25

http://www.wmu.sof.or.jp/

A NEW DISCOVERY OF JAPANESE"WAY OF LIFE"
Japan Field Study Trip in 2008 September 7-14, 2008T

wenty-five WMU Sasakawa Fellowship students and WMU
Vice-President Bruce Browne landed at Narita International
Airport on Sunday, September 7. Each September, WMU
Sasakawa Fellowship students are invited to come to Japan - thecountry of the fellowship donor - and experience and learn about thecountry's culture and society while taking a field trip related tomaritime affairs.
The weather on the day of arrival was sunny, marking an auspicious
start to the trip. First, the group headed to the Museum of Maritime
Science. There, an orientation was held for about an hour. Then thegroup took a tour of the museum. From an observation room about 70
meters high, they could enjoy a 360-degree view of Tokyo Bay and theTokyo skyline. From the museum's Mr. Ono, they also received an
informative presentation about the history of Tokyo Bay and thesurrounding area.
On the second day, the group first visited the National Maritime
Research Institute. There they observed research facilities such as the
400 Meter Towing Tank, the Deep Sea Basin & High Pressure Tank,
and the Bridge Simulator for Navigational Risk. They were given
special treatment particularly when visiting the 400 Meter Towing Tank.
This was very rewarding for them, and they were extremely pleased
about being able to have such a valuable experience.
That afternoon the group boarded the Seiun Maru, a training ship
belonging to The National Institute for Sea Training. First they werewelcomed by the captain. Then they visited the captain's cabin, the ship's
deck, the engine room, and elsewhere. A Sasakawa Fellow affiliated with

December2008

the institute, Mr. Emi Yutaka, gave a presentation on board.
On the morning of September 9, the group paid a courtesy call to
Mr. Shigeru Ito, Director General of the Maritime Bureau of the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. In awelcoming speech, Director General Ito noted that Japan, being an
island country, has had a long and deep relationship with the sea, andthat he believes it to be the government's solemn duty to facilitate
marine transport, both domestically and internationally, while working
for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, andpeacefulness on the seas. Afterwards, Mr. Shinichiro Otsubo, Director
for International Regulations of the Maritime Bureau's Safety Standards
Division, gave a presentation, followed by a period of questions andanswers. Despite the fact that it was lunchtime, Mr. Otsubo and aJapanese Sasakawa Fellow, Mr. Naoki Saito, courteously answered indetail each of the students' many questions. We would like to express
our gratitude to them.
Next, the group paid a courtesy visit to The Nippon Foundation. Mr.
Masazumi Nagamitsu, the foundation’s Executive Director, and Mr.
Hiroshi Terashima, Executive Director of the Ocean Policy Research
Foundation, both delivered welcoming addresses. Then Mr. Yohei
Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, entered the room.
Amid the silence, the room filled with an air of tension. However, theChairman's smiling face and welcoming words relaxed the students.
They seemed to be drawn forward by his speech - as if enchanted by
his words - and to forget their tension completely. In his welcoming
speech, the Chairman said that an ability to see the world in relativeSep. 13 (Sat) Osaka
Osaka Port

Sep. 12 (Fri) Kyoto
Kiyomizu Temple

Sep. 8 (Mon) Tokyo
The National Maritime Research InstituteSep. 11 (Thu) Okayama
Zeni Lite Buoy Co., Ltd.
Sep. 11 (Thu) Okayama
Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd

Sep. 8 (Mon) Tokyo
National Institute for Sea Training (Seiun Maru)

