data to IMO in 2019. Relevant guidelines
have also been finalized, and I believe that thisreporting system will contribute to IMO’s review
of GHG emission reduction measures in the
future.
The above was a brief introduction to technicalefforts carried out by IMO to reduce GHG emissions. In addition to the technical mattersdescribed above, IMO is also engaging in discussions to develop IMO Strategy on Reduction of
GHG Emissions from Ships for further reductions in the future. Further efforts must also bemade in the international shipping sector throughdiscussions of the strategy.
I would be very happy to exchange opinionswith anyone who is interested in this discussion. If
you have any questions or comments, please feel
free to contact me at: onishi@jstra.jp

The Coast Guard Global Summit 2017 in Japan
Damrongkiat Kiatopas (Thailand, 2011)

increased as threats of terrorism at sea, as
well as maritime crime, are spreading. In orderto deal with these global changes and challenges, multilateral cooperation on a global
scale is necessary. The JCG initiated this new
platform of dialogue and cooperation to sharepioneer activities and to discuss and disseminate new cooperative measures among Coast
Guard Agences as first responders beyond the
On September 12, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe existing regional frameworks.
attended the welcome reception for the Coast Guard
39 Coast Guard Agencies from 36 countries,
Global Summit held at Akasaka Palace State Guest
together with the European Maritime Safety
House.
Agency (EMSA), the International Maritime
On September 14, 2017, I had the privilege Organization (IMO) and ReCAAP Informaof participating in the Coast Guard Global tion Sharing Centre (ISC) participated in thisSummit (CGGS) 2017, which was co-hosted big event. Dr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman ofby the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and The The Nippon Foundation, offered his remarks
Nippon Foundation in Tokyo. The summit as host, followed by a speech from Keiichi
aimed to enhance collaboration and coopera- Ishii, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure,tion among Coast Guards worldwide in Transport and Tourism of Japan. The summit
coping with new challenges such as maritime was chaired by Admiral Satoshi Nakajima,disasters, accidents, pollution, and crimes Commandant of the JCG, and focused mainly
occurring across borders. It is probably the on 3 topics, including marine safety andfirst meeting where Coast Guard Agencies marine environment protection, maritime
from all around the world gathered together security, and capacity building. At the end ofand discussed new cooperative frameworks.
the summit, the Chairman’s Summary was
Coast Guards and agencies with coastguard
functions linked globally by the ocean havetraditionally worked together to ensure safetyof navigation, utilizing bilateral or multilateralframeworks. However, in recent years, thenatural environment has changed dramaticallyon a global scale as climate change hasbrought more serious and extensive disasters.
Moreover, changes in social environments andcross-cultural interactions across borders have5

formally adopted by the Heads of the Coast
Guard Agencies. It was confirmed that the
Coast Guard Agencies will share the bestpractices and experiences in maritime safety,
security and environment as well as educationand training. In addition, a working levelmeeting will be created to further develop thisnew cooperative framework.
I was very proud to be the Thailand delegate
and to take part in the summit, especiallysince it allowed me to see my classmates fromthe Japan Coast Guard Academy and theWorld Maritime University once again andstrengthen our bonds and friendships. I really
hope that these relationships will contributeto the future success of this summit.

Description:
30 new Sasakawa Fellowship Students in the class of 2018 joined the WMU Academic Program in the middle of September, 2017.
These students are experts in their own right and are 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 course, their new knowledge and skills
shall contribute further to enhance their country’s community.

Md Harun Or RashidMichael Agyare Asiamah

As a young bureaucrat in my government I am currently
working as an Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping. I
want to be a maritime policy maker for Bangladesh. At WMU I
will learn about ocean sustainability, governance andmanagement. After completing the MSc, I want to work on UN
sustainable development goal no. 14 in Bangladesh.

I hope to complete the program in good standing, andafterwards help to promote activities in the network in Ghana
and West Africa in general. I will use my networking skills toconnect with my schoolmates in other countries so as toexchange ideas on best practices for maritime safety and security.

