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

MARCH

2009

The Commemorative Event of IMO's 60th Anniversary
IMO’s 60 years and Future - The Asian Perspective -It

was an absolutely fine day in late October when a ship naming
ceremony for two newly built Greek AFRAMAX tankers took
place at a shipyard in Yokosuka, Japan with Mr. Mitropoulos IMO Secretary General - as a witness. The ships were built for a Greek
company, and he was invited to the ceremony with his wife, Mrs.
Chantal e Mitropoulos, who christened one of the vessels.
I was privileged to accompany them and joined the ceremony at oneof Japan's and the world’s biggest shipbuilding companies, SHI. The
ceremony was followed by an “open ship”, which is always fun.
Surprisingly, the ship was to sail at 15:30 that day. Bon voyage!
Another purpose of his visit to Japan was to attend a commemorative event held by the Japanese Government (Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism), celebrating the 60th Anniversary of IMO.
The event consisted of 2 main programs, one a keynote speech by
Mr. Mitropoulos, and the other a panel discussion by maritime experts
in the Asian region.
In his speech, Mr. Mitropoulos discussed
three current topics that all maritime
countries should be cocerned with.
The panel discussion was chaired by Mr.
Sekimizu, Director of the Maritime Safety
Division of IMO, and began with presentations by experts from various sectors in themaritime field. Participants were frommaritime administrations of China, South
Korea, the Philippines, Singapore andJapan, the Japanese shipowners' associa-

Yasko Suzuki(Japan, 2003)

tion, and the shipbuilders' association of Japan. At the presentation,
speakers emphasized the importance of Asian countries in the maritime
world indicating their dominance in maritime fields - in shipbuilding,cargo handling, shipping companies, etc.
Following the presentations, they discussed the three topics
suggested by Mr. Sekimizu; “Is IMO efficient enough to contribute to
the maritime world?”, “What are the future challenges of IMO” and“How Asian countries support IMO's activities.”
At the discussion, one participant suggested having regular meetings
within the Asian region to exchange opinions and others agreed.
Another continued that even during IMO meetings, having informal
dialogs would be very valuable. Mr. Sekimizu guaranteed that after its
renovation, the IMO building will have plenty of rooms which can beused for such purposes.
The discussion concluded successfully, confirming the willingness tohave channels of communication among Asian countries.
It was amazing to witness this first big step in bonding, andpersonally, I hope that in the very near future, the AU (Asian Union)
will be as strong as the European Union - initiated by this memorable event.
Following the discussion came the reception party, which is always
fun and a good place to make new ties with other WMU graduates. I
met Mr. Ning (China, 1993) and Mr. Zhang (China, 1999) for the firsttime, who had came to Japan to join this event. The picture aboveshows Mr. and Mrs. Mitropoulos, Mr. Sekimizu and us WMU
graduates fortunate to attend the ceremony. It’s a great honor being apart of the IMO family.

Abyssal Challenges: Expectations from WMU Graduates

Dr. Prabhakaran Paleri
Visiting Fellow (June to November 2008), OPRF
Former Director General, Indian Coast Guard