Sep. 13 (Sat) Osaka
Suminoe Kyotei

Sep. 10 (Wed) Okayama
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

rather than absolute terms, and continuing to try to view everythingwith curiosity, were extremely important in international society. Heemphasized that today's commonsense assumptions about the world
will have to change with the advancement of society and science.
Finally, he told the 25 students that he was extremely proud that suchexcellent people as themselves had been awarded fellowships andwere pursuing their studies at WMU. The students, who had beentense at the start, were all smiles as they took a commemorative
photograph with the Chairman following his speech.
After leaving The Nippon Foundation, the students enjoyed somesightseeing in Tokyo, visiting the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower,
among other places. And in the evening, a welcoming reception washeld for them at The Nippon Foundation Building. About 150 people
attended, including Executive Director Nagamitsu and the Maritime
Bureau's Director General Ito. The students were able to meet andconverse with Japanese guests in the maritime field.
On September 10, the group traveled to the Okayama region. There
they went to the Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co.'s Tamano
Shipyard, whose various factories - for shipbuilding, large marine
engines, and more - are among the finest in the world. The students
visited factories for erecting berths and assembling engines. During
their visit, they received detailed explanations from General Affairs
Department Manager Masayuki Nakata and other persons in charge.
The knowledge that they gained will undoubtedly prove to be avaluable asset for them.
The next day, Thursday, the group first went to the Nakashima
Propeller Co. This company produces about 350 propellers a year,
making each one to order. The group received a presentation covering
subjects such as the company's propeller production system, which
relies on superior craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, and theefficiency of industries in seaside regions. Afterwards, they observed
the propeller casting process, the grinding process, large-blade surface
processing equipment, a large inverting machine, and more. They
were also greeted by Executive Director Noboru Asahara, who wasFriends of WMU JAPANvisiting from Tokyo that day in order to attend a meeting at thecompany's Tamashima Factory. Being able to observe Nakashima
Propeller's world-class production system was an enormously valuable
opportunity. Not only the students but also the people from the Ocean
Policy Research Foundation were deeply impressed.
That afternoon, the group visited the Zeni Lite Buoy Co. Upon
arriving, they were led to a conference room, where they werewelcomed by Mr. Satoru Akiyama, General Manager of the company's
Okayama-Tamashima Works. Inside the factory, they were able toobserve a wide range of manufacturing processes, including the
production lines for marine beacons and for control boxes used inwharf lights and in shinkansen (bullet trains) and other vehicles. At apresentation about an AIS (Automatic Identification System) that uses
buoys, many of the students avidly asked questions. On the day of thevisit, Mr. Takuo Iriguchi, the company's Tokyo Branch Office Manager,
also came all the way to the Tamashima Factory expressly to help thestudents. The students and the foundation people were sincerely
grateful for the warm reception provided by the entire company.
On September 12, the group visited the Korakuen Garden in
Okayama. Afterwards, they went by shinkansen to Kyoto, where
they visited Nijo Castle and the Kiyomizu Temple. As in previous
years, Ms. Miyoko Wada provided her excellent services as aninterpreter and guide.
On September 13, the group went to the Suminoe Motorboat Race
Stadium, where they were afforded the invaluable experience ofvisiting inside the pit. They were also treated extremely cordially inbeing allowed to watch the races from the guest seats. By visiting theRace Stadium, they were able to recognize the source of the WMU
Sasakawa Fellowships. That was extremely important.
We hope that the 25 students who came to Japan can apply what
they experienced and learned on this field study trip in their own
countries. We wish them every success in the future.
Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat
2

