77
December
2021

From a Seed of Hope to a Fruitof Gratefulness and Success

Congratulations and Encouragement from Chairman Sasakawa
One year ago, 31 hopeful aspirants of the
WMU MSc Programme in Maritime Affairs,
Class of 2021, received the excellent news ofreceiving the SPF grant for a scholarship thatfirst paved the way to a fulfillment of a dream: tostudy at the prestigious University that producescompetent maritime professionals and leaders,
WMU. Anyone who has been aspiring to get theprivilege of studying at WMU through a fullfunded scholarship programme could speak of
the magical feeling of being granted after several
months, perhaps years, of hopeful waiting.
On 18 October 2021, the time of year
has come again to hold the annual Sasakawa
Fellows Awards Ceremony. Dr. Yohei Sasakawa,
Chairman of The Nippon Foundation virtuallygraced the event from Japan due to the persisting
COVID-19 pandemic.
In his speech, Dr. Sasakawa emphasized the“One World, One Family” philosophy of thefoundation which breaks the wall of diversities,
with the aim of building a bridge for a betterworld through proactive cooperation. The Nippon
Foundation embedded this philosophy as its
guiding principle in all its efforts. In applicationof this philosophy, Dr. Sasakawa welcomed the

SPF Class of 2021 fellows as official membersof the family known as the “Friends of WMU,
Japan.” He encouraged every fellow to maintainthe network and cooperation despite the distance.
Apart from his congratulatory message, he alsomentioned his hope for a possible study tour of
the SPF fellows to Japan when everyone is safeand free from the harm of the pandemic.
Giving her opening remarks, President
Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry acknowledged thegenerosity of the Nippon Foundation, and how it
has enabled WMU to have maritime professionals
enrolling and graduating through the years. She
also recognized the influence and impact made by
the successful fellows in the ocean and maritime
industry from all over the world, and how thefellows contribute to the effort for sustainable
development.
The then students of Class 2021 were now
part of the fellows, which now stand at a total of
730 supported by the Nippon Foundation, from
81 countries who have pursued the enhancementof maritime knowledge and skills in the maritime
industry’s centre of excellence. This once-a-year
event also provides a formal opportunity for every
fellow to introduce themselves to Dr. Sasakawa
and express their appreciation of how The Nippon
Foundation has played a big part in achieving
their dreams and making them a reality. Gatheredin the WMU Sasakawa Auditorium, fellows weregrouped according to country regions with a totalof 25 different countries to deliver their brief, yetheartfelt speeches of gratitude. It was concluded by
Ms. Mercedes Arevalo Aranaga from Venezuela,
an MSc graduate from the OSGM specialization,
who, on behalf of the WMU Class of 2021 SPF

fellows, described the earned status of the fellows
as “ambassadors of SPF and the maritime field,”and “agents of change” that will help to build andstrengthen maritime capacity.
Both messages by Dr. Sasakawa and President
Doumbia-Henry convey keeping a lasting
fellowship within the SPF family and University.
As highlighted by President Doumbia-Henry, the2 definitions of “fellowship” as “group of people
sharing a mutual purpose, experience or interest”
or an “existing friendly feeling to a group of people
with the same interest,” the new Sasakawa fellows
are highly encouraged to uphold the mission of
the Nippon Foundation for social innovation; thatis, to support one another. We realized the new
responsibility at hand – to impart what the fellows
have learned by having their colleagues learn fromthem when they return to their home country andmother organizations.
Learning is truly a continuous process. The
network established by the SPF fellows does not
end the moment they marched on the stage andreceived their diploma. In fact, the fellowship is yet
to serve its great purpose of sharing the strengthand continuously learn from each other especiallyin the maritime field. Through continuous learning,
no one from the link of a united chain gets rusty
and weak. This chain can strongly bind together
and support a common goal for the developmentof the maritime and ocean industry even in the
midst of challenges. As cliché as it sounds, thesaying, “Every end has a new beginning,” holds true
to these 31 fellows as they begin another journey tothe real world of maritime and ocean fields.
Dana Justine dC. Natividad(Philippines, 2021)

Benyebka CHERIGUI

Mboumba mboumba DARNELA

Commanding Officer Patrol Vessel “COCOBEAH”, GABON NAVYMINISTER OF DEFENSE OF GABONHarbour Master, Port Operations, Mostaganem Port Authority

Algeria
MSEA

Being awarded the Sasakawa Fellowship to study at WMU isdefinitely a geat honour for me and an excellent opportunity to expand
my knowledge in the maritime and ocean field. Moreover, It will allow
me to build a solid international network with Sasak awa Fellows tobetter tackle global issues.

Gabon
MSEA

Chahrazed TIGHA

Ebrima WEATHEROL

Assistant Manager, Statistic and Commercial Service
Gambia Ports Authority-Ferries

Second Engineer, Shipping Department, National Passengers Shipping Company

Algeria
MSEA

Many thanks to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation for their prestigious
fellowship for obtaining my master’s degree at WMU. As a female
seafarer, I have gained important experience in the maritime field,
and I will definitely achieve my career goals thanks to this golden
opportunity.