The World Maritime University has been a trendsetter in the
education of maritime administration and environment since its
inception in 1983 under the aegis of IMO. Throughout theperiod it followed the principles of IMO to educate students
from all over the world for “safe, secure and efficient shipping on
clean oceans.” IMO on the other hand has been busy setting up
new standards for the shipping industry. It is celebrating its 60th
anniversary with fond memories of past achievements. It was apleasure to listen to Mr. Efthimios Mitropoulos, who spoke inthe most relaxed manner at the meeting organised by the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ofJapan to commemorate the 60th anniversary of IMO at The
Nippon Foundation in Tokyo. There were also graduates of theWorld Maritime University, all of them Sasakawa Fellows, inrapt attention among the audience. The confidence of IMO andthe principles for which it stands were reflected in the Secretary
General's speech. He emphasised its activities and concluded thatthe only standardisation perhaps left was for breaking thechampagne bottle on the ship’s bow while launching it bygracious ladies. I agree with him. I have seen IMO functioning
on various occasions. I was privileged to represent the Government of India as a delegate from the Indian Coast Guard. IMO isan establishment par excellence and the greatest hope for the
maritime community. It has the credentials to face the challengesof the future.
WMU has been accredited by the performance of its students
who have gone through its doors with excellent academic
experience in maritime affairs related to administration and theenvironment, all forwhich IMO stands. They
are highly qualified
specialists available to
the world to resolve
global maritime issues
and problems related toshipping and the environment. They are scatteredin many countries andcan turn into a great force in support of their governments if
utilised effectively. The Nippon Foundation has been nurturingthem.
The maritime world has always been associated with the perilsof the sea not only restricted to the forces of nature. The sea has
been a place for many unlawful activities and conflicts. The
marine environment is seriously damaged by pollution andoverexploitation of its living resources. Some of these issues areoutside the mandate of IMO. There are other international
bodies like the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to

Friends of WMU JAPAN

2

handle them. While IMO could handle pollution of the marine
environment by ship sources, the problem of pollution fromland-based sources has to be seen by the respective governments.
Together, the international community through their respective
governments will be able to handle these issues if the will is there.
It is in this respect that the graduates of the World Maritime
University have important roles to play through their respective
organisations. These experts are the effective links in the chainthat could lead the world towards secure, safe and clean oceans,
not only for shipping but for many other activities, with rights
and jurisdiction under the Law of the Sea provided by UNCLOS.
Under the competent management of IMO, marine pollution
by vessel casualties could become a thing of the past. However,biopollution by marine organisms transported by ships’ ballast
water to alien environments has become a serious problem,
although it is more than a century since it was first reported. It
came to the notice of IMO in 1988, and since then considerable
headway has been made. But there is still no conclusive solution.
The problem with biopollution by alien marine organisms thatturn into predators or carriers of diseases in their new environment is that they cannot be removed once they are transferred.
The only solution is preventing the transfer. The subject needs
serious studies in ship design and transportation to resolve theissue. In the interim the ships could follow the guidelines of IMO
and its ballast water management (BWM) regime.
Marine casualties where human lives are involved will risewith the increase in vessel operations not only limited tomerchant ships. According to one study it is estimated that theworld's most dangerous profession is that of a marine fisher man.
The death toll is around 111.8 per 100,000. This may not be
totally accurate, and there could be many other risky jobs. But
the fact is that fishermen often get caught in adverse conditionsat sea. The coast guards of the world and other similar organisations are extending help to those in distress at sea. But that is not
sufficient. Search and rescue areas at sea have been globally
allocated but many nations are yet to notify their areas throughbilateral agreements and understanding. It also becomes aproblem when there are maritime disputes between states. In
such areas often help may not be forthcoming when vessels meetwith distress. Often these vessels belong to fishermen in search offish stock to harvest. The situation becomes worse when alittoral State cannot reach out to those in distress.
There are many such grey areas at sea that IMO cannot reacheither by absence of mandate or without the support of local
governments. These are the areas the graduates of the World
Maritime University can examine to provide advice to theirgovernments with inbuilt motivation to get things done. The
problems faced by the maritime world are not in shipping alone.

There are many other faculties that may also affect shipping.
Unlawful activities, disasters at sea causing damage to life andproperty, illegal research, maritime border disputes, etc., are afew. The World Maritime University could enlarge its field of
education in these areas, too, to broaden the outlook of its
students for a more proactive approach. They could make theirnations aware of the problems through their respective organisations and provide practical support in implementation of suppressive measures and regulatory regimes. The ocean has to be seen
as a single entity to collectively and proactively make it safe,
secure and clean. IMO, WMU and its graduates, along with theirgovernments, could achieve this collectively. I am sure it will havethe full support of The Nippon Foundation.

