72
September
2020

Dear WMU Sasakawa Fellows

July 2020

Dear WMU Sasakawa Fellows:I hope you are all doing well during these difficult days of COVID-19 pandemic.
It is with prayers wishing that stability and peace of mind will return to your lives assoon as possible that I take up my pen.
I am sure it must be disappointing to be difficult to go outside and breathe in the
fresh air to your heart’s content during Scandinavia’s best season. However, I havereceived reports that current students have been studying safely online, thanks to thecooperation of WMU faculty and staff.
I have also heard that, under these circumstances, WMU Sasakawa Fellows inJapan have conducted online evening chats to motivate new WMU enrollees fromJapan. As I have long had high hopes for more information exchange among Fellows
utilizing IT, I was delighted to receive this news.
When the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, I am certain that everyone’s life andwork styles will undergo tremendous changes as we search for balance between
protecting ourselves from infection and economic activity. It goes without saying thatthe marine and maritime industries—with which you are all deeply involved—and
their related employment/labor environments as well as governmental mechanisms will all undoubtedly undergo huge changes
moving forward.
Globalization has been progressing in recent years, but this too, may change. What will not change, however, is the importanceof people interacting and cooperating across borders. In order for all people around the world to live more enriched lives, theability to understand and successfully communicate with people who have different perspectives will be even more essential. You
who have acquired such abilities here in Malmö possess precisely the qualifications required in those who will lead the new worldof the future. It is my fervent hope that, in a crisis such as the one we are currently undergoing, communication among alumni
becomes even more active in accordance with the motto of this alumni association newsletter, “One World One Family (The world
is a family, and all humankind are brothers and sisters)”
Please remain vigilant against contracting COVID-19 as you move forward into the future, doing your very best for the oceansof the world, for your country, for your organization, and for your family. Ultimately, these efforts are sure to benefit you personally.
I am certain that you will be the ones to create new values for the post-COVID world.
I am very much looking forward to seeing you well and happy in the near future.
Sincerely yours,

Yohei Sasakawa
ChairmanFriends of WMU, Japan

International Maritime Lecturers Association (IMLA)
Yingming Wang (Coordinator of IMLA)

2019 IMLA Annual Conference, Batumi, Georgia

1. General Information

As part of the international maritime
community, IMLA has been created toprovide a world-wide network for the
dissemination, sharing and transfer ofknowledge and experience among maritime
professionals. Since its foundation in 1977,
IMLA has stood at the forefront of Maritime
Education & Training, discussing andexploring coordinated and comprehensive
approaches to the challenges faced by the
Maritime Education and Training (MET)
community locally and globally. In doing
this it has endeavored to promote education,
research, and capacity building as a means
to enhance the overall standards of themaritime industry.
IMLA provides a no-border forum: around table for discussions on sea-related
issues. Teachers and other interested
parties from all over the world are invited
to become members and to freely present
their achievements, share experiencesand exchange ideas. It held its first major
conference in June 1980, when the

IMLA Chair Prof. Yongxing Jin met with Mr. Kitack
Lim, IMO Secretary General

Association’s constitution was adopted.
Here its aim is clearly stated: “to promote
contact and cooperation between Maritime
Lecturers of all disciplines and to develop
a body of professional expertise”. It
attempts to fulfill at its regular international
conferences and through this portal.
Membership of IMLA is primarily on an
individual basis. Currently there are morethan 200 members from over 50 countries.
There are no formal qualifications required
for membership of the Association, which
is open to all persons working as Maritime
Lecturers, and to others, at the discretion of
the Committee.
IMLA is managed on behalf of its
members by a Committee of electedvolunteers, five of whom act as Honorary
Officers, namely the Chairperson, the Vice
Chairperson, the Secretary, the Treasurer
and the Papers and Activities Chairperson.
The Association is now chaired by Prof.
Yongxing Jin, from the Shanghai Maritime
University. As the primary decision-making
body of IMLA, the Committee meets on aregular basis each year to discuss and address
relevant matters and issues concerning the
Association.
In order for IMLA to become more
effective and more representative, a dedicatedsecretariat office - the IMLA Shanghai
Center - was established in 2013, utilizing
the external resources of the Shanghai
Municipal Government. Legally registeredwith the Shanghai municipal government,
the IMLA Secretariat is committed to day2

to-day operation and coordination of various
IMLA activities.

