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On August 24, NYK president Tadaaki Naito, NYK executive officers, and a group of six vessel captains and chief engineers held a meeting at NYK headquarters in Tokyo to openly exchange opinions about the safe operation of vessels that NYK is managing and operating.
This meeting is part of NYK's two-month Remember Naka-no-Se safety campaign,* which is implemented annually from July 1 of each year. The meeting is chaired by President Naito, who oversees NYK???s Safety and Environmental Management Committee,** so that top management can exchange direct opinions with captains and chief engineers to develop further practical measures with respect to safe operation of our vessels.
At the meeting, President Naito commented, "Currently, the business environment is severe, and that is why I want every member to take an aggressive 'not a defensive' stance to ensure safe vessel management and operations by instilling the spirit of 'creative solutions'*** among all who are involved in on-site operations. Communication is definitely important not only aboard a vessel, but also between onshore and offshore staff. To promote safety, I want all to be proactive in reporting anything that may need attention and actively proposing optimal solutions."
In addition to this safety meeting, NYK holds a regular meeting of executives-in-charge together with vessel captains and chief engineers, in accordance with vessel types, and develops seamless safety approaches with management and on-site staff as an integrated group.
NYK positions comprehensive safety operations as the most critical issue for all stakeholders. Moreover, NYK continues to fortify its safety management system, aiming to be a leading company in the safety and environment fields based on the company's medium-term management plan, 'More Than Shipping 2018.'
* Remember Naka-no-Se Safety Campaign
To ensure that the lessons learned from the Diamond Grace oil spill in July 1997 remain fresh, NYK conducts a two-month safety campaign every year from July 1. During this period, top management at NYK reconfirms the importance of safe operations with all NYK employees.
** Safety and Environmental Management Committee
NYK's highest decision-making body related to safety measures and environmental issues. The committee was established in April 2004 and is chaired by the president.
*** Creative Solutions
Activities that differentiate NYK from other companies, as emphasized in the NYK Group's medium-term management plan, 'More Than Shipping 2018.' Creative solutions are sought for a wide range of issues, from business reform to the provision of high-quality, value-added services.
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On October 11, Geert Bourgeois, Minister-President of the government of Flanders; Claire Tillekaerts, CEO of Flanders Investment and Trade; and accompanying delegates visited the NYK head office and met with NYK board counselor Koji Miyahara, senior advisor Takao Kusakari, and senior managing corporate officer Koichi Chikaraishi.
During the meeting, Kusakari, who serves as the president of the Japan-Belgium Society, offered his appreciation for the visit on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan, and also 120 years since the start of NYK???s first European liner service between Yokohama and Antwerp. He also mentioned that NYK will continue to seek collaboration and cooperation with the government of Flanders through the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp, and others in Belgium. Minister-President Bourgeois thanked NYK deeply for the employment opportunities offered by the company and its contribution to the Belgian economy.
NYK also introduced the guests to Auto Eco, the world's first LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), delivered in September from the shipyard to United European Car Carriers (UECC), which is equally owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines.
NYK will continue its efforts to provide services that satisfy our various customer needs, as a bridge not only between Belgium and Japan but also the remainder of Europe and the world.
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NYK has signed a joint-venture agreement with Bolloré Transport & Logistics Kenya Limited (Bolloré) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation to establish Bolloré NYK Auto Logistics Limited,* a logistics company for finished cars. In late August, a signing ceremony was held in Kenya, and attended by Eric Melet, Managing Director of Bolloré, Takashi Hattori, Senior Managing Director of Toyota Tsusho Corp., Koichi Chikaraishi, senior managing corporate officer of NYK at which time they attended the ceremony to commemorate MOUs in TICAD VI**.
Kenya, a country currently experiencing strong economic growth, is expected to see a rise in finished car imports and become a gate port for countries in East Africa. At the port of Mombasa, Kenya, this new company will offer a variety of services, such as inland transport, and PDI** as well as car storage and customs clearance within this year.
Making use of a strategic partnership combining the knowledge and the expertise that Bolloré and Toyota Tsusho have accumulated through their business activities, together with NYK???s extensive experience with finished-car logistics solutions around the world, Bolloré NYK Auto Logistics Limited will be well positioned to provide widespread customers with high quality services for East Africa.
* Bolloré Transport & Logistics Kenya Limited: A subsidiary company of Bolloré Transport & Logistics, headquartered in France and offering comprehensive logistics services.
** The ceremony of MOUs in TICAD VI is the ceremony to commemorate memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed between Japanese companies and African countries on the occasion of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI). TICAD VI was held by Japanese government in the Republic of Kenya on August 27 and 28. In this ceremony, Bolloré NYK Auto Logistics Limited was introduced as an investment project of Africa by Japanese and French companies. The ceremony included Prime Minister Abe, H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya and other dignitaries.
*** PDI (pre-delivery inspection)
Services for finished vehicles ??? such as final inspections, repairs, and parts application ??? before delivery to a car dealer.
