Three NYK vessels managed by NYK Group companies have been recognized with the Best Quality Ship Award for 2015 by the Japan Federation of Pilots??? Associations (JFPA).* The honored ships include the car carrier Antares Leader, managed by NYK Shipmanagement Pte. Ltd., the bulk carrier Hisui Horizon, managed by Hachiuma Steamship Co. Ltd., and the LNG carrier LNG Dream, managed by NYK LNG Shipmanagement (UK) Ltd. An awards ceremony was held on June 24 at the Todofuken Kaikan in Tokyo.
The Best Quality Ship Award was founded in fiscal 2003 with the aim of enhancing awareness of not only safe vessel operations but also the need for environmental conservation within our ports and oceans.
Comprehensive evaluations by pilots were done for vessels that requested pilot operations at pilotage districts throughout Japan during the months of September and October 2015, and seven vessels ??? three of them NYK ships ??? were recognized for their excellent operations.
The ships were evaluated for their sure implementation of safety measures, sufficient training of bridge crew in Bridge Resource Management,** directive and command systems on board the vessel, crew awareness for safe operations, and systems in place for easing cooperation with pilots.
Encouraged by this award, the NYK Group will continue its efforts to secure safety operations for on board and land-based parties, ensuring safety as our most important task, and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted and reliable partner of our customers.
* Japan Federation of Pilots??? Associations (JFPA): Under the revised Pilotage Law, the JFPA was founded on April 1, 2007, as an incorporated national federation composed of district-wide pilot associations.
** Bridge Resource Management: Management method employing the concept of Cockpit Resource Management developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This method aims to utilize human resources on the bridge from where a ship is controlled, and to improve human/machine interfaces.