2. Special Interest Groups

From the outset, the Association
recognized that Special Interest Groups
are a feature of MET and as a result, hasestablished three Sub-Committees tooperate under the IMLA umbrella:International• The
Navigation
Simulator Lecturers Conference(INSLC), established in 1980.
• The International Conference on
Engine Room Simulators (ICERS),
established in 1993.
• The International Maritime English
Conference (IMEC), established in
1981

3. IMLA Annual Conferences

IMLA and its three Special Interest
Conferences, INSLC, ICERS, and IMEC,
hold regular international events including
academic& scientific conferences locallyorganized by maritime education andtraining institutions throughout the world.
IMLA MET Conferences Locations
IMLA 1, 1980: Amsterdam, Netherlands
IMLA 2, 1982: Bremen, Germany
IMLA 3, 1984: Malmö, Sweden
IMLA 4, 1986: Kotka, Finland
IMLA 5, 1988: Sydney, Canada
IMLA 6, 1990: Bremen, Germany
IMLA 7, 1992: Kings Point, US
IMLA 8, 1994: Lisbon, Portugal

IMLA 9, 1996: Kobé, Japan
IMLA 10, 1998: Saint Malo, France
IMLA 11, 2000: Malmö, Sweden
IMLA 12, 2002: Shanghai, China
IMLA 13, 2004: Saint Petersburg, Russia
IMLA 14, 2006: Marseille, France
IMLA 15, 2007: Port of Spain, Trinidad &TobagoIMLA 16, 2008: Izmir, Turkey
IMLA 17, 2009: Accra, Ghana
IMLA 18, 2010: Shanghai, China
IMLA 19, 2011: Opatija, Croatia
IMLA 20, 2012: Terschelling, Netherlands
IMLA 21, 2013: St. John’s, Canada
IMLA 22, 2014: Xiamen, China
IMLA 23, 2015: Durban, South Africa
IMLA 24, 2016: Galveston, US
IMLA 25, 2018: Manila, Philippines
IMLA 26, 2019: Batumi, Georgia
IMLA 27, 2021: Malmö, Sweden
The next IMLA Conference – the IMLA
27, hosted by the World Maritime University,
will bring together, for the first time, theIMLA with all three of its Special Interest
Groups: INSLC, ICERS, and IMEC. In
the light of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, IMLA 2020 Joint Conference will
be postponed to 2021. Information including
a new date for the Conference, as well as a
new deadline for papers, will be made ingood time, to allow participants to makeappropriate arrangements. IMLA wishes
participants will join us for this important
event that will take place at WMU in 2021.

4. IMLA at IMOIMLA was accredited with Nongovernmental
Organization(NGO)
Consultative Status in 1993 by UN
specialised agency, the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), being recognized as aninternational organization representing theacademic and educational aspects in general,and lecturers in particular of the global
maritime community. As an NGO, IMLA
contributes its views on various IMO agenda
items as academic association in meetings as
circumstances allow. Among others, IMLA
has contributed significantly to the revisionand update of various IMO Model Courses.

Prof. Wei Ruan (China, 1999 / IMLA Member), Prof. Yongxing Jin (IMLA Chair),Prof. Clive Cole (Secretary of IMLA) at the IMO Meeting

annual Maritime Instructors Training
Course with sponsorship from the Shanghai
Municipal People’s Government andresources provided by the Shanghai Maritime
University. The three-week Training Course
covered a wide range of topics related tomaritime education and training in thecontext of new maritime technologies andupdated international regulations that may
impact MET. It has benefited maritime
lecturers from Cambodia, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Egypt, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine.
2) IMLA “HOLAS for SOLAS” Photo
ExhibitTo introduce to the general public thetraining and daily lives of cadets at sea
and in maritime institutions, IMLA joined
hands with the Japan Seafarers Group onorganizing a photo exhibition on the themeof “HOLAS for SOLAS” in many different
places of the world including the IMO
Headquarters in London. Photographs
contributed by IMLA at this exhibit werecollected from maritime institutions ofall different parts of the world. “HOLAS(Happiness of Life at Sea) for SOLAS” is a
travelling exhibition to honor and recognize

