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NYK Procures 5,500 Advanced Refrigerated Containers
NYK has placed an order for 5,500 technologically advanced 40-foot refrigerated (reefer) containers, which are more efficient and reliable than older equipment. Delivery of the new units has already commenced.
This strategic investment will ensure that NYK continues to operate one of the newest and most competitive reefer container fleets in the liner industry.
The new order includes 700 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) containers. The advanced technology of these CA units ensures that the quality and freshness of perishable agricultural products, such as fruits and vegetables, is maintained during long ocean transits. The CA technology regulates not only the temperature within the reefer unit but also the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
NYK continues to improve the broad range of solutions we offer to customers in the expanding refrigerated and frozen ocean cargo sectors.
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NYK and Astomos Energy Conclude Time-charter Contract for 12th VLGC
On October 30, NYK concluded a time-charter contract for a new VLGC (very large gas carrier) with Astomos Energy Corporation (Astomos; head office: Tokyo; president: Osamu Masuda), the world's pre-eminent liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) company.
The new VLGC will be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (head office: Nagasaki prefecture; president: Hiroshi Yokota)* and delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018. After delivery, the ship will be assigned to a service designated in a five-year time-charter contract, and NYK and Astomos will then have 12 VLGCs in operation under time-charter contracts.
Astomos is looking to increase LPG handling volume from the current 10 million tons/year to 12 million tons/year by 2017. The company plays an important role in the LPG business field, which is expected to continue to grow as progress is made on new LNG projects in the Middle East, the United States, West Africa, and Australia. NYK will continue to expand its LPG fleet and strengthen its LPG transportation service, in addition to reinforcing the close relationship that NYK and Astomos have shared for so many years.
In accordance with its ???More Than Shipping 2018??? medium-term management plan, NYK will continue to encourage creative solutions in its efforts to contribute to stable and economical LPG transport services.
* Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
A wholly owned group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. that focuses on the design, manufacture, and repair of vessels.
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NYK Conducts Crisis-response Drill on VLCC
On October 15 as part of the company???s Remember Naka-no-Se Campaign,* NYK conducted a crisis-response drill based on the scenario of a serious accident occurring on an NYK-owned VLCC (very large crude-oil carrier).
Cooperation from the Maritime Bureau within Japan???s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), in addition to the Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, enabled this drill to be realistic and practical. During the drill, NYK???s crisis-management headquarters simulated a press conference and timely press releases, and reconfirmed the importance of immediate and correct information disclosure to the public.
A summary of the drill is provided below.
Situation
A blackout occurred on a VLCC while the ship was sailing in Tokyo Bay. The VLCC then collided with another ship, causing oil to leak and resulting in a fire on the surface of the sea.
Flow of drill
1) NYK established a crisis-management headquarters in response to an urgent report from the VLCC???s ship-management company.
2) NYK reported information about the accident to MLIT???s Maritime Bureau and the Japan Coast Guard.
3) NYK took measures at its crisis management headquarters to conduct firefighting, stop the oil leakage, and rescue the injured, seeking direction and cooperation from MLIT, the Japan Coast Guard, the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, and related parties.
4) NYK sent out press releases as the situation progressed and responded to media inquiries. NYK president Tadaaki Naito and NYK corporate officer Kobune Goto explained the accident to the press at a press conference.
NYK will further advance its safety management systems, positioning navigational safety as its most important task, and will aim to be a leading company in the safety field based on the group???s medium-term management plan, ???More Than Shipping 2018.???
* Remember Naka-no-Se Campaign
This campaign has been conducted every year to remind NYK Group members of the importance of safe operations and to ensure that lessons remain learnt from the oil spill that occurred in July 1997 from VLCC Diamond Grace.