GambiaPM

Jace SPENCER

Besik CHKHIKVADZEI am happy to be a part of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and will
do my best so that I can contribute to my country and the worldwide
maritime sector. I am also looking forward to networking and meeting
Antigua and barbuda fellow Sasakawa Fellows.
MSEA

Georgia
MET

Mohammad Mohiul ISLAM

Kwadwo FORSON-ADABOH

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for selecting me asa receipient of a WMU Sasakawa Fellowship. This is an opportunity
for me to share knowledge with “Sasakawa Fellows” from different
countries, which will be extremely helpful in developing maritimerelated fields in my country.

Ghana
MSEA

Amrita Kumar SAHA

Commandant( JG), General Duty Officer, Indian Coast Guard

I am sincerely grateful for the generous Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Fellowship and was thrilled to learn that I had been selected as arecipient of this prestigious SPF/Nippon Foundation award. After
graduating from WMU I will work for maritime affairs in Bangladesh
and the common heritage of mankind.

India
MLP

Debora Cristina FERRARI RAMALHO

It is a great honor to represent my country as a Sasakawa Fellow
at WMU. I strongly believe that this unique opportunity will open
many doors for my career. I will endeavor to enjoy this experience,and I wish to sincerely thank Dr. Sasakawa and the Sasakawa Peace
Foundation.

Indonesia
PM

Habchi MBAE

Raga PURWANTO

Let us all be not only friends but also brothers and sisters in the great
Sasakawa Fellowship family. Let us all be united in harmony andtogether make this planet a better place. Cheers.

Saeid HASSANKHANI DOLATABADIPort State Control Officer and Flag State Control
Maritime Safety and Security Departement,
National Agency of Maritime Affaires (ANAM)

4th Engineer, Technical, IRISL(Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line)As a WMU Sasakawa Fellow, on behalf of my organization I would
like to express my gratitude and thank you for offering the Sasakawa
Fellowship Award. The knowledge I gain from WMU will, I believe,
help me to fulfil my goals for my career in the maritime administration.

Iran
MEM

Paulina PATINO

A glimpse into history proves that unity and cooperation are thefirst and best solution for all the world’s crises. Thank you to the
Sasakawa Foundation, which contributes to WMU, for providing abasis for students from different countries to help our beautiful world
overcome the climate change crisis.

Mamoru SHINOHARA

Vessel Boarding Agent- Account Operator, Flopec Agency Department
FLOTA PETROLERA ECUATORIANA EP FLOPEC

EcuadorSML

I feel privileged and honored to be part of the Sasakawa Family and
WMU. I will utilize the opportunities, knowledge, and friendship I
gain at WMU to work for a better future for our oceans, and withgratitude contribute to making our network even stronger.

Structural Engineer
Plan Approval Division - Classification Operation Department
Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI)

Collaborating Researcher, Oceanographic Institute of University of São PauloFisheries Ecosystem Laboratory

Comoros
MSEA

I am honored to receive this great opportunity from the Sasakawa
Peace Foundation to study at WMU. After graduation, I will returnto Ghana to impart my newly gained knowledge to naval cadets,
fellow officers, and ratings of the Ghana Navy, and contribute toimproving the Ghana maritime industry.

Surendra Kumar KARWASARA

Assistant Manager, Marine Insurance and Claims Department
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Bangaldesh

BrazilOSGM

I am so proud to be a part of the Sasakawa Fellowship Programand believe that my studying at such an internationally recognizedinstitution will play a pivotal role in the advancement of Georgian
maritime education and, and therefore directly benefit my career path.

Officer in Charge / Lieutenant Commander
Naval Faculty Ghana Military Academy, Ghana Navy

Assistant General Manager, Finance Department, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation

Bangladesh
SML

Dr. Sasakawa your name will be praised, and your deeds will forever
remain in our memories. Thank you very much for providing thistremendous opportunity that will change my life, community, andcountry.

Navigational Officer, Head of Poti Maritime Teaching and Training Centre

Marine Inspector, Technical Department, Antigua Department of Marine
Services

Bangladesh
SML

I will always be grateful to the Sasakawa Fellowship for this unique
opportunity, a milestone in a very fructuous career in the maritime
industry. Thanks to them, I am honored to be the head of the WMU
Women’s Association, on the front lines of gender equality.

Officer, Education and Training Division, Administration Department
Japan Coast Guard

I am beyond grateful and honored to be part of the Sasakawa
Fellows’ Network and a WMU Student. My goals involve protecting
our oceans, increasing women’s participation in the maritime field,
supporting efforts to defend seafarers’ rights and welfare, andadvocating for both SPF and The Nippon Foundation missions.

Japan
MSEA

2

I am very honored to join WMU and the Sasakawa Fellowship
Program. I believe that this connection is one of the most important
relationships within the international maritime society and that wewill play various important roles in the future.