the invaluable contribution of seafarers andthe maritime education and training being
provided to the world maritime community.
3) A Song Dedicated to IMO’s 100th
Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 100)
The 100th Session of Maritime Safety
Committee (MSC 100) of the IMO washeld in London on December 3-7, 2018.
To commemorate the 100th meeting of
the Council on Maritime Security, theIMO held a special celebration during themeeting. “For a Better Future” a song written
by IMLA opened the festivities with arendition of the IMO assembly hall.
4) Response to the Day of the Seafarers
To celebrate the International Day
of Seafarers and honor seafarers for the
dedication and professionalism they
have displayed over the course of thepandemic, IMLA joined the round table
online discussion on “Seafarers Day 2020
– Challenges and New Opportunities”
which was organized by Batumi Navigation
Teaching University on June 25, 2020, to
discuss the challenges and new opportunities
facing the maritime sector.

5. Extensive IMLA Activities

1) IMLA Maritime Instructors Training
CourseFrom 2018 to 2019, IMLA organized

The song written by IMLA was presented at IMO MSC 100

3

Cape Town Agreement – The way toward global safety forfishermen and fishing vessels
Yasuhiro Urano(Japan, 2012)> Administration may exempt engaged solely in
its exclusive economic zone (EEZ);> Gross tonnage (300 GT) can be used as anapplication criterion equivalent to length (24m); and> The Agreement gives countries time to prepare
for the implementation of the provisions of theProtocol.
The Agreement will enter into force 12 months
after at least 22 States, the aggregate number ofwhose fishing vessels of 24 m in length and over
operating on the high seas is not less than 3,600, haveexpressed their consent to be bound by it. To date, 14
countries with total 1,433 fishing vessels have ratified
the Agreement.
The Agreement outlines requirements for vessel
construction, equipment, stability, machinery,electrical installations, fire protection and firefighting,life-saving
appliances,emergency
procedures, safety training, radio communications aswell as navigational equipment.

their determination to: “take action so that the entryinto-force criteria of the Agreement are met by thetarget date of 11 October 2022, the tenth anniversaryof its adoption”; “promote the Agreement,
recognizing that the ultimate effectiveness of the
instrument depends upon the widespread support ofStates, in their capacities as flag States, port States
and coastal States”; and “denounce the proliferationof IUU fishing, recognizing that international safety
standards for fishing vessels will provide port Stateswith a mandatory instrument to carry out safety
inspections of fishing vessels, thereby increasing
control and transparency of fishing activities”.