My Recollections of World Maritime University

Mr. Mitsuo Abe
Chairman and President of ClassNK
from 1993 to 1996

First, as someone who has been involved, albeit in a small
way, with the affairs of WMU, I would like to express myheartfelt congratulations to WMU for celebrating its Silver
Jubilee in 2008.
Over 13 years ago, on June 15, 1995, I visited the World
Maritime University and was welcomed by the then rector, Dr.
Danny Waters. That morning, as a visiting professor, I gave alecture entitled “Introduction of ClassNK.” And that afternoon,
I attended the opening ceremony for the new ClassNK
Computer Room, where computers which ClassNK had
donated over the years were installed, and which students
used for research. On that occasion, I expressed my gratitude
that the room with the computers donated by ClassNK wasnamed after our organization, and offered my congratulations
on the opening. In response, a member of WMU expressed
his gratitude for ClassNK's contributions to the school. Then
Dr. Waters introduced me to the guests as a representative ofClassNK and as a visiting professor, saying that I was “a greatfriend of WMU,” and adding that the ClassNK Computer
Room was “a tangible contribution” from Japan to WMU.
My connection to WMU did not begin at this time, butrather trace back to 1989, when I served as chairman of the
IACS Council, and to 1990, when, as a representative ofClassNK, I served as a visiting professor and lectured on
IACS, ship classification, and the activities of ClassNK. Even
now, after all these years, the people that I met, talked with,and enjoyed meals with in those days - Dr. D. Waters, Rector;
Dr. G. Zade, Vice Rector; Professor Adachi; and others - allcome vividly back to life in my memory.
I have since parted ways with ClassNK. However, for overhalf a century, since 1951, I've been engaged in the
management of ship surveyors and ship classifications.
Especially after becoming involved with the management ofClassNK, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet people
related to government agencies in the home countries of
WMU students, and also numerous ship owners and shipbuilders. Of those many people, Sir Goad, a former SecretaryGeneral of the IMO whom I met, and Mr. P. K. Srivastava,
who contributed greatly to the establishment of WMU, madea strong and lasting impression on me.

Friends of WMU JAPAN

Many people who have studied at WMU have, throughtheir extensive knowledge and experience, contributed
immeasurably to world shipping and international shipping
affairs. But what I would especially like to emphasize
regarding WMU is the fact that its many students, whocome from countries throughout the world, are able,
through living together, studying together and talking
together in the quiet, beautiful city of Malmö, to establish
friendships that transcend nationality, and that thosefriendships become for them a treasure that is in no way
inferior to the knowledge and experience that they gain at
WMU.

It is said that the world is becoming smaller due to thedevelopment of transportation and communications, andthat the barriers between countries are continuing to comedown. Nevertheless, in certain places of the world, conflicthas yet to cease. Would friends who have shared andstudied together fight to the point of risking their lives justbecause their nationalities are different? While the people
who have studied at WMU take pride in their homecountries, I believe that they will not forget the friendships
and camaraderie that they developed here, and I also holdthe hope that they will do their utmost to create a world
without war by contributing to the maritime world, whichby its nature has no national boundaries.
Finally, I would like to express my great respect for
WMU, which has provided such a wonderful place as this,and offer a sincere wish that WMU will continue in the
future to contribute to the enrichment of maritime
education, and to the cultivation of the type of capable
people who are indispensable for building world peace.

3International Maritime Information
Current news of the International Maritime Organization

Ship Recycling Convention Saga
Shin Otsubo
Director for International Regulations
Maritime Bureau, MLIT
(Coordinator for the MEPC Correspondence Group on Ship Recycling)

Trial project on ship recycling in Japan
IMO insiders say that it normally takes as long as 10 years to
adopt a new Convention or Protocol after the issue has firstbeen brought up. This pattern seems to apply to the IMO's
International Convention on Safe and Environmentally
Sound Recycling of Ships. While the Convention will be
adopted at Hong Kong, China, in May 2009, the first
proposal to MEPC on this issue dates back to late 1998.
In the late 1990s, environmental NGOs drew the attention
to safety and environmental problems in ship recycling
facilities in South Asia, and tried to mobilize the Basel
Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements ofHazardous Wastes and their Disposal as a tool to stop endof-life ships coming to these countries. In their view, ships
are “waste” under the Basel Convention, and their movement
over national boundaries, i.e., the export and import forrecycling purposes, would be strictly regulated: in practice,
ship recycling would be impossible in those countries.
Japan shared the concern raised but did not believe thatthe use of the Basel Convention was a right approach. The
bottom line was how to encourage improvement in ship
recycling practices, and how countries with shipping andrecycling interests could work collaboratively. Ships moveover national boundaries by nature. A regulatory scheme toblock the movement of ships over boundaries would notsolve any problems, in a global perspective. The strategy
that Japan took at that time was to try to shift the forum of
the discussion to our “home ground”, IMO. At IMO, we
could have a balanced discussion: considering how to
improve current practices in view of the necessity foradequate global recycling capacity for the smooth
withdrawal of aged ships, so as not to disturb the shippingand shipbuilding market.