2022
Ko TAGUCHI

Marilyn JAAL

I am very honored and grateful to be able to study at WMU withthe support of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. I want to enhance
my professional knowledge and also make connections at WMU. I
will contribute to maritime fields utilizing what I gain through myexperience here.

It is an honor to be a part of the growing global community of
Sasakawa Fellows. To exchange information and learn from experts
and well-known professors on various maritime subjects will be
extremely beneficial in my line of work as a coast guard officer.

Technical Official, Maritime
Bureau Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Japan
MSEA

Commander, Department of Transportation (DOTr)
Philippine Coast Guard

Philippines
OSGM

Alex mwangome MWAKUNI

Yankuba MARAH

I am honored to have this rare opportunity offered to me by the
Sasakawa Foundation. The knowledge and skills I acquire while at
WMU shall be an achievement for not only me but also my country
and the global maritime sector.

I am sincerely honored to have been selected as a recipient of the
Sasakawa Fellowship. Receiving such an opportunity has highly
motivated me and made me realize that my dream is achievable andthat I am one step closer to being able to give back to my country.
Thank you.

Gmdss/Maritime Sar Officer, Maritime Safety
Kenya Maritime Authority

Kenya
MEM

Port State Control Officer, Maritime Safety And Security Department
Sierra Leone Maritime Administration

Sierra Leone
MSEA

Habakkala Watawala Kankanange
DARSHANA SAMPATH KUMARA

Richard B KAMARA

Policy Analyst, Department of Coast Guard
Ministry of National Defense

Liberia
MSEA

I am very grateful to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation for the Sasakawa
Fellowship award to study at WMU. After returning home, I intend
to better represent the Ministry of National Defense at maritime
functions on issues relating to maritime policy formulation andimplementation nationally and internationally. Thank you!

Assistant Manager, Technical, Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited

Sri Lanka
MSEA

Mariah Rhoda WILLIAMS

Kelum Prasanga JALATH MUNASINGHE

This opportunity afforded to me is one that I will cherish for a
lifetime as such opportunities do not readily come along. Armed withthe knowledge I gain, I promise to return home and contribute to mycountry, region and the world, and also make meaningful and lasting
international connections.

I am honored and grateful to be awarded a Sasakawa Fellowship.
Studying at WMU is a great opportunity to enhance my knowledge
and build international relationships. After completing the program,
I will serve my county by enhancing the efficiency and productivityof our ports.

Senior Environmental Officer, Envvironmental Department
Margibbi County Administration

Liberia
OSGM

Junior Manager, Operations Divisions, Sri Lanka Ports Autority

Sri LankaPM

Latifa OUMOUZOUNEJulio DOS SANTOS

I feel thrilled to be part of the Sasakawa Family and study at WMU.
I am sure that this opportunity will have a huge impact on my future
career. Having acquired the necessary MET knowledge, I will makepositive changes to better serve my home institution and its partners.

I am deeply grateful to the WMU/Sasakawa Program for awardingme the Fellowship and for their support. I consider this scholarshipan invaluable investment for my country and my organization, andespecially for my family and future career. I am also grateful to the
Nippon Foundation and Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Nautical Training Assistant (Instructor), Department of Maritime Safety
National Directorate of Maritime Transport

Head of Technical and Educational Affairs, Studies and Research Department
The Higher Institute For Maritime Studies, ISEM Casablanca

Morocco
MET

Timor-Leste
SML

Suama Namulilo MUNDJEGO

Raniel ELISANTE SWAI

I am honored and grateful to be a member of the Sasakawa Fellowship
Program, WMU being the best maritime university. I expect to gain
graduate attributes for the benefit of Namibia and the world at large.
Thank you, Dr. Sasakawa!

Words cannot express the depth of my gratitude to the Sasakawa
Peace Foundation and Nippon Foundation. WMU is a center of
excellence for maritime leaders, and with the knowledge I acquire I
can contribute to the growth of the maritime industry in my country
and the world at large.

Legal Officer, Legal Service Unit
Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC)

Fisheries Inspector, Operation
Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources

Namibia
OSGM

Tanzania
MLP

Peter OHAGWA

Leidy IBAÑEZ

I thank God for the gift of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and theopportunity to study at the prestigious WMU. Thank you, Dr. Yohei
Sasakawa. I resolve to apply the knowledge I gain to the advancementof world maritime affairs, especially with regard to safety, security, andthe environment.

I feel honored and grateful to the Sasakawa Peace Foundation forthis opportunity to grow academically and professionally. With
my specialization, the SPF is not giving this opportunity just to a
Venezuelan woman, because my mission afterwards will be to share
the knowledge that I obtain here with my country.