Safety for fishermen and fishing vessels –common goal for UN organs
In the world fishing industries, it is estimated thatthousands of fishermen lose their lives every year.As thesafety of fishermen and fishing vessels is a significant
and common goal which the United Nations must
The way forwardpursue, the Food and Agriculture Organization ofMember States that have signed the Declaration
the United Nations (FAO), the International Labour
includes 35 non-Parties to the Agreement theOrganization (ILO) and the International Maritime
estimated aggregate number of whose fishing vessels
Organization (IMO) have been working together
is over 2,700. This means that the conditions for thesince 1962. They have collaboratively developed nonentry into force of the Agreement will be met by 11
mandatory instruments such as the Code of Safety
October 2022 (approximately 50 States and morefor Fishermen and Fishing Vessels, 2005 and thethan 5,000 fishing vessels) if these non-Parties have
Voluntary Guidelines for the design, construction
Ministerial Conference on Fishing Vessel Safety successfully ratified the Agreement as they declared.
and equipment of small fishing vessels, 2005.
and IUU Fishing – Torremolinos Declaration, Therefore, it is highly possible that the Agreement
Torremolinos Convention and Protocol – strong wind toward the entry into force of the will finally enter into force within the year 2023 as
the IMO Secretariat expected at the 31st session of
Agreementinternational mandatory regime
As the number of Parties to the Agreement and the Assembly (A 31).
With a view to promoting the safety of fishing
In order to realize such an expectation, nonvessels, IMO has adopted the Torremolinos the aggregate number of their fishing vessels are
International Convention for the Safety of Fishing still not sufficient for its early entry into force, the Parties to the Agreement including my country
Vessels, 1977 and the Torremolinos Protocol of Ministerial Conference on Fishing Vessel Safety ( Japan) should endeavor to accelerate their
1993 relating to the Torremolinos International and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) preparation such as modifications to national
Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977. Fishing was held in Torremolinos, Spain from 21 systems and rules as well as coordination with the
However, both of the Convention and the Protocol to 23 October 2019 to promote ratification of the fishing industry to ratify the Agreement, if necessary,are not yet in force due to some problems in their Agreement (I attended the Conference as a delegate receiving a technical assistance from IMO and/or
practicability for major fishing countries in Asia such of Japan). The Conference was co-hosted by IMO Parties to the Agreement.
I sincerely hope that the entry into force of theas Japan as well as their entry into force requirements. and the Government of Spain, in support of the FAO
Agreement along this scenario and its world-wide
The Convention includes requirements for and The Pew Charitable Trusts.
The most significant outcome of the Conference is implementation by member States will achieve
construction and operation of fishing vessels which
are mainly based on national rules and practices in the Torremolinos Declaration. Forty-eight countries global safety for fishermen and fishing vessels in
the United States and European countries. These have signed the Declaration which publicly indicates near future.
requirements are not practicable for Asian countries
which have different practices of fishing vessels’construction and operation. Although some ofthe problems in practicability were resolved by the
adoption of the Protocol, there is still a high bar toachieve its entry-into-force, i.e. the requirement for
the aggregate number of fishing vessels (14,000) of
24 m in length and over in Parties to the Protocol.
Currently, 17 countries have ratified the Protocol,
Presentation on IMO’s work on the safety of fishing vessels by Ms. Sandra Rita Allnutt (Brazil,
aggregating about 3,000 fishing vessels.
Cape Town Agreement – accelerating the entry
into force of the provisions of the Protocol
In order to facilitate the entry into force ofthe provisions of the Protocol, the Cape Town
Agreement of 2012 on the Implementation of
the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 relating to theTorremolinos International Convention for the
Safety of Fishing Vessels, 1977 was adopted inCape Town, South Africa in 11 October 2012. The
Agreement significantly reduced the number offishing vessels required for the entry into force of theprovisions of the Protocol, and simplified acceptanceprocedure for those party to the Protocol. In addition,
the following major improvements have been madeto the Protocol by the Agreement:

1999), Head, Marine Technology and GBS, Maritime Safety Division, IMO(Photos from https://www.flickr.com/photos/imo-un/)

IMO’s expected timeline for the entry into force of the Agreement (document A 31/10/3, annex 4)4

Service in the New Normal:
Through the Eyes of a Sasakawa Frontliner“The bedrock of change is education and its reach so herculean…
For we are empowered as much as we empower many…
We benefit when we see and help others thrive and prosper…
We build because we incessantly choose to create something beyond ourselves…”

Capt. Christine Pauline Berganõ Diciano(Philippines, 2015)

Cay, PCG (2010) as Deputy Chief of Coast Guard
Staff for Human Resource Management andCommander of Gender and Development, Capt.
Ivan E Roldan, PCG (2011) from Surface Support
Force, and Capt. Weniel A Azcuna, PCG (2012)as Philippine Maritime Attache in London, United
Kingdom.