Assistant Director Strategic Intelligence
Defense Intelligence, Ghana Armed Forces

Assistant Chief, Planning Section, Ministry of Shipping

Bangladesh
W1701095 (OSGM)

Ghana
W1701224 (MSEA)

Fabrice Yéhonnou Tchégbénton Metonwaho

Eleni Kelmali

Lieutenant Junior Grade, Central Port Authority of Mytilene
Hellenic Coast Guard

Head of Pollution Prevention and Protection of Marine Environment Department/ Port State Control Officer, Pollution Prevention and Protection of Marine
Environment Department, Directorate of the Merchant Marine / Ministry of
Infrastructures and Transports

I have been given a unique opportunity to enhance myprofessional qualifications and experience by studying at theWorld Maritime University. The Sasakawa Fellowship will aid in
the accomplishment of this important step in my life.

My organization is currently facing many challenges. Aftercompleting my studies at WMU, I will be expected to help solvethese challenges. For that, I will organize regular feedback
sessions with my colleagues and collaborators. Furthermore, I
Benin
W1701243 (MSEA) will actively get involved in Sasakawa activities around the world.

GreeceW1701247 (MLP)

Etakong Tabeyang

Aniruddha Chaki

Engineer and Ship Surveyor cum DDG (Tech)
Mercantile Marine Dept. Haldia, Directorate General of Shipping, India

Foreign Affairs Officer, Ministry of External Relations

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation has offered me an exceptional,
priceless and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enhance myknowledge on marine and ocean activities as well as advance mycarrier goals.
Upon graduation from WMU, I will use my academic andCameroon
professional expertise in service of the maritime industry.
W1701244 (OSGM)

India
W1701248 (MSEA)

Paulo Sergio Rocha Sousa

Banshidhar Singh

Product Distribution Coordinator by Ship
Distribution, ENACOL

Cape Verde
W1701232 (MSEA)

Commandant (JG), Indian Coast Guard

To study at WMU has been my dream. I'm sure I will do wellin Malmö, which will feel like being with my new family. I will
gain knowledge to help my country solve some issues. My goal
is to help my country and my company to develop and have agood future.

Upon successful completion of the course, I will help my organization toformulate and implement national maritime policies which result insustainable and judicious utilization of marine ecosystem goods andservices, in compliance with international regulations and conventions. I
will also endeavor to evolve better cooperation, regional as well as
global, among maritime countries through experience and contacts
India
W1701250 (MSEA) gained at WMU.

Ivan Eder Mendes Mota Braz de Carvalho

Adel Ali Desher

As a new country, Timor-Leste acknowledges that there is alack of human resources in the maritime sector, especially indeveloping a legal framework. I am sure the knowledge that I
will learn at WMU will contribute to our future national
policies and regulations in accordance with IMO standards.

Studying at WMU represents a major turning point in my life.
At the national level, I will use the science to develop themaritime sector in my country. Internationally, I will work withmy colleagues in WMU after graduation to meet the challenges
and problems facing the international maritime industry.

Legal Advisor, Legal Department
National Directorate of Maritime Transport Timor-Leste (DNTM)

Timor-Leste
W1701245 (MLP)

Captain - Harbor Pilot, Maritime Affairs Dept.
General Company for Iraqi Ports (GCPI)

Iraq
W1701251 (MSEA)

Fawzy Fathalla Dekinesh

Naohiro Saito

Deputy Director, Maritime Bureau
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

Lecturer & Course Coordinator for all liquid cargo petroleum, chemical and liquified natural gas
at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, Natural Gas &Petrochemical Simulator Department at the Integrated Simulator Complex, Arab Academy for
Science, Technology & Maritime Transport

Egypt
W1701246 (MEM)

What I learn at WMU will become invaluable knowledge andexperience for me. When I go back to my country, I would liketo contribute in terms of my career nationally andinternationally.

I intend to play a role in the Sasakawa Fellows’ network after mygraduation, participating in Fellowship meetings & conferences,sending my research papers and dissertations to the network, anddeveloping and maintaining professional and social relationships. I
will also play a key role in my country for marine energy
management.

Japan
W1701252 (MEM)

Giorgi Mamuladze

Georgian Kansuah

The World Maritime University is a place of great opportunities
to gain theoretical knowledge with enhanced practical skills andmeet people from all over the world. With the support of the
Sasakawa Peace Foundation, I will be honored to be a link andcontributor of those experiences and innovations to my homecountry, Georgia.

I am honored to be part of the WMU family, especially as a
Sasakawa Fellowship Student. I’m confident that with hard work
I can achieve excellence in my studies, acquiring knowledge andpractical skills that will enable me to have a meaningful andpositive impact on the Liberian maritime sector.