Friends of WMU JAPANIMO made the first major step by adopting the Guidelines
on Ship Recycling at its Assembly in autumn 2003. The
shipping industry showed its positive attitude towards the
mandatory application for the first time at MEPC 52 in
October 2004. Then discussions on mandatory requirements
became active. The 1st Intersessional WG in July 2005 spent
all of its 3-day session in discussing the elements of the newConvention, based on the Japanese submission that I drafted.
Since then, IMO had to go through three more sessions ofintersessional WG and 5 sessions of MEPC before its
approval of the Convention text at MEPC 58 in October
2008. It was a long and winding road. During this time, as
one of the original drafters of the Convention, I tried to leadthe discussion at IMO, attended many times the “awayground” at ILO and Basel Convention, and traveled aroundin coordinating with other countries.
The reason that we are successfully reaching the point of
adoption next year is that we have kept to fundamental
principles. The Convention should take a “cradle-to-grave”
approach, balancing obligations on ship design andconstruction, operation and ship recycling. The current
situation of developing countries should also be attended to:too high standards which might demand considerable capital
investment should be avoided.
Japan will continue being committed to developing theworkable instrument. We are looking beyond the adoption,and have been working hard on developing various
guidelines, including one on ship recycling facilities. This
work is based on extensive field surveys at Asian facilities
that Japan has conducted, as well as a trial ship recycling
project in Japan using a government-owned vessel.

4Cleaner Air for Coastal Area

Great Achievement against Air Pollution by MEPC
Shinichi Hanayama
Senior Research Fellow
Maritime Technology Department
Ocean Policy Research Foundation

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in
their 58 session held on October 2008 unanimously adopted
amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI regulations to reduce
harmful emissions in exhaust gas. I will talk about the points
covered in the amendments and also the rationale andfuture scope of air pollution from ships.
To sum up, these amendments require stricter emission
reduction from ships to achieve cleaner air near port andcoastal areas. From the perspective of atmosphericenvironmental protection, the amendments should beclarified as “a monumental decision in IMO's history”,
expressed by the IMO Secretary-General Efthimios
Mitropoulos. All the people in the maritime sector can beproud of these reduction levels, which are almost the sameas the reduction levels of emissions on land. We can now
state that marine transport will truly become an environmentfriendly mode.
1

introduce the reduction of both SO2 and particle matter
concentration, respectively. This time, MEPC is not only
concerned with gas phase pollutants but also particle mattertransferred from NOx and SOx.
Also, the revised Annex VI will allow for an Emission
Control Area to be designated for Sulfur and/or NOx, wheremuch more strict regulations will be applied (for NOx 80%
reduction, and for S contents 0.1%). If your local port
authority would like cleares skies, your administrators cantake a chance on the proposal for Emission Control Areas. I
feel that al most all port authorities, with serious
atmospheric problems will be satisfied with these regulations
for ECA.
The revised Annex VI will enter into force on July 1, 2010,
under the tacit acceptance amendment procedure. For
details, IMO has a brief introduction URL:
http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1709&doc_id=10262

2

The original MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for thePrevention of Air Pollution from Ships entered into force in
May 2005. However, the original Annex VI regulations were
adjusted to past reduction technology levels of the 1990s
and also past sulfur global averages, so that some countries,
who were suffering from emissions from ships near theirports and sea lanes, proposed its modification right after its
entry into force.
The member states and stakeholders have discussed theitems in MEPC from 2006. And it only took 2 years for thesesignificant improvements to transpire under the strong andfair chairmanship of Mr. A. Chrysostomou (Chairman ofMEPC) and Mr. Bryan Woodthomas (Chairman of WG).
There are two main changes in this amendment. One is
the reduction of NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and the other is the
reduction of sulfur content in fuel. The former mitigation
would introduce the reduction of both NO2 and groundlevel ozone concentration. And the latter mitigation would