I am deeply humbled to be the recipient of thescholarship program for Postgraduate in Maritime
Affairs on Maritime Education and Training with
Organizational Leadership (MEOL) at the World
Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden
for SY 2014-2015. Six years after such life-changing
experience, the Sasakawa spirit stands strong and willcontinue to be.
The Fellowship has afforded me a deeper
perspective of life in the public service. For the past
five months, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
has taken its unprecedented and crucial role in the“whole-of-nation” approach against the COVID-19.
With more than 144,000 cases in the first week ofAugust 2020, such uncertainty has reminded not only
this nation but the world to muster enough courage,
to look beyond our own selves, set our priorities andput into action the needed viable solutions for thosewhom we call to serve.
The PCG, through the leadership of our
Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr,
PCG (WMU Sasakawa Fellow, 1999), ensures theongoing implementation of the PCG Task Force
Bayanihan Returning Overseas Filipinos (TFBROF)
nationwide. Among its operations include theassistance to returning overseas Filipinos to and fromacross the globe, management of efficient transportof Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) to and from
Luzon to various provinces, the performance ofadditional health and safety airport operations at
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and the
expansion of a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) in Bataan. The
establishment of the OSS is in response to the Joint
Circular on the establishment of the Philippine Green
Lane to facilitate the speedy and safe travel of seafarers
during disembarkation and crew change. Apart fromthe continuous procurement of emergency response
items, the construction of PCG’s very own quarantine
facility that can accommodate up to 224 PCG
frontline personnel is on its way. The PCG continues
the conduct of RT-PCR tests, provides personnel
on the administration and security of various
accommodation spaces and quarantine facilities aswell as the transport of persons and much needed
medical supplies or equipment notwithstanding its

mandates on Maritime Law Enforcement and Border
Management, Safety, Humanitarian Assistance andDisaster Response, respectively.
The men and women serving the frontlines
continuously thrive and learn from the bestpractices of countries in the region. Building fromJapan’s security strategies of “Free and Open IndoPacific”, the critical role of cooperation between theinternational community to maintain stability in theregion has transcended not just of security but inhumanitarian efforts. In the Philippines’ battle against
the COVID-19, Japan’s grant aid has supported
state-of-the-art medical equipment including
laboratory surveillance sites across the country toaugment health sector’s capacity to even address otheremerging or re-emerging diseases in the future.
During these uncertain times, I have learned toembrace such adversity as an opportunity to serve
better. Just like every frontline personnel, being
away from our families for months is never easy but
I take resilience from God’s providence and from thehumble works of many Sasakawa Fellows before me
like RADM Eduardo D Fabricante, PCG (2001)
as Commander of nationwide TFBROF, RADM
Rolando Lizor Jr N Punzalan, PCG (2002) as PCG
Chief of Staff, Commo. Allan Victor T Dela Vega,
PCG (2004) as Commander of Task Group Seaport,
Capt. Fedelyn A Santos, PCG (2008) as Commander
of Coast Guard Legislative Liaison Affairs, Capt.
Roben N De Guzman, PCG (2009) as Commander
TFBROF Command Center, Capt. Vivien Jane E

5

In my capacity
as Commander of
Task Group Resource
Management, Logistics
and Administration, as
Deputy Commander of
Coast Guard Logistics
Systems Command, and as Acting Commander of
Coast Guard Procurement Service, the team ensuresthat regular and emergency procurement activities
conform with the prescribed rules and regulations forthe modernization, standardization and promotion ofgood governance. As Pilot for PCG Britten Norman
Islander aircrafts, my team is entrusted with thetransport of much needed PPEs and medical supplies
for our countrymen. With the leadership of Coast
Guard Aviation Force Commander, Capt. Philipps
Y Soria, PCG, the longest engine time enroute ofmore than 20 hours in a maiden flight of all-female
pilot (for supplies to the farthest areas of Zamboanga,
Basilan, Jolo and Tawi-Tawi) inked another history
in PCG aviation. I also thank my husband, CDR
Euphraim Jayson H Diciano, PCG, for his prayers inmy flight missions and to his contribution in pursuinga quarantine area in the most remote island of Sangay
Siapu while being entrusted to maintain the safety
and security of borders in Southern Philippines.
In all these, there is so much in the PCG solidaritythat meets the eye. Knowing that we should keepsuch faith and give such hope, our efforts remain
dynamic and inclusive. With my brothers and sisters
around the world, I enjoin your hearts’ strength, thepersistence of having the right attitude, the power ofyour purpose and the sincerity in aspiring for altruistic
actions so that the Sasakawa legacy truly lives on!