Maritime Security under the Microscope
ABE Ake Lazare (Côte d'Ivoire, 2009)

The 7th session of the “International Symposium on Selected
Issues in Maritime Security” was held November 10-12, 2008
in Malmö, Sweden, hosted by the World Maritime University(WMU) and jointly sponsored by the Swedish Maritime
Administration and the German Federal Ministry of Transport,
Building, and Urban Affairs. This symposium, which wasattended by international experts in maritime security and thestudents from WMU and Lund University, aimed at addressing
current issues in maritime security, specifically piracy, terrorism
and illegal trafficking, and analysing the efficiency of thesolutions implemented so far.
The Symposium started the first day, on November 10th,
with welcome remarks delivered by Prof. Proshanto K.
Mukherjee, Vice President (Research), ITF Professor of
Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection, and Directorof Doctoral Programmes at World Maritime University. He
was followed by Dr. Marie Jacobsson, Principal Legal Adviser
on International Law of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, invited to deliver the keynote address, which emphasized the necessary link between maritime security and humanrights. Then came three other speakers, Mr. Pottengal Mukundan, Director of ICC-International Maritime Bureau; Henri
Fouche, Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology inSouth Africa; and Uwe Jenisch, Honorary Professor of International Law of the Sea, who addressed respectively the issues ofpiracy in the high risk areas of Somalia and Nigeria, and in allother countries of Africa as well; and analysed the adequate
responses needed concerning law enforcement and the legal
framework.
The schedule on the second day was very busy with six
presentations related to the prosecution of the Alondra

Friends of WMU JAPANRainbow hijackers, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on
Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia,
responsibility issues for asylum seekers in the Mediterranean,
problems concerning the implementation of Port State Control,
ISPS Code and Seafarers’ rights. This interesting series of topics
was respectively presented by Sir Venkiteswaran, Senior
Advocate in Mumbai, Mr. S. Menefee, Senior Associate,
Center for National Security Law in Virginia, G. Noll, Prof. ofInternational Law at Lund University, O. Özçayir, Assoc.
Professor, Maritime Law Consultant, D. Blanchard, Staff
Attorney, Seamen's Church Institute of New York and New
Jersey, and M. Wengelin, PhD Candidate at Lund University.
The pure security and human rights issues developed the
day before were followed on November 12th by two presentations regarding the relationship between security and shipping
activities, which dealt specifically with the impact of maritime
terrorism on supply chain management and marine insurance.
These were respectively given by Mr. Kofi Mbiah, Chief Executive of Ghana Shippers' Council and Hermes Marangos, Headof International, Davies Arnold Cooper LLP.
Both presentations were followed by a panel chaired by Mr.
Kofi Mbiah. The panel discussed two main points. The first
one related to the necessity for the international community tocome up with a definition of terrorism universally accepted,
taking into account different aspirations and regional specificities. The second dealt with the need to ensure a global
implementation of the existing legal framework related tosafety and security and to update it where necessary in order toefficiently address new challenges. The final address of the
Symposium was given by the Assistant Prof. Dr. Max Mejia, Jr.,
after having given thanks to all sponsors and participants.

3

Report of the Sub-Regional Meeting to Conclude Agreements on Maritime Security,
Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships off the Coast of Somalia and in
the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Meeting), Convened by the IMO
Taketsugu Shinobe
Director, International Shipping Division, Maritime Bureau,
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

A panoramic view of the meeting. (About 150 people attended.)

