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Today, NYK and the National Institute of Technology (KOSEN)* agreed to collaborate in the fields of education and public relations for the purpose of human resources development in the maritime industry and the promotion of maritime affairs awareness.

NYK has a number of programs to educate the next generation of seafarers, and one of those programs facilitates international student-exchanges between students at KOSEN maritime schools and the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy, which NYK operates in the Philippines.

In addition to these overseas exchange programs and the promotion of maritime affairs awareness, NYK will boost its cooperation with KOSEN to include training in Japan and overseas for teachers and students. This training will begin this summer. NYK will continue to support maritime education and encourage young adults to gain a maritime perspective.

*National Institute of Technology (KOSEN) Established in 2004. There are 51 national colleges of technology called KOSEN in Japan. Website: http://www.kosen-k.go.jp/english/index.html

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI Co. Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and NTT DATA Corporation have successfully conducted a proof-of-concept experiment for a next-generation onboard IoT platform. The test was held aboard Hidaka, a domestic coastal vessel owned and operated by Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd. of NYK Group.

The NYK Group (NYK and MTI) previously developed a ship information management system (SIMS) that enables the gathering, monitoring, and sharing of detailed data between ship and shore, with the aim to promote safe, efficient operations. The data includes information on the operational condition and performance of oceangoing vessels.

From last September, the four companies began a collaboration to make use of NTT edge-computing technology to develop a next-generation onboard IoT platform by adding to SIMS a new system that would enable the remote distribution and management of onboard applications from land offices. This experiment was conducted using NTT DATA's ANYSENSE IoT platform and the communication company's expertise developing infrastructure that makes use of IoT solutions.

This platform is also compliant with onboard IoT international standardization being devised by the Japan Ship Machinery and Equipment Association. In addition, the gathered data can be utilized not only on board but also from an IoT open platform ShipDC, a ship data center established by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK).

The four companies performing this test will next conduct a proof-of-concept experiment on an oceangoing vessel operated by the NYK Group, and continue to create innovation in the maritime industry to improve safety and the efficiency of vessel operations, and promote environmental initiatives and global competitiveness.

*ANYSENSE An IoT platform service of NTT DATA with the further developing IoT technology for mainly social infrastructure.

NYK Bulkship (Asia) Pte. Ltd., an NYK Group company based in Singapore, has signed a long-term time charter contract with Waterfront Shipping Company Limited* (WFS) for one newly built methanol carrier. The new ship will be equipped with an engine that enables the vessel to be powered by methanol, fuel oil, marine diesel oil or gas oil  the first NYK ship to make use of such technology. After delivery from the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (Korea) in 2019, the vessel will be delivered to WFS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Methanex Corporation, the world's largest producer and supplier of methanol.

Using methanol as a marine fuel helps shipowners meet the International Maritime Organization's new regulations requiring a global 0.5 percent cap on sulphur content in marine fuels starting in 2020. Using methanol as a marine fuel reduces sulphur oxides (SOx) by approximately 99 percent. In addition, methanol is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer smog-causing emissions than conventional fuels, such as SOx, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). Methanol fuel is expected to become a more common method of addressing environmental issues in the future.

From an early stage, NYK recognized the potential of LNG marine fuel as an alternative to heavy oil. The company thus constructed and operates LNG-fueled tugboats and car carriers, and an LNG bunkering vessel. NYK has also developed an LNG-fuel sales business. Based on this new contract with WFS, NYK will strengthen its knowledge of methanol-fueled ships and related technology.

The NYK Group will continue to secure business with stable freight rates through long-term contracts and contribute to realizing a sustainable society that will make use of technology that can reduce negative impacts on the environment.

* Waterfront Shipping Company Limited (WFS)

Waterfront Shipping, a wholly owned subsidiary of Methanex Corporation, is a global marine transportation company specializing in the safe, responsible and reliable transport of bulk chemicals and clean petroleum products to major international markets in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. Waterfront Shipping operates the world's largest methanol ocean tanker fleet with its fleet comprising vessels from 3,000 to 50,000 dwt. Its fleet of 28 modern, deep sea tankers forms a seamless transportation network dedicated to keeping an uninterrupted flow of methanol moving to storage terminals and customers' plant sites around the world. For more information, please visit www.wfs-cl.com/.

During the signing ceremony held in Vancouver on December 20th, 2017
From right: Mr. Paul Hexter, WFS President and Koji Kondo, NYK Corporate Officer