### f. Developing a marine transportation environment

Among all international trunk routes, those that could interfere with bay navigation because of shallow waters, etc. have been improved and Aids to Navigation have been renovated to develop a marine transportation environment that combines the safety of ship traffic with the efficiency of marine transportation.

## (3) Developing advanced aviation logistics facilities to pursue increased international competitiveness

In recognition of the sluggish growth of Japan’s international airfreight transport business under the influence of domestic businesses seeking relocation overseas, the recent European sovereign debt crisis, etc., the Ministry has been driving efforts to turn Japan’s core airports, such as Kansai International Airport and Chubu International Airport, into freight hubs and streamlining the transport process, as well as upgrade the capacities and facilities of metropolitan airports, to take freight arriving at and departing from Asian nations, which promises further leaps.

## (4) Strategic development and utilization of a logistically important road network

Building an efficient logistics network is of crucial importance to motor truck transportation that accounts for about 80% of domestic transportation. From this point of view, the construction of ring roads in the three major metropolitan areas, access roads to airports and ports, etc. is underway. Pursuant to the Law for Making Partial Amendments to the Road Act, etc. promulgated in June 2013, roads of vital importance were designated “road network for vehicles exceeding the weight and size limits” to speed up the procedures for the traffic of large-sized vehicles on such roads and to improve the sections which have difficulty with large-sized vehicle traffic on a planned basis. Efforts are also underway to utilize and upgrade existing road networks, including the construction of smart ICs.

## (5) Other measures that help consolidate the facilities of international logistics

While the urgent formation of a logistics in which international logistics is efficiently combined with the domestic transport modes of land, sea and air is sought, the realization of the interoperation of chasses (trailers which have no power drive) to and from Korea and China and the use of a sea & rail scheme under which marine transportation is coupled with railway transportation are propelled.

The development or redevelopment of international container-ready logistics centers in and around the international ports or the like, or nodal points of global logistics, in the metropolitan areas will be driven to reinforce international competitiveness, as well as enhance disaster preparedness in times of large-scale disasters and improve the urban environment.

## 2 Measures Aimed at Building an Efficient Logistics System at Home

Additional approaches are underway to build an efficient logistics system at home to toughen Japan’s industrial competitiveness while easing environmental loads.

## (1) Streamlining the flow of interregional logistics

The Ministry proceeds to develop nodal points of logistics, such as ports and freight stations, to drive combined multimodal transportation. The new construction of the Suita Freight Terminal Station in March 2013, coupled with the completion of modifications to Kudara Station and a railway freight transport capacity enhancement project at Sumidagawa Station, is expected to streamline the work flow of freight railway transportation further. The construction of combined multimodal transport terminals is also underway at Tokyo Port and elsewhere to consolidate coordination between marine transportation and other modes of transport.

Key road networks will also be refurbished to streamline the flow of truck transportation.