WMU Alumni Association and
Evolution of Myanmar Maritime Industry

Capt. Kyaw Zeya
(Myanmar, 1996)

Every educational institution has an alumni
association, formal or not. It can create businessconnections, organize reunions, and serve as faultlesspatterns of the kind of people that their institution
generates. Alumni associations provide long-termvalue to an education institution by giving alumni
the chance to stay in contact and continue to learn
from each other after their graduation.
In our beautiful Golden Land, Myanmar, agreat ceremony: the first “WMU Regional Alumni
Conference”; was held in early 2015. In thisConference, Department of Marine Administration(DMA) and the WMU signed a Memorandumof Understanding (MoU) regarding maritime
education and training, safety, security, navigational
technologies as well as environmental management
and to enhance educational opportunities. To thisend, we launched the Executive & Professional
Development Courses (EPDCs) to meet thechallenges of a fast-changing industry. In addition,
the main objective of this MoU is to advance thedelivery of WMU’s e-education so as to encourage
outreach programs for alumni and MET institutions
in a global context especially for Myanmar shipping
industry. Firstly, the training Course for Maritime
Instructors (Based on IMO Model Course 6.09)
was started on 04-08 May, 2015. The second training
course was for Simulator Training and Assessment(Based on IMO Model Course 6.10) which
carried out on 15-20 November, 2015. Lastly, theAssessment and Certification of Seafarers (Basedon IMO Model Course 3.12) was conducted on
05-09 September 2016.
In this day and age, maritime transportation is an
essential component for the international shipping
industry to be safe, secure and efficient. With thisin mind, a concept of a Sustainable Maritime
Transportation System in keeping with global
efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) was developed by the IMO. Within thiscomprehensive framework and a new approach to
the delivery of technical assistance with the WMU,
the IMO introduced the concept of providing
assistance and guiding decisions in the maritime
transport sector to its Member States. As a result,in the formulation and development of national
maritime transport policies (NMTPs), ensuring thatthe sector is governed in an efficient, sustainable,
safe and environmentally sound manner, which
conducted in Myanmar on October 2018.
Through cooperation with the IMO, European
Union and MTCC-Asia, IMO Global Sulphur
Cap 2020 was conducted in Myanmar with theprofessors from WMU in January 2020. In addition,
the workshop was organized reunion among WMU
professors and graduates. IMO’s new Global
Sulphur Cap will be effective for bringing enormous
public health and environmental benefits, provided
full compliance in the future.
As an international institution, the WMU has
graduated 5,156 alumni from 170 countries since
its establishment in 1983 by the IMO. WMU has
created a global network of leaders in the maritime
and oceans sectors and its alumni hold positionsof prominence around the world such as seniormaritime officials in ministries, directors of shipping
companies and ports, heads of maritime academies
and naval organizations, and many represent theirhome countries at IMO and other international
forums and organizations. Myanmar started tojoin WMU since 1989 and total 55 of alumni
have already graduated. There was 18 females and37 males out of 55 alumni. Our alumni have been
serving across the sectors with competent andprofessionalism in their service to occupy critical
positions which include government ministry, port
administrators, academics, civil society leaders andindustry leaders.
WMU alumni are the people who are managing
the world’s maritime activities day by day, ensuring

6“safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans”.
Moreover, WMU alumni comprise a unique andpowerful global network that is strengthened by the
relationships fostered between alumni while also
further encouraging invaluable relationship building
them. Consequently, it is an important educationaland network-building to get the opportunities andto share the knowledge with partner countries inmaritime cluster around the world. Therefore,
WMU encourages establishments of the WMUnational and regional alumni associations acrossthe countries in every region to further strengthen
the global networks for enhancing the capacity
building both nationally and regionally. As aresult, the executive committee of WMU Alumni
Association-Myanmar was established on 26
January 2020. The executive committee consistsof the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Joint
Secretary 1 and 2, and Treasurer, as well as threepatrons. Recently, the association waits for an
official launching ceremony, because of the global
current COVID-19 outbreak.
In face of the COVID-19 outbreak, we recognizethat our solidarity and the spirit of a cohesive andresponsive maritime community is very important
to ensure safe, secure and sustainable shipping
on clean oceans. We will continue to collaborate
regarding the relevant current and future work plans,
technical cooperation and activities for ensuring
peaceful, safe living environment for people, andthe sustainable growth of IMO Member States andthe region. We believe WMU Alumni Associations
will be a global network of maritime experts withthe requisite knowledge to support governments
and organizations worldwide for effective
implementation of the IMO Conventions as wellas the SDGs.