Principal Maritime Safety Officer (PMSO), Maritime Safety and Seaferers’ Standards
Nigerian Maritime Admin. and Safety Agency

Nigeria
MSEA

This program can enlighten an entire nation by providing a uniquechance for one person to advance their knowledge. I will use thisopportunity to develop Sri Lanka’s entire maritime sector through thewealth of knowledge I gain at WMU. I am sincerely grateful to the
Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Associate Attorney, Prosecutor Office 94 with Full Competence
Public Ministry of Venezuela

Venezuela
MLP

Euphraim Jayson DICIANO

Chief of Staff/ Cg Commander, Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao
Philippine Coast Guard

Philippines
MSEA

I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the Sasakawa Peace
Foundation for the great learning opportunity at WMU. I deeply
hope that the knowledge and wisdom that I gain at this institution
will contribute to the development of my country’s socio-economic
and geopolitical landscapes.

3

MET (Maritime Education & Training)
MEM (Maritime Energy Management)
MLP (Maritime Law & Policy)
MSEA (Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration)
OSGM (Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management)
PM(Port Management)
SML (Shipping Management & Logistics)

Sasakawa Fellows
Gathering Orientation
2021
Paulina Patino Montano,(Ecuador, 2022)

31 professionals in the maritime industry cameto WMU driven by the same thoughts: gratitude,
dedication, and a desire to become the industry’s
new leaders. We all wanted to thank the Sasakawa
Peace Foundation for its financial support. And
so we did! At the first Sasakawa Fellows meeting,conducted via Zoom on September 25, 2021.
Every year, SPF organizes a meeting of all
the current Sasakawa Fellows at WMU, allowing
us to get to know each other and encouraging
closer relationships between us, built on trust andcompanionship. Another purpose of the meeting
was for the Fellows of the Class of 2021 andthe new class to share knowledge and valuable
information.
Early on the day of September 25, all Sasakawa
Fellows sat ready in front of their computers, eager
for the online event to start. Mr. Junya Otani(MLP 2021) was the host and started the meetingby greeting everyone before handing over to SPF.
SPF Senior Advisor, Mr. Eisuke Kudo, and
Mr. Takeshi Mizunari greeted and conveyed theirbest wishes to all the Fellows. They highlighted
the importance of learning about future
developmental projects in Japan and keeping thiscommunity of people dreaming, expanding, andworking together with common goals.
In addition, Mr. Mizunari presented a video
illustrating how Japan regards the new era ofdigitalization in the maritime industry as anopportunity for social and economic development.
In relation to this, the Nippon Foundation isconducting a project regarding unmanned ships
in Japan called MEGURI 2040.
Next, each of the Sasakawa Fellows had theopportunity to give a short self-introduction.

Many expressed excitement about starting themaster’s program and their eagerness to acquire
new knowledge, and some also expressed the hopethat we can all complete the master’s programsmoothly. Most of us expressed our gratitude to
SPF, thanking Dr. Yohei Sasakawa for supporting
further learning for maritime professionals eachyear.
Every new beginning comes with somedifficulty. We must look at all the roads we have
traveled to get to where we now are, the people
who have given us their support, the changes wehave made, and how much we have to learn andcontribute to this world. Let us stay grateful every
day, work hard, and dream big. Let us use ourstudies for the benefit of the maritime industry
and our oceans. This is just the beginning!

Thoughts from the Secretariat
on the Importance of the Gathering Orientation
Takeshi Mizunari
Friends of WMU, Japan Secretariat
Perhaps one of the most important
responsibilities that we have as the Secretariat
is ensuring that incoming Sasakawa Fellows
understand the journey besides the journeyof obtaining a master’s degree at WMU. Yes,
indeed—The Sasakawa Fellowship Program is ajourney in and of itself, one that lasts long after
graduation. This is why we set the stage during
the short time allotted to us within the Gathering
Orientation. We take a brief dive into the historyof the Program, what unique opportunities await,
and most importantly, what it means to be a
Sasakawa Fellow.
The online event started with an introduction
to the WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Program.
Firstly, Mr. Kudo told students about the “soul”
of our program. His speech reminded everyone of
why they were here, and how they could contributeto our ocean as maritime leaders.
Next it was my turn to talk about the programin detail. I mentioned the background behind theWMU Sasakawa Fellows’ Network, The Nippon
Foundation, and, of course, The Sasakawa Peace
Foundation. Here, I talked about the manyscholarships and fellowships dedicated to global
ocean issues that are sponsored by the NF. I also
touched upon differences between the NF and the
SPF, how the scholarship is funded, and ways the
program is maintained under the SPF. Finally, I
talked about what we have planned for our annual
events, namely, the Japan Field Study Trip and theAwards Ceremony for Sasakawa Fellows.
It was challenging for me to say all thesethings in those very short minutes allotted tome, and I appreciate the Sasakawa Fellows’ kindunderstanding and attentive ears. In the very
understandable excitement that comes withstudying abroad at the beautiful, life-changing
WMU, we hope you will keep the Sasakawa
journey close to your hearts. This can be throughyour everyday thoughts and efforts, or handwritten
letters to Chairman Sasakawa. Whatever the
future holds, it is our sincere hope that Sasakawa
Fellows never forget the program—the family—
they have become a part of.