Friends of WMU JAPANCapture for picture(from IMO GHG study report phase I)
1 The plume of exhaust gas from ships is determined by its

body shape and speed. Pollutants directly affect people
near coasts before dilution.
2 Sea routes in the North Atlantic are clearly seen in satellite

images, due to their high SOx concentration in exhaust gas.
This phenomenon would completely disappear with therevised Annex VI.

5

Jackson
Challenges ofSue
theWorld's Ports

Graduation 2008

On Sunday, October 5, WMU's Chancellor and IMO Secretary
General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, conferred postgraduate
degrees on the World Maritime University's Class of 2008. 100
students from 43 different countries graduated from the Malmöbased MSc programme in Maritime Affairs, along with 27 fromthe distance-learning Postgraduate Diploma in Marine
Insurance.
Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant of the United States
Coast Guard, was the guest of honor. In his speech, heremarked: “You are about to enter an incredibly exciting timein the maritime industry. There are many challenges which
demand collaborative action. As World Maritime University
graduates, you will be a part of the solutions - solutions thatmitigate risks and lead to new opportunities that benefit all
mankind.”
The Chancellor gave the graduation address, in which heobserved: “Your generation has a full part to play in helping
Governments and civil society to address maritime issues at theinternational level. As the administrators, policy-makers andregulators of the future, you have been provided with strong
qualifications to participate in and shape this process withsuccess.”
Mr. Ilmar Reepalu, Mayor of Malmö, WMU's host city,
announced plans for further co-operation between the city and
WMU in the coming years. “The thought that this University
has been working in our city for 25 years is breath-taking. And
it has done so with great success... We have just begun to
discuss a more long term and sustainable solution regarding
the University's future premises.”During the ceremony, the annual special awards to students
were announced:- Bhim Singh Kothari of the Indian Coast Guard won the
Chancellor's Medal for Academic Excellence;- Thomasi Cama Kete of the Fiji Institute of Technology won
the C. P. Srivastava Award for International Fellowship;- Carolyn Graham of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica won
the Pierre Léonard Prize for the Best Female Student;- Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud Essallamy of the ArabAcademy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
won the Lloyd's Maritime Academy dissertation prize;- James Crawford Crawford of Chile's Directorate-General of
the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine won the
Informa Law dissertation prize;
Three MSc in Maritime Affairs degrees were awarded with

Friends of WMU JAPAN

Associate Registrar
World Maritime Univerisity

distinction to Bhim Singh Kothari, Carolyn Graham and Ermal
Xhelilaj of the Technological State University of Vlore, Albania.
All three graduates are Sasakawa Fellows.
Also at graduation, the newly elected officers of the Student
Council formally took office. Ahmed H. H. Moursy of Egypt is
President, and will also serve as a member of the Board ofGovernors. He will work alongside his colleagues, Khandaker
R. Hasan of Bangladesh (Vice-President), Mya Thida Lin of
Myanmar (Secretary), Sasakawa Fellow Victoria Paraggua of thePhilippines (Treasurer) and Saman De Silva Hamuddura of Sri
Lanka (Auditor).
The ceremony was attended by a group of graduates fromthe China-based MSc programmes, who enjoyed a special
programme with a special seminar and field visits before theceremony.

Tree-planting ceremony 2008

For the fifth year running, the graduating students presented agift to the City of Malmö. This year the gift was two maple trees,
planted near the University in Slottsmöllan Park. A large groupof students took part in the ceremony on September 25, where
the City of Malmö was represented by Mr. Anders Rubin, local
government commissioner, and the University by Professor
Patrick Donner, Associate Academic Dean.
This year's trees bring
the total of WMU trees to
80. The trees symbolise
the living and growing
friendship between thestudents of WMU and thepeople of Malmö.