Held January 26-29, the Djibouti Meeting was attended by 16
countries from the maritime region around Somalia, as well as
the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The meeting
adopted a Code of Conduct Concerning the Repression of Piracy
and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean
and in the Gulf of Aden, and about half of the attending
countries signed the Code of Conduct at the meeting. Japan, theUnited States, the U.K. and other countries from outside theregion and several International organizations attended themeeting as observers.
The Code of Conduct designates focal points where thesignatory countries will gather information about piracy, andcalls for cooperation to prevent piracy, as well as the establishment of centers (in Yemen, Kenya and Tanzania) for sharing
information about piracy and a training center (in Djibouti).
Patterned after ReCAAP (the Regional Cooperation Agreement
on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia),these measures will serve to build a framework for regional
cooperation. IMO aims to conclude a regional agreement thathas binding force within two years.
At the meeting, Japan explained its internal efforts regardinganti-piracy measures. In addition, Japan provided financial
assistance for an IMO-sponsored workshop held at the sametime as the meeting. At the workshop, a presentation highlighted,
the framework for regional cooperation in Southeast Asia thatwas established under the leadership of Japan (ReCAAP) andJapan's other achievements in supporting improvements to that
region's capability of maritime law enforcement.
In the future, Japan can be expected to use its experience intackling anti-piracy measures in cooperation with Southeast
Asian countries to help to the efforts of countries around
Somalia to improve their capability of maritime law enforcement.

Courtesy call to Minister of Equipment and Transport Bahdon (center).
(The author is second from left. Mr. Shiga is at left. )Aids to Navigation Fund Underway:
Calling for Further Contributions by Stakeholders

The Nippon Foundation and the Round Table of International
Shipping Associations convened the International Symposium on
Safety and Protection of the Marine Environment in the Straits ofMalacca and Singapore, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November
24th, 2008. The purpose of the Symposium was to discuss thevarious contributions by stakeholders, including the shipping
industry, under the framework of the Co-operative Mechanism toensure safety and protection of the marine environment at the2007 IMO Singapore Meeting.
In the past, the cost of navigational safety in the Straits wasFriends of WMU JAPANTetsuo Kotani
Research Fellow
Ocean Policy Research Foundation

entirely covered by the three littoral states of Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia and The Nippon Foundation, which has been funding
navigational safety in the Straits for over 40 years. However, given
the fact that more than 90,000 ships yearly pass through the Straits
only in transit or without benefitting the littoral states, Chairman
Yohei Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation has called forvoluntary contributions under the concept of Corporate Social
Responsibility by all stakeholders, including the shipping industry,
to ensure sustainable safety and protection of the marine environment in the Straits.
At the Symposium, The Nippon Foundation pledged to contribute US$2.5 million to the Aids to Navigation Fund in early 2009,in accordance with its commitment to cover one third of the total
cost of the Fund for the first five years. Also, the Middle East
Navigational Aid Service (MENAS) pledged US$ one million and
the Japanese Shipowners' Association US$700,000.
Recognizing the strategic significance of the Straits for theregional and global economy and the importance of enhancing
safety and protection of the marine environment in the Straits, The
Nippon Foundation and the Round Table of International
Shipping Associations noted the need to continue the dialogue andagreed to strengthen their joint efforts to promote understanding
among the parties concerned.

4Building a Better Asia: FUTURE LEADERS RETREATM G S Kumara (Sri Lanka, 2007)

This program was held at Peking University, Beijing, from
October 26th to November 2nd, 2008, with the patronage of
The Nippon Foundation, the Asian Dialog Society and Peking
University, in the hopes of making Asia a better place foreveryone.
The Nippon Foundation and its affiliates (NFG) havepromoted this international conference, called Building a Better
Asia (BABA), as a new path-breaking activity aimed at nurturing Future leaders Asia. The NFG has been conducting humanresources development by implementing a wide variety of
programs over the past few decades. Producing almost 30,000
capable alumni across the globe, the BABA China retreat washeld to discuss various international issues such as Poverty,
Human Security, Sustainable Development, Common Security,
Globalization, Capacity Building and Efficient Governanceconcerning Asia. BABA India is also scheduled to be held in
February 2009 to conduct further discussions based on theagenda described above.