Head of Safety Department
Safety Department, Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia

Georgia
W1701230 (MSEA)

My resolution is to excel at WMU, and my primary objective is
to live up to the expectations of my sponsor - the Sasakawa
Peace Foundation, my employer, the Directorate General of
Shipping, India, and my family, who have put their faith andconfidence in me.

Company Executive Officer, Armed Forces of Liberia
Ministry of National Defense, Liberia

Liberia
W170 1254 (MLP)

6

2018

Specialization Courses

M E T : Maritime Education & Training
MEM: Maritime Energy Management
M L P : Maritime Law & Policy
MSEA: Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration

Mohamed Amjath Mohamed Fahumy

I will deliver knowledge and share my experiences gained at
WMU with the maritime education and training sector of mybeloved country, Myanmar. I really appreciate being one of
the Sasakawa Fellows, and it is my great honour to get thisauspicious opportunity to make my dreams come true.

In my country's journey towards a sustainable blue economy,
as an academic I would like to be a part of the capacity
building process in the maritime field. Furthermore I would
like to engage in research activities in the field of Maritime
Transport and Logistics.

Lecturer, Department of Maritime Transport Management & Logistics
Ocean University of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
W1701257 (SML)

Ngu Kay Khine

Wajira Vidhuranga Premathilaka

It is such a great honor to be granted a Sasakawa Fellowshipthat the big chance to study at WMU would fulfill my dream
to become highly qualified in the maritime field and to be able
to work towards the development of Myanmar’s Maritime
Industry with all my efforts.

It is a great privilege to be awarded with this prestigious
fellowship from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. I am
determined to work hard to do justice to this invaluable
opportunity that I've been given, while thanking thehonorable Chairman and all the staff for their kindunderstanding and efforts.

Staff Officer, Department of Marine Administration, Myanmar
Ministry of Transport and Communications

Myanmar
W1701256 (MET)

Terminal Systems Junior Manager
Jaya Container Terminal - Operations Division, Sri Lanka Ports Authority

Sri Lanka
W1701021(PM)Elias Chiaca Mwenyo

Theeratch Amphanthongpaphakul

I intend to advocate for reform in the Namibian maritime
industry to conform to international standards in preserving
our oceans yet driving the blue economy agenda. Further, I
hope to influence organizations within the maritime field toinvest in human capital with special emphasis on maritime
logistics for the betterment of global trade through shipping.

Studying at WMU through the Sasakawa Fellowship Programis a special opportunity and the beginning of my successfuljourney to gain knowledge and skills in the maritime field.
This will enable me to share, participate and develop maritime
solutions, especially vessel traffic management, in my country
and among networks.

Manager Business Development
Commercial Department, Namibian Ports Authority

Namibia
W1701226 (SML)

Transport Technical Officer (VTS Operator)
Marine Department of Thailand, Vessel Traffic Control and Maritime Security Office

Thailand
W1701258 (SML)

Hammed Damilare Ibrahim

Kanchisa Deerod

I hope to be a proactive, competent and responsible Ocean
and Marine professional through a life-long learning
commitment, research and knowledge. I want to work
towards a sustainable future and development for mycountry, my region, and the International community.

I am very honored to be a part of the Sasakawa Fellowshipand to have received the great opportunity to study at WMU.
My main objectives are to enhance my knowledge, abilities andexperience in the maritime field, which will certainly be usefulfor the Port Authority of Thailand and my country in the
future.

Research Associate, Department of Aquaculture
Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR)

Nigeria
W1701223 (OSGM)

Administrative Officer, Business Development and Marketing Department
Port Authority of Thailand

Thailand
W1701259 (PM)Augustine Obomhereru Imhomoh

Viyada Suriyakul Na Ayudhada

I look forward to maximizing the opportunities The Nippon
Foundation has offered me through WMU to acquire thespecialized education needed to respond to various maritime
challenges in my country. I will actively promote activities
aimed at mitigating current and future climate change concerns
among Sasakawa Fellows for a safer world.

I have received the greatest opportunity to sharpen myknowledge and skills at WMU, which will also lead me to haveexcellent friendships and a valuable network with various
countries. Therefore, I will keep this network as a priority andutilize the expert skills and impressive experience gained todevelop and enhance my country and neighbors as well.