A world map showing the home countries of over 700 Sasakawa Fellows.
4

The Growth of Coast Guard Agencies Worldwide
and the Current Situation on Their Cooperation
Shuichi Iwanami
Former Commandant,
Japan Coast Guard

Background to the Expansion of Coast Guard
Agencies
The oceans are not only a border for coastal
countries but also a place for various activities.
Therefore, ensuring maritime safety andsecurity and preserving marine environments
is fundamental to the peace, stability, andGroup photo of the Second Coast Guard Global Summit
development of coastal countries, regions and theinternational community. In the past, these duties organizations dedicated to coast guard duties, there regions, such as the “Black Sea Littoral States
were often performed by various pre-existing were various types of organizations, including Border/Coast Guard Agencies Cooperation
agencies in each country, such as navies, border military, border guard, security, and police agencies Forum (BSCF),” the “North Atlantic Coast
guard agencies, and police agencies. However, that are either dedicated to coast guard duties, Guard Forum (NACGF),” the “European
there has been a rapid increase in the number have agencies under their umbrella dedicated to Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF),” theof countries that have established coast guard coast guard duties or are agencies that coordinate “Mediterranean Coast Guard Functions Forumagencies in recent years. These agencies carry out the coast guard duties of domestic agencies (see (MCGFF),” and the “Arctic Coast Guard Forum(ACGF).” There has been an increase in various
maritime operations such as maritime safety/ references below).
The way these agencies were formed is as transnational threats at sea, such as the expansion
security and environmental protection in either acomprehensive manner or a dedicated manner in diverse as their organizational structures. Globally, of international organized crime, piracy, terrorism,specific areas. It has also become more common it appears as though coast guard systems are still and other crimes, influxes of refugees, and illegal
fishing operations, as well as the recent increasethat these operations are referred to as coast guard changing.
However, standardization for coast guard in maritime activities and concerns about largefunctions.
The following factors may have led coast guard agencies is progressing. Increasingly, agencies scale disasters at sea due to environmental changes
agencies to expand and become more universal in dedicated to coast guard operations are using such as climate change. Thus, it is becoming
the English title of “Coast Guard” to refer to increasingly important to strengthen cooperation
recent years:
themselves. Additionally, many vessels owned and dialogue among the world’s coast guard(1) The expansion of coastal states’ jurisdiction by coast guard agencies of various countries agencies, transcending regional frameworks toover a wider area of the sea under the have diagonal paint on the front of their hulls. address these worldwide challenges. Coordination
United Nations Convention on the Law In addition to external standards, there has and cooperation among coast guard agencies thatbeen a gradual standardization of maritime law conduct maritime law enforcement activitiesof the Sea.
under national and international laws will act as(2) An increase in maritime activities due to enforcement methods.
a foundation for regional and global peace andthe expansion of economic activities andCooperation among Coast Guard Agencies and stability based on the rule of law at sea. Having
globalization.
said that, cooperation among coast guard agencies(3) Expansions in maritime safety and security Future Challenges
As a result of these expansions, cooperation has just started and is still a new concept. It isissues such as maritime terrorism, piracy,
amongst agencies has been developing at a regional hoped that coordination and cooperation among
and large-scale accidents.
(4) Frequent disputes and conflicts among level. Japan has been leading the way in multilateral coast guard agencies will be further developed
nations over maritime domains and cooperation among coast guard agencies. The at both the regional level and a worldwide level
Japan Coast Guard and the Nippon Foundation through the Coast Guard Global Summit. (End)interests.
In fact, the establishment of coast guard have cooperated to hold the North Pacific Coast*See “Hosting of the Coast Guard Global
agencies has become more noticeable since the Guard Forum (NPCGF) since 2000, the Head
1970s when considerations surrounding the of Asia Coast Guard Forum (HACGAM) since Summit (CGGS)—Towards the Maintenance
United Nations Convention on the Law of the 2004 , and the Coast Guard Global Summit* of International Maritime Order—” by Kentaro
Sea commenced. This trend towards establishing since 2017. In response, multilateral meetings by Furuya, in issue No. 416. https://www.spf.org/
coast guards has accelerated since the 2000s when coast guard agencies are now being held in various opri/newsletter/416_2.html
Reference: “Research on the Current State of
the maritime safety and security situation changed
the Coast Guard Agencies of the World,” Japansignificantly. Existing coast guard agencies are also
Coast Guard Foundation (March 2021), URL:
being strengthened.
https://www.jcga.or.jp/pdf/wcgr.pdf--------------------------------------------Diversity and Standardization of Coast Guard
Agencies
This article was originally featured in Issue
The history of coast guard systems is relatively
507 of the Ocean Newsletter, a publication by
short, and their organizational forms vary from
OPRI, and edited with the cooperation of thecountry to country. In November 2019, the Japanauthor. See the following link for the full EnTop row, from left: Argentine Coast Guard, Djibouti
Coast Guard and the Nippon Foundation coglish article which will be posted on OPRI’s
Coast Guard (Source: JICA’s ODA Visualization
hosted the second Coast Guard Global Summit Website), Indian Coast Guard, Italian Coast Guard,
website: https://www.spf.org/en/opri/proj(CGGS) in Tokyo. Alongside independent U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard
ects/information~selected.html
5Updates from S
A New Chapter of My Life at the IMO
Naohiro Saito(Japan, 2018)
It has been more than 3 years since I
graduated from the WMU in 2018. Time passes
very quickly, but I still clearly remember what I
learned at WMU and my daily school life spent
with my fellow students. This experience wasincredibly valuable and crucial for my work at the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism (MLIT) of Japan dealing with maritime
environment and safety issues.
My new life at IMO just started in July thisyear amid the COVID-19 pandemic. I was
appointed as a Junior Professional Officer ( JPO)
in IMO’s Maritime Safety Division (MSD) fora two-year term. Within the MSD, there are two
sub-divisions that are responsible for providing
technical information and advice on operationalsafety, maritime training, and human elementrelated issues (OSHE) as well as maritime cargoes
and technologies (MTC). I belong to both subdivisions, being mainly in charge of Maritime
Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) and Goalbased Standards (GBS). However, I will be giventasks relevant to not only these issues, but also
other safety-related issues, such as considering
the safety aspects of hydrogen and ammonia as
marine fuels, which have recently drawn global
attention as a solution for GHG reduction. Forme, this is very challenging since I have never