6

Award Ceremony for Sasakawa Fellows, Class of 2008

Lyndell Lundahl

Student Services Officer, World Maritime Univerisity“Graduation weekend” is a busy, exciting time: parties andpreparations, friends and family, greetings and goodbyes. Among
all this is the happy occasion when the students of the graduatingclass funded by the Sasakawa Fellowship Programme are awarded
their certificates and confirmed as Sasakawa Fellows.
Traditionally held on the night before graduation in theimposing Fridhemsborg mansion overlooking the Öresound, theceremony draws a large crowd of distinguished guests, World
Maritime University staff, first-year Sasakawa-funded students and,not least, the graduands themselves and their families. This year's
ceremony was no exception, with Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos,
Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. in 2008 to complete his degree. He was named an “Honorary
Masazumi Nagamitsu, Executive Director of The Nippon Sasakawa Fellow”, which was a great delight: the road to his
Foundation, and all four of the WMU Vice-Presidents in attendance. degree had been particularly long, but worth every step.
The first-year students performed the World Maritime University
Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Executive Director of the Ocean Policy
Research Foundation, greeted all his guests warmly. Speeches song, supported by many of the graduating class and staff in thewere also made by Mr. Nagamitsu and Professor Shuo Ma, Vice- audience. A generous and delicious buffet dinner was thenPresident (Academic) of the University, congratulating the enjoyed by everyone, as was the chance to chat with the students
graduands on the successful completion of their degree courses and other guests. First year students, fresh from their field trip toand wishing them well in the future. It then fell to Mr. Nagamitsu Japan, looked forward enthusiastically to their continued studies,to hand over the certificates to each of the graduating students, while graduating students looked back on their time at WMU,
thus confirming their new status as Sasakawa Fellows. A special which had, at times, passed all too quickly.
As the gathering started to disperse in anticipation of the big day
mention was made of Mr. Pedro De Lima Filho of Brazil, whocompleted his first year at the World Maritime University as a to follow, many promises were made to keep in touch and to utilize
Sasakawa-funded student in 2000. Forced to resign his fellowship the network of Sasakawa Fellows in the future. While graduation
for personal reasons, Mr. De Lima Filho returned to the University marks the end of many things, it is the beginning of many more.

Swedish Host Family
Mai Thi Anh Tuyet (Vietnam, 2008)

One of the culture shocks for students, when studying abroad, is thedifference between their home country and new living place. This
creates some difficulties for living and studying. In order to help
foreign students studying at WMU get used to local Malmö life, theStudent Services Department has organised a lot of activities, suchas encouraging students to take part in local festivals, excursions,and the Swedish host family program.
Annually, hundreds of Swedish host families who are interested in
WMU and its students are introduced to them. In general, Swedish
host families invite the students to visit their house for sightseeing
around their neighborhood or joining local festivals and otherinteresting activities.
I and one of my Indonesian classmates, Ms. Dessy, were acceptedby a host family, Mr. and Mrs. Olaf, who live in Falterbo about 30
km from Malmö. Both of them are retired and spend most of time
travelling around the world.

Normally, when we have free time, we are invited to have dinnerat their house. This is a gread opportunity for us to talk with
Swedes, who seem cool at first, but in fact are very kind and warm.
In addition, on these occasions, we also have a chance to exchange
information about our habits, customs, as well as other cultural
topics with each other. Along with the maritime knowledge I
learned from WMU, the great impression about Sweden and its
people will stay in my mind forever.