Senior Shipping Development Officer, Shipping Development
Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency

Nigeria
W1701231 (MEM)

Assistant Chief, Corporate Strategy Department
Port Authority of Thailand

Thailand
W1701260 (PM)Gustavo Adolfo Mejia

N'Hôboutoun Santa

My dream of actively representing my country as a delegate in
one of the meetings at the International Maritime Organization
is becoming more of a reality thanks to the great experienceand knowledge that I will acquire in different lectures at theWorld Maritime University.

The World Maritime University, through its programme ofMaster of Science in maritime affairs, is a great institution to
help me acquire knowledge in the maritime field.
As a senior legal advisor, after completion of the programme,
I will be skilled enough to carry out my responsibilities.

Junior legal advisor, Legal department
Direction of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports

Lawyer, Resolutions and Inquiries of the General Directorate of MerchantMarine, Panama Maritime Authority

PanamaW1701229 (MLP)

Togo
W1701261 (MLP)

Eduardo Israel Zamora

Minh Quang Nguyen

Peru is a country that has many challenges in maritime affairs
and doesn´t have many specialists in ocean sustainability andgovernance. Thanks to The Nippon Foundation, studying at
WMU will offer me a great opportunity to promote real change
when returning to my country.

It's my goal to gain not only professional knowledge but also
skills during my time in Malmö, which will serve myorganization after graduation. Moreover I can set up
connections with friends from all over the world to exchange
ideas or help one another in the future.

Head of Maritime Environmental Issues, Maritime Environmental Issues
Peruvian Maritime Authority, General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guard

Peru
W1701227 (OSGM)

Official, Legal Affairs Department
Maritime Administration of Danang

Viet Nam
W1701071 (MSEA)

Pamela Dela Cruz Dolina

Manh Xuan Nguyen

I would like to inspire and encourage women in the maritime
field for us to make a difference and contribute to the bettermentof the maritime world. I would also like to promote the noble
ideals of the Sasakawa Foundation and support friendshipamongst its entire Family.

The M.Sc. course at the World Maritime University suits myinterests. With WMU’s intensive study program, I strongly
believe that my qualifications will be the springboard todeveloping my career. The knowledge and skills that I gain will
help me perform my future tasks in improving Vietnam’s
maritime safety.

Official, Maritime Safety and Security Department
Vietnam Maritime Administration

Coast Guard Commander / Former Secretary Coast Guard Staff
Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard

Philippines
W1701076 (MET)P M : Port Management
S M L : Shipping Management & Logistics

Htet Khaing Kyi Lin

Instructor & Internal Auditor, Quality Management Control Department
Wise Wish Marine Engineering Training Centre, Myanmar

Myanmar
W1701255 (MET)OSGM: Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management

Viet Nam
W1701225 (MSEA)