had the experience of dealing with these tasksinternationally, but I will try to tackle them to thebest of my ability.
My colleagues at IMO commenced working in
the office in September after the tough restrictions
imposed by the UK government were lifted andbegan a flexible work style comprising two days at
the office and three days at home, which enables us
to work safely and efficiently using internet tools
such as virtual meetings. Regular Committees
and Sub-Committees at IMO are still being
held remotely, but everyone here expects to begin
having physical meetings in spring next year,
depending on the COVID-19 situation in the UK.
It was a great pleasure to meet my colleague
from Malaysia, Mr. Mohd Nazwan Hafeez Bin
Hashim, who graduated from WMU in 2010 and
was appointed as a JPO in 2019. He sat beside me
in the office and patiently taught me everythingfrom how to set up life in London, to workrelated matters, to ways of spending time at IMO
based on his experiences over the past two years.
Unfortunately, we could only spend three months
working together as he returned to Malaysia in
November; however, even in that short time, we
had a great time talking and having lunch together,and even going to a stadium to watch football. (Wereally like football ☺ He is a big fan of Manchester
United, but the game was not….) I would like tothank him for all his kind support, and wish him
great success in the future.
The winter season is upon us. Winters inWith Mr. Mohd Nazwan Hafeez Bin Hashim

London are characterized by cold and often rainy
weather. However, people have smiles on theirfaces as they enjoy the Christmas season, withlight illumination displays throughout the city. I
want to enjoy this season in the UK as much as
possible, while being careful about the risks of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Nippon
Foundation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, andall their staff for providing me with the opportunity
to gain invaluable knowledge and experienceat WMU, which has broadened and deepened
my perspective in the maritime field as well as
boosted my confidence in tackling new challenges,
including this new voyage at IMO.
I hope this pandemic would be over soon, andthat we can meet in London.

Keeping Maritime Workers Safe Onboard Ships
Nguyen Hai Nam(Viet Nam, 2002)

With a coastline of over 3,260 km, it is natural
for Viet Nam to use the maritime sector as a driving
force for socioeconomic development. Indeed,
the recent contributions from the sea and coastal
economic areas are considerable. However, theimpact of COVID-19 during these past two years
has required the relevant maritime authorities towork out plans, measures, and roadmaps in linewith government steering policies in order toprotect and sustain development of the maritime
sector. On the occasion of The 3rd Community ofPractice Forum on Maritime Safety 2021, it was
my honor to deliver a presentation on keeping
maritime workers safe onboard ships, focusing on
measures for providing a safe workplace onboard
and what to do next to achieve this.
Vaccination is Key
To provide and maintain a safe workplace
onboard, vaccination of crew members andrelevant shore-based personnel is a priority.
As Head of Maritime Administration of Ho
Chi Minh City, I have proactively and closely

worked with the Department of Health and the
CDC to organize early vaccinations for a total of
28,041 employees (nearly 100%) of port-related
enterprises. In addition, 767 crews from 50
Vietnam-flagged ships were also vaccinated when
they arrived at the Port of Ho Chi Minh City. The
data shows there are 5,233 seafarers vaccinated inseaports across Vietnam, of which 3,290 havereceived one dose and 1,943 are fully vaccinated.
The Guidance 5K Rules from the Ministry of
Health: Face Masks (Khẩu trang), Disinfection(Khử khuẩn), Distancing (Khoảng cách),No Gathering (Không tập trung), Health
Declaration (Khai báo y tế)
Putting the guidance into practice, we
undertake many measures, including conducting
administrative formalities online throughinformation technology. FSI and PSC inspections
6

were carried out 100% virtually as per Tokyo
MOU and VINAMARINE guidelines.
What to Do Next
The maritime sector is still at risk, and tomaintain a safe workplace onboard ships, it isimportant that we continue to:
1. Cooperate and share experiences across sectors
as well as countries to create appropriate
safety and prevention procedures.
2. Work closely with relevant authorities tospeed up the vaccination process so seafarers
are fully vaccinated.
3. Take necessary precautions through broadplans to produce sustainable levels ofprotection against - as well as safe and flexible
adaptation to - COVID-19, while effectively
maintaining operations and keeping theworkplace onboard ships safe for all.