The third day’s session was “Leadership: The Challenges”,
chaired by Prof. Yonosuke Hara, Member, Academic Committee, BABA. There was a very interesting dialog with Dr. Surin
Pitsuwan, Secretary General, Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN). It also happened to be his birthday! In theafternoon our group has divided into four sub-groups and sent
to explore daily life in Beijing. The afternoon of the fourth dayof the retreat was a great day for everyone, as we visited
Olympic venues and the Great Wall, great examples of architectural masterpieces of the modern and ancient world. We saw a
Chinese cultural acrobatic show on the sixth day, which was
wonderful and very impressive.

Dr. Pranee Thiparat, Member, Academic Committeee, Mr.
Tay Kheng Soon, Principal Partner, Akitek Tengara,
Singapore/Malaysia, Mr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne
Founder/Chairman, Sewa Lanka Foundation, Sri Lanka, Ms.
Sri Nuryanti, Commissioner, Commission on Elections, Indonesia, Dr. Anupam Saraph, Chief Information Officer, Pune City,
Mr. Shuichi Ohno of The Nippon Foundation
Maharashtra, India, Mr. Hiru Bijlani, India, and Mr. Gordon
Twenty-one members from thirteen different Asian countries
Flake, Executive Director, The Maureen and Mike Mansfieldparticipated in this retreat. The first evening, after our arrival, Foundation, USA, were the other resource people in thiswe were given an official welcome dinner and orientation. The
program.
official opening program took place on the second day followThis was the 4th program in the series and was the first time
ing a photo session. After introductory remarks by Mr. M. members from the maritime sector were selected. Naoki Saito
Rajaretnam, Program Director, Building a Better Asia Retreat, (Japan, 2004) and I were the first members of this group
Mr. Takeju Ogata, President of The Nippon Foundation, andrepresenting the maritime sector and it was an honor to be inProf. Min Weifang, Chairman, University Council, Peking
such a program. Most of the group were unfamiliar with the
University, conveyed their welcome addresses. An Interactive
maritime field and were fascinated with it. Mr. Saito suggested
Session III entitled, “The Nippon
implementing a seafarer training program connected to theFoundation Group and Case
BABA program, which most members appreciated.
Studies of Global Philanthropy”
A BABA communiqué (Building a Better Asia - Communiqué)
was conducted by Mr. Shuichi
and BABAVC (Building a Better Asia Volunteer Community) are
Ohno, Executive Director, Interna- the final results of the program. If you are interested please refertional Relations Department, The
to the link http://www.babavc.org for more information. Finally, I
Nippon Foundation. In his speech would like to convey my gratitude to The Nippon Foundation
he described traditional herbs ofand OPRF, especially Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Mr. Eiji Sakai and Mr.
countries and their effective use. Ichikawa for their generosity and assistance.

Friends of WMU JAPAN5

Participating in the Inauguration Ceremonyof the Shanghai Maritime University New Campus
and Meeting Sasakawa Fellows in Shanghai

Inauguration of SMU New Campus
Yu Hongrong (China, 2007)