7

Tomotsugu Noma (Japan, 2016)
I am pleased to inform everyone that I got married!! We had the wedding ceremony on September 24 in
the Japanese traditional way. On our wedding day, we thought that there was no one happier than us. I
couldn’t imagine how memorable and happy that day would be, even though I had heard from many married people beforehand. I was especially grateful to have my host family and Friends of WMU from
Sweden, Chile, Colombia, ROK and Thailand as my guests, coming to attend my wedding from far away. I
can’t thank them enough. Hopefully, they enjoyed their stay in Japan.
Before we got married and while I was in Malmö, we were in a long-distance relationship, which wasquite difficult, not being able to spend time together. I am very grateful to my wife who had the patience towait for me. Also, I think this deepened our bond.
And now, a new life has begun! We have a lot of time to spend together and enjoy!
Chihebeddine Badir (Tunisia, 2015)
August 2017 was a special month for me, as I celebrated both my birthday and my wedding. Just 2 years after
finishing my studies and graduating from WMU, I decided to ask my love for her hand in marriage and start a
happy and new life. Everything is perfect. My wedding was a Tunisian traditional ceremony par excellence.
My honeymoon experience was really amazing. Tabarka was our destination. It is conveniently located innorthwestern Tunisia. We enjoyed a mix of relaxation and adventure. Tabarka is a gorgeous place with breathtaking views, sunsets and high hills hugging the sea. I shouldn’t forget the most delicious food that I have ever tasted
and the jazz festival. We loved the place so much that I promised my wife to revisit it soon. Before returninghome I gave her a very beautiful red coral necklace as a souvenir of Tabarka, which is famous for its coral. We
came back home with tons of happy memories and beautiful photos.
Marriage has already brought us wonderful moments full of love, joy and harmony.
I also really appreciated the warm compliments and kind greetings from my WMU Friends on Facebook. I
would like to especially thank Dr. Sasakawa for allowing me to become a member of the Fellows, and I am thankful to The Nippon Foundation and SPF for giving me the opportunity to share my experience.
Sadaharu Koga (Japan, 2015)
I am Sadaharu Koga, a S15 Sasakawa Fellow from Japan. How are you, my dear friends?
Here in this newsletter, I would like to share good news with you. This September, around two years after graduating from WMU, I got married. My wife, Hisako Kubo, works in the maritime sector at the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. As we got to know each other just one month before my departure for
Sweden in 2014, we had to endure being separated for one and a half years. But, thankfully, she waited for me. AfterI came back home, we spent two fun years together, and finally got married.
What made me even happier is that some of my friends from S14, S15 and S16 came to our wedding ceremony!
Sura, Han, Maki, Masa and Tomo, sharing my happiness with you was such a great pleasure. Thank you very much.
As for business, I am currently working in the field of international agreement for free trade at the Ministry ofForeign Affairs. Although my job is tough and challenging, what I learned at WMU always helps me find a solution
in various ways. I would like to express again my sincere gratitude to The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa
Peace Foundation for giving me this golden opportunity for growth.
Last but certainly not least, I am wishing you, my friends all over the world, exciting lives with lots of happiness. I
am looking forward to meeting you again sometime, somewhere.

Sophal Laska (Cambodia, 2006)

On June 23, 2017 my life was changed forever, because on that day I became a father.
When my wife, Sarah Kate Thompson, and I found out we were having a baby boy we were overjoyed, knowing that our little family was
about to get bigger. As I felt my baby boy kick and grow I felt excited and nervous about the time ahead. Would I be a good father?
During my wife’s pregnancy I learned many things, most importantly, that raising a child is not easy! Especially when the culture of eachparent is so different. As an Englishwoman, my wife faced many cultural challenges and helped me to see the importance of understanding
the values that a parent can pass on to their child. As a child of Cambodian and English parents, we hope our son will grow to understand ourcore shared values and become a global citizen.
And so, on the 22nd of June, my wife told me that we would have a long night ahead of us because our baby boy was coming! The time we
had prepared for was coming and there was no more time to wonder what sort of a father I would be. Our son, Sophal William Sereivudh,
was born at a healthy 3.2kg the next night, and as I held him in my arms I knew that I would do anything for him.
Now, if you are already a parent you will know what the next few nights were like for my wife and me. If not, then imagine what it is like to
be woken every 2 hours by a crying baby, who only wants to eat, fill his nappy and be held close. Raising a child is definitely not easy! Yet, inthese first few weeks I have felt a love for my son that can only grow, as he will in the years to come.

I have been working as Section Chief of the Japan PSC office, Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism for almost 3 years, outside of my original workplace, the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training. Because I had noexperience as a PSC officer, this job was quite tough initially. However, thanks to my experience onboard and knowledge gained at WMU, I
can now say I am very confident in my job. PSC is now recognized as one of the most important activities to improve the safety of ships andpersonnel onboard, and to protect the marine environment. PSC officers conduct inspections to confirm whether ships have complied withsafety and marine protection standards based on the requirements of international conventions. Therefore, the Section Chief is also required
to have a wide understanding of the conventions. Because of this job, I have gained a great amount of knowledge and also have had
opportunities to attend several IMO meetings, such as III and HTW sub-committees, where I was able to expand my personal network.
In addition, I was proudly appointed as an editorial member of this newsletter. This opportunity also gave me a great chance to find out
about the latest maritime issues and voices from the maritime industry.
The time for me to return to my original workplace is at hand, as I am going to go back to the field of Maritime Education and Training
for a while.
I wish you good luck with your lives and jobs. Bon voyage!

Mr. Yusuke Mori, Mr. Yasufumi Onishi,
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation Bldg., 1-15-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8524 Japan
Tel: +81-(0)3-5157-5263 Fax: +81-(0)3-5157-5230 URL: http://www.spf.org/e/

Yusuke Mori
MLIT