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NYK has once again received the highest rating on the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation???s (SMBC; president: Takeshi Kunibe) Sustainability Assessment Loan.
The assessment uses a standard created by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and the Japan Research Institute Limited (president: Masahiro Fuchizaki). Based on the standard, a company???s disclosures for ESG (environment, society, and corporate governance) and efforts to achieve sustainability are assessed and loan conditions are established. The assessment also provides companies with feedback regarding the appropriateness of their sustainability efforts and information disclosure.
In this assessment, NYK???s ESG activities and its disclosure were highly assessed for the below merits, leading to the reception of the highest rating.
- Activities to reduce environmental burden in business
NYK began its Innovative Bunker and Idle-time Saving (IBIS) project on its containerships in fiscal 2012. From fiscal 2013, NYK expanded the IBIS Two project to include dry bulkers and car carriers, and resultantly reduced CO2 emissions and costs.
- Safe, diverse corporate culture
NAV9000, NYK???s original safety promotion system for marine- and land-related parties, has led to a reduction in maritime accidents. NYK also has a corporate culture that embraces diversity in the workforce, specifically by promoting women to the positions of directors and executive officers and offering training to non-Japanese seafarers.
- Corporate governance
Transparent corporate governance achieved by assigning two independent directors to the board of directors.
NYK takes an active role in social issues and will continue its efforts to remain a good global citizen and realize a sustainable society through such activities as environmental protection and the development of environmental technologies.
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NYK's Ship Information Management System (SIMS), jointly developed by NYK and the Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI; head office: Tokyo; president: Makoto Igarashi), has been recognized with Japan's 2015 Minister of the Environment Award in the Technical Development and Commercialization category. An awards ceremony was held on December 2, 2015, and attended by Yoshiyuki Yoshida, NYK managing corporate officer, and Makoto Igarashi, president of MTI.
By employing SIMS on vessels, detailed data can be timely shared between onboard crew and land-based operation staff. Such data includes precise hourly updates on conditions of operation and fuel consumption.
NYK started employing SIMS on containerships in 2012 for energy-saving operations, allowing both onshore and offshore staff to access precise information on weather conditions and the speed and fuel consumption performance of oceangoing vessels. By using such big data, more efficient vessel operation and allocation can be realized, resulting in energy savings of approximately 10%.
In April 2014, NYK launched the Big Data Utilization Special Project within the Group and is striving to gain further advantages from it. The NYK Group recently installed SIMS on more than 130 vessels of various types. In addition, big data utilization is underway not only for energy-saving operations, but for safety or efficiencies in other areas; for example, reducing repair costs and time-loss due to engine troubles, and proposing optimal vessel types by combining port and cargo information.
This award was granted by the Environment Ministry in recognition of the NYK Group's initiatives to promote big data utilization and efforts to further develop safe, energy-saving operations.
In accordance with its 'More Than Shipping 2018' medium-term management plan, the NYK Group will further promote the utilization of big data in operations to improve the competitiveness of the company's services. Equally important, as a good corporate citizen the NYK Group will continue to take an active role in social issues, including environmental conservation, and will continue to make efforts to contribute to the achievement of a sustainable, improved global society.
* The Minister of the Environment Award for the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming
The award was established in 1998 by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and is given every year in December to coincide with Global Warming Prevention Month. The recognition is presented to individuals and groups that have shown remarkable achievements in addressing climate change. This is the second time the NYK Group has been an award winner. In 2012, the NYK Group received an Environment Award for 'development and operation of an energy-saving air lubrication system.'
Related Press Releases: August 25, 2015
NYK's Ship Information Management System Recognized with Special Award
http://www.nyk.com/english/release/3710/004037.html
Related Link: MTI
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NYK Conducts Short-term Exchange Program for Maritime Schools in Japan and the Philippines
The NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), which NYK operates in the Philippines, successfully conducted a short-term student-exchange program with maritime schools in Japan during the months of September and October 2015.
The program was organized as part of the NYK Mirai Project.* From September 1 to 11, five students from the Hiroshima and Yuge colleges of the National Institute of Technology travelled to the Philippines to participate in study and activities at NTMA. The following month, from October 25 to 28, 10 students from NTMA visited the National Institute of Technology???s Hiroshima College. During the visits, students attended classes and interacted with one another in English, resulting in greater stimulation and motivation among the future seafarers.
NYK will continue this project to encourage young adults to gain a global perspective and to spark interest in the seafaring life.
* NYK Mirai Project
This project consists of a series of activities that nurture greater awareness of maritime affairs and the seafaring life among Japan???s youth so that they can develop interest in the maritime industry and consider careers at shipping companies. The project was launched at the end of 2014.
Activities of the NYK Mirai Project:
- Visits by maritime school students to shipyards to witness the building of NYK vessels
- Lectures at elementary and junior high schools by NYK maritime staff
- Introduction of the maritime industry to elementary and junior high school students, in addition to general citizens
- Tours aboard NYK-operated vessels by maritime school teachers
- Ship tours offered through the Umi de Tsunagaru Project, a World Maritime Day parallel event
(NYK vessel-boarding opportunities have included tours of Asuka II and a car carrier, drawing significant interest in boarding large vessels and learning about the seafaring life that many people do not have a chance to experience.)