October 18, 2008, opens a new page in the history of Shanghai
Maritime University (SMU). It is at this very day that the SMU
new campus was inaugurated.
The new campus is located at Shanghai New Harbor City,
covering an area of 1.3 million square meters. With colorful flags,
stimulating music, joy and enthusiasm everywhere, the inauguration was held in the bright October morning at the main hall of
the multi-functional sports center. Warmly greeted by SMU leaders
and the student band, over 600 guests, including 100 fromoverseas, witnessed this memorial event, together with 4000 SMU
faculty, administration and students. Overseas guests include Mr.
Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-general of IMO, Mr. Robert
Lorenz-Meyer, BIMCO President Designate, Prof. Shuo Ma,
WMU Vice President, Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Executive Director of
OPRF, as well as top officials from ICS, INTERTANKO, INTERCARCO, presidents (principals) from maritime universities(academies) of Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, CEOs andsenior managers from overseas shipping companies.
The Inauguration Ceremony was chaired by SMU President Yu
Shicheng. Mr. Mitropoulos, Mr. Xu Zuyuan, Chinese Vice
Minister of Transport, and Mr. Shen Xiaoming, Vice Mayor of
Shanghai Municipality, addressed the 4000-strong audience ofmaritime community members respectively. They all lauded theimpressive SMU new campus and the important role SMU has
played in the development of both, international and domestic
shipping industry. Other speakers included Capt. Wei Jiafu,
President & CEO of COSCO Group and Prof. Romuld
Cwilewicz, Rector of Gdynia Maritime University of Poland. The
Ceremony came to an end when Mr. Mitropoulos, Minister Wang
Jiarui and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng sounded the whistle,
marking the inauguration of the new campus.
After the Inauguration Ceremony, guests were shown around thecampus, visiting the brand-new maritime simulators designed anddeveloped by SMU professors, the modern library, the lighthousejointly built with Shanghai MSA, and the salvage helicopter apron
jointly built with the Donghai Rescue Bureau of China. With thebeautiful campus and state-of-art facilities, SMU, “which is alreadyone of the world's leading seats of learning in the maritime field, is
now set to make an even greater contribution in the years ahead”,
as Mr. Mitropoulos said in his speech at the ceremony.

Friends of WMU JAPANLI Yong (China, 1999)
We, WMU Sasakawa Fellows in Shanghai, China gathered at the
beautiful Huangpu River on October 16, 2008. Capt. Eisuke Kudo
and Mr. Eiji Sakai told us much new information about otherWMU Sasakawa Fellows' status. 10 years ago, I got financial
support from The Nippon Foundation and had a chance to enroll in
the MET master course at WMU. After graduating from WMU in
1999, I came back to China and engaged in maritime education &training, as well as doing some research programs, contributing myknowledge and skills to promote these fields in China. This was all
due to my studies and training at WMU and the support I got fromthe Sasakawa Scholarship.
Fang Quangen (China, 1991)
I was so pleased I had the chance to study at WMU from 1990 to1991 with a Sasakawa Fellowship. The learning background andknowledge which I learned at this university helped me so much in
my professional work and academic activities as a professor inmaritime education and training.
As we all know, Chairman Yohei Sasakawa has made a great
contribution not only for the promotion and development of friendshipbetween the Chinese and Japanese people, but also for people aroundthe world. As a WMU Sasakawa Fellow, I offer my deepest thanks to
Mr. Sasakawa and The Nippon Foundation. It is my duty andpleasure to make every effort towards the development of China’s andthe world’s shipping industry and also towards the continuing
friendship between the Chinese and Japanese in the future.
GU Weihong (China, 2006)
Oct. 16th was an unforgettable day for me because on that night I
had a chance to meet our Japanese friends, Mr. Kudo and Mr.
Sakai, from the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, in Shanghai,
China. We hadn’t seen each other since I graduated from WMU in
the autumn of 2006. I was so glad to see them again. They came toattend my university's Inauguration Ceremony of the New Campus
on Oct. 18th, and we chatted for about three hours at a very nicedinner hosted by OPRF. It made me recall my happy times I spent inMalmö and my gratitude to The Nippon Foundation for sponsoring
my Master’s degree at WMU. I learned a lot and made a lot offriends there. It was an invaluable experience which will benefit me
forever. Please allow me to express my sincere wish for Mr.
Sasakawa’s good heath and happiness. Also to all the Sasakawa
sponsored WMU students, I wish you all the best. Missing you all
tonight, my dear classmates at WMU!
6

International Conference on Marine Affairs
and the Law of the Sea, Oslo, Norway, 2008
Javier Plata (Colombia, 2009)