m Sasakawa Fellows

My Experience as Part of the Argentine CG Post-WMU

Santiago Juan Geymonat(Argentina, 2019)
My name is Santiago Geymonat, and I serveas an Argentinian Coast Guard officer. I received
my master’s degree in Maritime Safety andEnvironmental Administration (MSEA) from
WMU in 2019, thanks to the invaluable support of
the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s (SPF) Fellowship
Program.
The experience and knowledge I gained during
my years at WMU allowed me to focus my careeron the field of international regulations and moveon to activities related to the control and monitoringof foreign vessel fleets as part of Prefectura Naval
Argentina functions and mandates. I am also
a professor of “Politics and Economics in the
Navigation Sector” in the PhD course offered toour officers, and have written a paper on flag state
performance indicators for the Journal of Safety
Science and Resilience.
In the same year as my graduation from the WMU,
I became part of the Interdisciplinary Team for theControl of Maritime Spaces and their Resources(EICEMAR). Our team aims to contribute to
the study and improvement of the monitoring ofjurisdictional maritime spaces and natural resourcesof our country, through a multidisciplinary andcomprehensive approach aimed at developing tools
and strategies to contribute to the decision-making
process, promoting interagency cooperation.
One of our team’s achievements involved WMU.
In June 2021, thanks to close coordination between
the two institutions, the Argentine CG delivered alecture to the MSEA students (Class 2021) on the
topic, “Argentinian CG Efforts to Mitigate Illegal
Fishing in Our Jurisdiction.” The lecture describedthe evolution of the fight against IUU fishing in ourcountry, especially through interagency cooperationand the use of technology, focusing in particular on
our dedicated internally developed system called
GUARDACOSTAS, which is a comprehensive
platform that displays the positions of every vessel
navigating within Argentina’s jurisdictional waters
in real time.
Due to the positive results of this event,
our institution was invited to be part of project
CAPFISH, whose main objective is to foster
capacity-building for professionals in the maritime
and ocean fields in developing countries, with thefinancial support of the Korean Government. This
project comprised two workshops involving multiple
organizations, including IMO, ILO, and FAO. For
the first workshop, which was held October at
WMU, I was invited as an expert representing the

Author speaking to the right.

Argentine CG to deliver a lecture on our experienceand the challenges in the South Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, I was part of the EICEMAR’s
most recent and important accomplishment: thedevelopment of a regional technological platform
where every maritime authority will be able toshare useful information about vessels navigating inregional waters and to present a united front against
common threats. Undoubtedly, having the chance
to be part of these activities and play these roles has
given me a better understanding of the tremendous
importance of interagency cooperation among
different organizations and maritime authorities.
All these professional challenges and achievements
in my career would never have been possible without
the invaluable support of SPF. Therefore, I would
like to express my deepest gratitude to you for all
your support and encouragement.

IUU Fishing: A New Challenge to Maritime Security

Maritime security in India is multi-structured,with ever-evolving maritime security challenges.
Like a beam of light, maritime security appears
as a single subject, but when seen through a prismof past incidences we can find different aspects ofmaritime security.
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
fishing is generally regarded as an environmental
concern, but it is also a potent threat to maritime
security. It falls under the category of organised
crimes, and is one of the most complex and serious
crimes, not only affecting the marine ecosystem,
but also posing a detrimental threat to national
maritime security. The intrusion of foreign fishing
trawlers and crossing of fishing boats into the EEZsof other countries provide opportunities for AntiNational Elements (ANEs) to enter coastal states.
IUU fishing is interconnected with societal issues
such as drug trafficking, piracy, and illegal trade.
The littoral states of India are developing nations
with poorly demarcated maritime boundaries. IUUfishing arrests by India and Sri Lanka in the Palk
Strait, India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch,
and India and Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal
are quite frequent. IUU fishing in the context ofIndia can be divided into two broad categories:
IUU fishing by foreign fishing trawlers in India’s
EEZ and crossing of Indian boats into the EEZsof other countries. In both situations, maritime
security is compromised. As one crime leads toanother, organised crime like IUU fishing may leadto maritime security lapses and can be detrimental

in June 2016 after being approved by the Food andAgriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO). IUU fishing will no longer be a low-risk,
high-reward business, but rather a high-risk, lowreward one as more states agree to abide by thetreaty and coordinate their port state procedures.
Benefits include supporting economic growth bykeeping illegally caught fish out of their ports. These
market states will prefer to use ports in countries
that are parties to the PSMA. The data gathered
will help produce more robust stock assessments
for developing and enhancing capacity, including
monitoring, control, and surveillance in bothnational and international waters, as well as improve
inter-agency cooperation.
In today’s world, maritime security is the biggest
concern for India. The unchecked movement of
massive fishing fleets involved in IUU fishingacross maritime borders is a cause of concern.
While India is working towards achieving Goal 14of the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (UNSDG)—Life Below Water—as a major
maritime nation, efforts need to be made at global,
regional, and national levels to curb IUU fishing inorder to improve maritime security.