From a Host Family:
As a bridge between the Swedish society and WMU students
Birgit and Stefan Josefson
Host family, Malmö
We are a Swedish couple living in thesouthern part of our country, just a few miles
from the World Maritime University in Malmö.
The students there spend a little more than
one year in Malmö, where they live and learn
together with classmates from all over the world.
It can, however, be hard for international
students to make contact with Swedish people
to learn their culture and traditions. When wewere asked if we wanted to be a host family forsome students, we immediately said “Yes!”
Our first students came from Greece and
Kenya. Although it is now six years since we firstmet them, we still keep in contact with themand most of the other WMU students we havehosted from all over the world.
What is our aim as a host family? First ofall, we want to welcome our students into ourhome, eat some traditional Swedish dishes withthem, and tell them about Swedish living, but
we also want to help them with all the different
questions they might have about food, climate,customs, transport, etc.
We cook, make Christmas cakes, visit
Lucia, have barbeque parties, and play games
together—we have so much fun with them!
We also find it important to tell the students
about Swedish society: the elderly care systemand the school system providing free nutritious
school meals, systems that are unique in theworld. We have had so many interesting
discussions with our students about politics,
religion, labor systems, etc. Hosting gives us somuch in exchange!
Being a host family is truly a win-win
situation, and we can sincerely recommend all
who are interested to take this opportunity toexperience hosting a student from a foreigncountry!

In a big family of the Sasakawa Fellows-My update after graduating WMUEdwynn Alejandro Raxón Herrera
Lieutenant Commander, Guatemalan Navy
(Guatemala, 2015)

Hello, everyone. I was a member of the
WMU Class of 2015, and my specialization was
Maritime Education and Training (MET). I am
glad to work and collaborate with my WMU
friends as part of a big family within the maritime
community as a WMU Sasakawa Fellow.
The knowledge I gained at WMU helped
me to grow as a person, as well as a professional.
I worked on drafts of laws and maritime
regulations related to IMO conventions for
ensuring safety and security, environmental
protection, and efficiency in the maritime
industry as part of the activities of the Maritime
Authority of Guatemala.
In 2019, as a maritime expert I took partin the Guatemalan delegation to the United
Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea on
the 25th anniversary of the Convention entering
into force. The conference was held at the UN
Headquarters in New York. On that occasion,WMU President Dr. Cleopatra DoumbiaHenry and Prof. Ronan Long lent their great
experience to a presentation on the work of the
IMO and WMU with regard to gender equality.

In October of the same year, Guatemala
took part in the mandatory IMO audit
scheme, and I was in charge of the Maritime
Security Directorate. It was a huge challenge
for Guatemala, but also a huge opportunity
for me because I gained a lot of experience
accompanying the auditors during this process.
Currently, I am Commander of a logistic
vessel named 1601-Quetzal — the biggest
logistic vessel in Guatemala — which operates
in Guatemala’s territorial sea and exclusive
economic zone, protecting and preserving
the marine environment, supervising the7

enforcement of laws and regulations, andguarding against armed robbery, piracy, drug
smuggling, and other illegal activities.
The World Maritime University, the Nippon
Foundation, and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
gave me the opportunity to meet maritime
experts from around the world. Certainly, my
WMU friends are friends for life, and the mostprecious gift I received was their friendship—
the valuable support that they have all given me
for developing Guatemala’s capabilities in themaritime sector.
This is my personal update as a memberof the Class of 2015. I hope all the WMU
Sasakawa Fellows remember: “Alone we can doso little; together we can do so much.” (Helen
Keller) I am certain that we can contribute to
the creation of a better world as one big family.