The Fridtjof Nansen Institute, a Norwegian independent foundation that researches in global governance, marine affairs including
biodiversity and biosafety, and law of the sea, among others important topics, celebrated its 50th anniversary with the International
Conference on Marine Affairs and the Law of the Sea, carried out
in Oslo, from 21 to 23 of August 2008.
In this regard, four 2009-MSc students at the WMU had thegreat opportunity to attend this valuable convention: Nelly
Akhmedzhanova from Russia, Elissa Gibson from Belize, Anete
Logina from Latvia and Javier Plata from Colombia. The threeladies from the Maritime Law and Policy (MLP) and the latterfrom the Marine Environment and Ocean Management (MEOM),
two specializations of the master programme in marine affairs at
the University.
This was a wonderful Nordic experience, travelling by train
during the night between Sweden and Norway, and being ready inthe morning for the respective inauguration. Furthermore, it became
more exciting when arriving at the Telenor Expo Conference Centre,
the venue of the meeting, I immediately recognized some very kind,friendly and eminent persons like Judge Vladimir Golitsyn of theInternational Tribunal for the Law - ITLOS, whom I met in 2004
when he was the Director of the United Nations Division for Ocean
Affairs and Law of the Sea (UN-DOALOS) in New York (USA),during my internship regarding conservation and sustainable use ofliving marine resources under Part V Exclusive Economic Zone andPart VII High Seas of the United Nations Convention and the Lawof the Sea Convention (UNCLOS,1982).
In addition, we were able to greet Judge Tullio Treves fromITLOS; Mr. Tomas H. Heidar, Legal Adviser of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs of Iceland and Director of the Law of the Sea
Institute (Iceland); and Ms. Nilüfer Oral, from the Marine Law and
Policy Research Center, Law Faculty of Istanbul Bilgi University(Turkey), who are prestigious lecturers of the Session of Oceans Law
and Policy of Rhodes Academy that is held annually with thesupport of the University of Virginia (USA), in this famous Greek
island.
As a MEOM student at the WMU working for the protection of
the marine environment, I take this opportunity to invite all of you tohave a look of the Compendium of Summaries of this International
Conference, donated to our library by the Fridtjof Nansen Institutein its 50th anniversary; or online at http://www.fni.no. In thisconcern, I would like to write a few words about some of the lectures
regarding the protection of living marine resources and ecosystems
that were exposed at the Conference in Oslo.
Firstly, the lecture on Uses of Marine Biodiversity on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS), addressed by Joanna Mossop, SeniorLecturer of the Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand),highlighted the fact that sedentary species such corals, sponges andFriends of WMU JAPANclams regulated along with non-living resources by Part VI
Continental Shelf of the UNCLOS (1982), are being affected bybottom trawling fishing activities, normalized by Part V and VII of
the UNCLOS (1982). Although these inactive organisms are nottargeted by those trawling nets, they might be damaged or grabbed
as by-catch. Studies concerned on the protection of marine
biodiversity have become more relevant earlier this year 2009,
when Australian scientists have just announced the discovering of
new oceanic life, nearly 300 species, at four kilometers deep in theocean floor of Tasmania.
Secondly, in relation with two speeches: International Law and
Genetic Resources of the Deep Seabed by David Leary, Senior
Fellow of the Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales(Australia); and Some Reflections on Bioprospecting of Genetic
Resources in the Polar Regions by Harlan Cohen, Advisor of Ocean
Governance and International Institutions of IUCN, USA &Caribbean Multilateral Office, Washington (USA). These two
lectures, closely connected with the previous topic on marine
biodiversity, gave details, among other relevant aspects and information, why it is essential to continue working in the clarification ofconcepts like genetic resources and bioprospecting under UNCLOS(1982), and related treaties; since activities in this regard should bebetter organized encouraging a higher and appropriate sustainable
use of living marine resources inside and beyond of waters ofnational jurisdiction, and in the seabed, as well.
Finally, with this article I would like to express our special thanks,
on behalf of the four 2009-MSc students at the WMU who attended
this International Convention, to Mr. Claes Lykke Ragner, Project
Administrator at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute and Head of Conference Secretariat, who kindly provided assistance and supported ourparticipation in this significant and productive event.
The world of the brilliant ocean endows refundable experiences tothose who work daily with enthusiasm towards the conservation andsustainable use of its resources and services, providing memorable
moments during these international conferences, where we meet as
just one global group: The Sea Family.