Rise in Poaching Incidents 

Rajinder Kumar(India, 2019)

to coastal security. Fishing fleets involved inillegal and unregulated fishing have been accusedof pillaging sea resources, which are part of the
exclusive economic rights of other countries. They
do not comply with the requirements mandated byinternational regulations.
Illegal wildlife trading to meet the everincreasing wildlife demands of other countries isrobbing India of its valuable flora and fauna. Dueto their great worth in the international market,
marine species such as sea cucumbers, shellfish,
turtles, sea horses, and tuna are poached and illegallysold. Poachers from neighbouring nations havebeen known to breach the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands to steal marine treasures. The increase inpoaching activities is shown in the graph below.
One persuasive way to deal with IUU fishingis for states to comply with the provisions of thePort State Measures Agreement (PSMA). The
Agreement on Port State Measures is the world’s
first legally binding international treaty aimed
at IUU fishing. It establishes a minimum set ofstandards that Parties must follow when foreignboats request permission to enter or remain inother state ports. The Agreement came into force


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7

An Urgent Reminder about Surveys!
As you may all know, our office sent out a survey on the Friends of WMU,
Japan Newsletter via mail (physical) with the 76th issue in September as well as
email (digital) around the same time. Most regrettably, however, we only have 53
responses so far – out of the 700 Fellows around the world. Sasakawa Family, weneed your participation more than ever! To encourage submissions, the deadline
for answering the survey – physically OR digitally- is now extended to March
31st. Don’t miss out on your chance to support the incredible Sasakawa Network,and create an even more complete Newsletter than before!

The Birth of My Daughter

Greetings from Indonesia to all Sasakawa
fellows. On this special occasion, I am pleased
to share some good news with you all. All praise
be to God, our third daughter was born on 1st
July 2021 safely and in healthy condition. The
date of birth coincided with my company’s 57thbirthday, which made it easier to remember andcelebrate.
I am really grateful and proud of my wife,
who endured this critical situation and broughta beautiful baby into our family. As inspired by
the quote, “Honour your children and give themgood names”, we decided to give her the name,

The Newsletter of the Fellows,by the Fellows,
for the Fellows.

Let’s work together!

Eko Maja Priyanto (Indonesia, 2017)“Hanna Aafiyah”. Hanna is a Swedish girl’sname meaning grace, and Aafiyah is an Arabic
word which means to be healthy and saved fromany aﬄiction or serious illness. We hope that
she has a graceful personality and will always beprotected from any serious illness or aﬄiction,
particularly in this unprecedented situation.
I also pray for all Sasakawa fellows all aroundthe globe; I wish all of you are always in good
health, happiness, and attaining extraordinary
achievements with every step despite theseunusual times.

A Tribute to My Friend, Kyaw Myo Win (SM 2009)
Aung Thein Win (Myanmar, 2009)
I could not believe my ears when I heard the sad news
that my friend, Mr. Kyaw Myo Win, passed away fromliver failure on October 25. The two of us were Sasakawa
Fellows and classmates together at World Maritime
University. While we were studying at WMU, I realizedthat he would never conceal his knowledge; he very
willingly explained to me how to calculate accounting
ratios and analyze financial statements.
Soon after graduation, he resigned from his job andfounded a private training center called the Myanmar
Supply Chain College. This was the turning point of
his career. As a result of his enthusiasm, perseverance,and persuasive skills, the training center became very
popular within a few years among logistics professionals
in Myanmar. He also established connections with
universities and institutes abroad. Due to his great efforts,
the training center became a Myanma examination center
approved by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS).
This was a milestone in his life.
His death is a great loss for the maritime industry,
especially the logistics and supply chain sector in
Myanmar. As he was a part of the Sasakawa Fellows and
WMU alumni, his memory will always be in our hearts.
May his soul rest in peace!

As the late-autumn foliage in Tokyo tells me that weare almost reaching the end of this year, I naturally start
recalling this year’s events.
I have been working on a project to create new technologies for enhancing the maritime surveillance capabilities of our coast guard. The more aware I becomeof cutting-edge technologies and moving the projectahead, the more I realize the importance of detailed dialogue among the people involved. Living in the current
world where online meetings are no longer something

new, I am becoming increasing appreciative of the unmissable value of face-to-face communication. Though
it seems to go against the times, knocking on doors andhaving direct conversations instead of communicating
through emails or phone calls might bring us unexpected solutions.
It is the time to prepare holiday greeting cards, so how
about sending hand-written cards instead of emails? I
truly hope your holiday season is full of warmth and joy.

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/

Maki Tominaga(Japan, 2015)
Japan Coast Guard