Receiving a “Government Officer Award”
Surasak Changjul

Government Ship Surveyor / Port State Conrol Officer(Thailand, 2015)

Greetings from my family to all Sasakawa Fellows!
I hope you have been staying safe from COVID-19.
In my present occupation, my title is Government
Ship Surveyor and Port State Control Officer
in Pattaya City and Laem Chabang Port, whichis the biggest international port in Thailand. In
Pattaya City, my mission is to survey all domestic
passenger vessels and fishing vessels. This work ischallenging for me because I need to consider bothThai laws and international conventions in order tosuccessfully
fulfill
my responsibilities.
As we know, humanerror is the maincause of maritime
causalities. Thus, I
am enlightening shipowners, crews, and fisherman about my idea that
“Safety awareness is the first priority”.
Every quarter, we invite all stakeholders in
the maritime field to a “Pattaya Sea Area Safety
Meeting” where we give lectures on how to learn
from various past accidents. Many theories that I
learned at the WMU have proven to be very useful.
As a result, there have been no accidents in this area
since 2016.
Every year, each Ministry chooses government
officers from different departments to receive a“Government Officer Award”. I was fortunate andhonoured to be conferred this Award by the Prime
Minister for gaining knowledge and experienceat the WMU and successfully applying theseto maritime safety in the Pattaya sea area. It is atreasured memory in my life.

A Great COVID-19 Fighter:
The Late Mohammad Sabrul Islam Sunny(Falling of a shining star from the Sasakawa Fellows’ sky)Mohammad Islam Sabrul(Bangladesh, 2003)

Khalid Mahmud

CEO, Bangladesh Marine Academy(Bangladesh, 2007)

It was a spring morning when I first met Mr. Sabrul Islam in December
2000 in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Displaying a smart, attractive manner, he
was reticent, but cordially discussed the activities of Dr. Yohei Sasakawa
and the Nippon Foundation.
Beginning his career in 1992 at the Western Marine Shipyard,
Chittagong, Mr. Sabrul Islam subsequently joined the Bangladesh
Shipping Corporation under Bangladesh’s Shipping Ministry as theManager. Meanwhile, he received a prestigious Sasakawa Scholarshipto study at the WMU for an MSc in SM degree (2002–2003). Aftercompleting his MSc, he moved to Skagas, Stockholm, with a view toenhancing knowledge in shipping sectors. Simultaneously, he became atranslator for Semantix in Stockholm, later becoming a Senior Shipping

Hi! I am Marika Nishimuro of Japan Ship Technology Research
Association ( JSTRA) and have joined the Newsletter’s editorial teamrecently. While my career in the maritime sector is relatively short,
I will do my best to share new information and views from different
perspectives with you. I hope my experience in the fields of climatechange, energy, autonomous vessels, air navigation services, etc. could
add something valuable to the Newsletters.
Facing the physical and emotional distance due to the COVID-19
and other social divides in the world, I believe that a sense of unityand solidarity are of help for us to look on the bright side of life

Consultant at WMU in February 2009.
Mr. Sabrul Islam was blessed with a wonderful wife, Sirajee, and threesons: Wasif, Sou, and Soumik. One of his sons has a handicap, which led
Mr. Islam to work for humanity. He started volunteering at an old people’s
home in Stockholm, quoting Dr. Sasakawa’s famous words: “One World,
One Family…”
Unfortunately, the global COVID-19 pandemic challenged him on 17
April. However our beloved, valiant Sabrul did not bow down, fighting
heroically until 28 April. The next morning, he breathed his last ataround 9 am in Stockholm. I spoke with his friendly elder brother, Lt.
Colonel Robiul Islam, and Mr. Ashraful Alam to express my sadness. The
family was deeply grieved. Mrs. Sufia, his mother, spoke about how hishumanitarian activities had been inspired by Dr. Sasakawa’s life, although
she did not know specific details.

and move forward. In this regard, the network of WMU alumni and
Sasakawa Fellows may provide some support. Please take advantageof this network and stay connected with people all over the world inthis valuable community. I am really happy to support it indirectly bydeveloping and strengthening the network via this Newsletter.
To close, I would like to express my gratitude to those who contributeto this edition and wish you and your loved one stay safe and healthy.
Marika Nishimuro
Japan Ship Technology Research Association (JSTRA)This newsletter is published under a grant from The Nippon Foundation

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