Friends of WMU JAPAN

7

Surprise Reunion

Trika Pitana (Indonesia, 2005)

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, whoallowed me to further my studies at the World Maritime University (WMU) in
2004. Then, in October 2006, after graduation, I joined the PhD Program at
Kobe University, Japan.
While studying at Kobe, I had the opportunity to visit several countries
and attend international conferences in Singapore, Canada and the UnitedStates. On October 19-22, 2008, my supervisor, Prof. Eiichi Kobayashi and I
attended the International Association Maritime University (IAMU)
Conference, Annual General Assembly (AGA) 9th, held in San Francisco,California. At that time, I gave a presentation entitled: “SomeRecommendation to Ship Masters in order to evacuate Cruise Ships during a
Tsunami”.
At that time, unbelievably, I met a classmate, Michael Manuel. Then, I met
a professor and former professors of the World Maritime University, Prof.
Takeshi Nakazawa, Prof. Kenji Ishida and Prof. Malek Pourzanjani,
respectively. I thought how small the world is. I could not imagine that I
would meet them at an international conference. This conference was partly
sponsored by The Nippon Foundation whom I would like to commend for

A Pleasant Encounter in London

Sun Jun (China, 2005)

On Oct. 6, 2008, the first day of MEPC 58 in London at IMO Headquarters, I encountered my old
friend, whom I hadn’t seen for a full three years after graduating from the World Maritime
University. Mr. Eisuke Kudo! It was a real pleasant surprise to see him in the very warm
atmosphere of an IMO reception especially considering the chilly air outside in the London streets.
Mr. Kudo hadn’t changed, still very energic and devoted, qualities I always aspired to. We talked alot, about my time in Malmö and my excellent field study in Japan. I told him that last October I
welcomed my lovely daughter, Jiajia - meaning “good and good” in Chinese -, one of the mostimportant and happy moments in my life. Mr. Kudo had just participated in the WMU Graduation
Ceremony 2008, at Malmö. He encouraged me to work hard and contribute to the world maritime
family. Afterwards, Mr. Kudo introduced me to some new friends, like Mr. Shinichi Ichikawa,when I had communicated with by email several times. It was a very pleasant encounter with avery kind, old friend in London, and it was a wonderful and memorable evening!

Invitation to 8th IASST International Conference in Alexandria!
Ehab Othman (Egypt, 2004)

The International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST)
would like to invite proposals from persons or organizations topresent a technical paper for its 8th International Conference, which
will take place in Alexandria, Egypt at the Maritime Safety Institute(MSI) of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime
Transport (AAST&MT) from October 19-21, 2009.
The theme of the 8th IASST International Conference will be"Safety and Security for Passenger Ships and Offshore Installations".
Submissions of proposed papers and or presentations are invitedon any of the following topics: Policy & Regulations, Training and

Editor’s Postscript

This year, too, twenty-five Sasakawa Fellowship students came to
Japan for the Japan Field Study Trip. I accompanied them to Osaka
Aquarium, “Kaiyu-kan” and the Port of Osaka. I was happy to findthat two among this year's students had received training at Marine
Technical College (MTC) where I teach. Actually, every year I find two
or so ex-MTC trainees among the Fellowship students. It makes me
happy and proud to know that the training they received at MTC is
giving them what it takes to advance them further along their career.
I was happily surprised to be welcomed in Japanese, “HelloHikima-sensei (Professor Hikima!)” by MTC trainees in October when

Training Standards, Design and Construction, Risk Management,
and Evacuation and Rescue.
An abstract of the paper or presentation consisting of around
300 words should be submitted to the conference chair by nolater than March 31, 2009. The abstract should be submitted byemail as a Word or PDF document with a brief biography of thepresenter. The result of the selection will be announced by June15, 2009 and a final transcript of the selected paper should besubmitted to the conference chair by no later than August 31,
2009. For more information please contact Captain Ehab Othman,at etmanehab@yahoo.com or safety@aast.edu.

I was invited to give a lecture in the Philippines to Ship Security
Officers from five countries preparing to board the Japanese fleet.
These are the times when a teacher feels so blessed to have loving
students at many ports. I recognized their faces, now ten years later,
showing dignity and confidence that accompany experience. They
certainly inspired me to renew my resolve to keep learning with them.
It was good to feel that the maritime world is a small world after all.

Mr. Mitsuhiko Ida,
Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat

Toshio Hikima
Marine Technical College