7

Dang Ben NGUYEN (Vietnam, 2007)
One moment that I'll never forget is the time I became a father. After 22 hours of nervous
waiting at the hospital, at 11.00AM on November 30, 2008, my wife (Thuong -MET2007)
gave birth to our first baby, a boy. He weighed 4.2kg. We call him Benny at home, but
officially his name is Nguyen Tran Dang Quang.
I cannot express enough how happy I am at being a father, even though I understand thatfrom I will have more responsibilities. My wife and I will try our best to bring up our son thebest way we can.
Benny brings happiness and smiles to our small house every day. I feel happy each time I
see him, and every day I am eager to come home right after work. He really makes our life
and our family more meaningful.
We hope that one day in the future we can bring him to Malmö, where my wife and I met.
Maybe he will become a WMU student some day.

“Vietnamese Sasakawa Fellow's Outstanding Work” on the Website:

One of the Sasakawa Fellows from Vietnam, Dang Ben Nguyen (2007), wanted to share his presentation material that he gave atthe "Cardiff University Conference on the Globalization and its Implications for Shipping in the 21st Century" in January, 2009,
and the “Friends of WMU, Japan” Secretariat decided to post his PDF material on the website. Therefore, if you have a chance,
please take a look at his outstanding work at: http://www.wmu.sof.or.jp

WMU Sasakawa Fellows’ Directory:

The “Directory of the WMU Sasakawa Fellows (1989-2008)”, which contains personal information on
353 Sasakawa Fellows, was originally distributed to you with the 22nd issue of the “Friends of WMU,
Japan” Newsletter in March, 2008.
However, we have heard that some of the Fellows didn't receive them; therefore, we would like you to
inform us if you haven't received the Directory. For more information, please contact the “Friends of
WMU, Japan” Secretariat at: wmujapan@sof.or.jp*This Directory was published for Sasakawa Fellows, current Sasakawa Fellowship students, and for
the Secretariat, and will have a limited distribution.

Damien Dutton Award 2008

to The Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation
The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation
were awarded the Damien Dutton Award 2008 at a ceremony that took
place at the Tokyo American Center on October 10, 2008.
Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation, received theAward from Dr. Douglas Walsh, Director of the Damien-Dutton Society for
Leprosy Aid Inc. At the same time, Prof. Kenzo Kiikuni also received theAward as the Chair of the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation.
This award was considered and given to these two Japanese foundations
in particular for providing significant financial support for leprosy care incountries, tackling the underlying social and humanitarian aspects ofleprosy, playing a key role in reducing the number of people with active
leprosy due to their major provision of multidrug therapy, and so on.
Winners of the Damien Dutton Award include John F. Kennedy (USA) in
1965 (posthumously), Mother Teresa (India) in 1984, and now Mr.
Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation in 2008!!

Editor’s Postscript“Yes, we can.” Most of you have heard this phrase at least once. this question until it is achieved, but unless we try we will neverThis is the famous phrase that the new U.S. President Barack get what we want to achieve. In mid-March, I'll join the intersesObama used many times during his campaign. Now, I took sional meeting of the greenhouse gas working group at IMO andseveral minutes to think of this phrase in relation to maritime would like to contribute to moving discussions forward. If you'll
issues. “Can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships?” be attending the meeting, let's work together and say “Yes, weThis is a question that I have considered many times as I've been can.”Mitsuhiko Ida
involved in discussions at IMO on the greenhouse gas agenda. Of
Japan Ship Technology Research Association
course, I would like to say, “Yes, we can,” although the challenge
before us seems quite difficult. No one will know the answer to