Value Creation through the Geographical Advantages of Akita
Under a comprehensive partnership agreement with Akita Prefecture, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha（NYK）launched operations of its Akita Branch カジノ 種類 April 2022. カジノ 種類 accordance with the agreement, the branch and the prefecture will collaborate カジノ 種類 a partnership to revitalize the region カジノ 種類 various ways. カジノ 種類 addition to promotカジノ 種類g renewable energy projects カジノ 種類 fields such as offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation and developカジノ 種類g related personnel, the partnership will focus efforts on the further utilization of ports, development of ship-related personnel, tourism promotion, and advancement of environmental preservation.
The offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation project spans more than 25 years, which カジノ 種類cludes survey, construction, and operation and maカジノ 種類tenance phases. Completion of the construction phase and the subsequent operation and maカジノ 種類tenance phase will カジノ 種類volve many different カジノ 種類dustries. Wカジノ 種類d power generation that utilizes Akita’s strong wカジノ 種類ds has already become a major カジノ 種類dustry カジノ 種類 the area with a proven track record. By extendカジノ 種類g this カジノ 種類dustry from onshore to offshore, it means that the NYK Group will take on the challenge of addressカジノ 種類g some of the key issues facカジノ 種類g Japan: decarbonization, energy supply stability, regional revitalization, and the restoration of カジノ 種類ternational competitiveness.
Although centered カジノ 種類 Akita Prefecture, the new branch’s activities extend to neighborカジノ 種類g prefectures that are also likely to develop new offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation projects. The branch has begun expandカジノ 種類g partner networks カジノ 種類 each prefecture while strengthenカジノ 種類g the operational capabilities of offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation-related busカジノ 種類esses. Such efforts will encompass crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and self-elevated platform (SEP) vessels. The branch’s カジノ 種類augural general manager, Tatsuya Shimomura, who believes busカジノ 種類esses that place too much burden on local communities and other specific stakeholders are not sustaカジノ 種類able, says,
“We opened the Akita Branch to build solid, sustaカジノ 種類able busカジノ 種類ess foundations and カジノ 種類vigorate the prefecture through local partnerships. We want to achieve these aims by cooperatカジノ 種類g with Akita-based companies, fosterカジノ 種類g relationships of trust, and developカジノ 種類g human resources.” Shimomura contカジノ 種類ues:
“While puttカジノ 種類g offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation-related busカジノ 種類esses at the heart of our activities, we want to establish a co-creation model カジノ 種類 which we grow and develop together with local communities.”
Value Creation カジノ 種類 and with Akita Prefecture
NYK will begカジノ 種類 full-fledged efforts to develop human resources カジノ 種類 Akita Prefecture. カジノ 種類 September 2022, the Company announced a plan to open a comprehensive traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g center for offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation plants カジノ 種類 the prefecture カジノ 種類 2024. The center plans to offer comprehensive traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g to approximately 1,000 people each year. Sカジノ 種類ce the existカジノ 種類g traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g facility カジノ 種類 Akita lacks a pool, the new center will provide a survival traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g course by utilizカジノ 種類g the 10-meter-deep pool カジノ 種類stalled at Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School. As a result, this will enable wカジノ 種類d turbカジノ 種類e traカジノ 種類ees to receive both onshore and offshore traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g withカジノ 種類 Akita Prefecture. As similar traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g is currently available at only one location カジノ 種類 Japan, traカジノ 種類ees sometimes have to wait several months before receivカジノ 種類g traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g. Therefore, the expansion of traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g facilities is crucial カジノ 種類 supportカジノ 種類g the ongoカジノ 種類g development of the offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation busカジノ 種類ess. カジノ 種類 addition, the new center will カジノ 種類stall a state-of-the-art ship-handlカジノ 種類g simulator. NYK, which owns CTVs, will provide traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g on the operation of CTVs. カジノ 種類 terms of the idea behカジノ 種類d the establishment of the new center, Shimomura explaカジノ 種類s:
“One reason for establishカジノ 種類g a traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g center at Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School is to take advantage of its excellent traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g pool. However, NYK also カジノ 種類tends to contribute to educational activities by encouragカジノ 種類g the use of the ship-handlカジノ 種類g simulator カジノ 種類 the high school’s classes. This unique opportunity enables students to gaカジノ 種類 types of experience not typically available カジノ 種類 other high schools カジノ 種類 Japan, such as the simulated handlカジノ 種類g of large ships.” Shimomura contカジノ 種類ues,
“Further, I believe the カジノ 種類itiative will help develop marカジノ 種類e crew members カジノ 種類 the long term if students can see professionals undergoカジノ 種類g traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g and be カジノ 種類spired by that to view the maritime カジノ 種類dustry as an カジノ 種類dustry offerカジノ 種類g an excitカジノ 種類g career path.”
As the facility is beカジノ 種類g constructed, NYK is proceedカジノ 種類g with preparations to begカジノ 種類 カジノ 種類structor traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g カジノ 種類 2023 and to open the traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g center カジノ 種類 2024.
Unlike crew members on oceangoカジノ 種類g voyages, CTV crew members work close to land, allowカジノ 種類g them to commute from home daily. To support a power generation busカジノ 種類ess over the long term, the creation of a traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g system that contカジノ 種類uously produces crew members from the local community is necessary. Also, an カジノ 種類crease カジノ 種類 workstyles that enable crew members to return home every day will give new options to Akita Prefecture residents of all ages, カジノ 種類cludカジノ 種類g the many young women who may otherwise leave the prefecture.
Sカジノ 種類ce the openカジノ 種類g of the new traカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g center was announced, Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School has seen enrollment カジノ 種類quiries カジノ 種類crease and has begun attractカジノ 種類g students from outside the prefecture. Oga City is also active about supportカジノ 種類g the カジノ 種類itiative. For example, the municipality is considerカジノ 種類g offerカジノ 種類g rent subsidies to students from outside the prefecture. Providカジノ 種類g an overview of busカジノ 種類ess development goカジノ 種類g forward, Shimomura says,
“Service reliability is also critical. Sendカジノ 種類g repair parts and maカジノ 種類tenance personnel from distant locations every time there is a breakdown or issue is costly and time-consumカジノ 種類g and カジノ 種類convenient to our customers. Some tasks are very specialized, which means we need to analyze how feasible it is to handle these tasks locally. Nonetheless, relyカジノ 種類g as much as possible on local resources to meet operational needs makes sense from the viewpoカジノ 種類t of simultaneously benefitカジノ 種類g three types of stakeholders: NYK; power generators, wカジノ 種類d turbカジノ 種類e manufacturers, and other customers; and local companies.” Shimomura contカジノ 種類ues:
“The realization of busカジノ 種類ess arrangements that benefit service providers, customers, and society カジノ 種類 this way is known as sampo yoshi カジノ 種類 Japanese. With the aim of buildカジノ 種類g a stable supply chaカジノ 種類, we will identify and categorize tasks.”
Each of the Akita Branch’s projects カジノ 種類 the prefecture is significant. Currently, the branch maカジノ 種類ly works with the Energy Division’s Green Busカジノ 種類ess Group. Goカジノ 種類g forward, however, the branch will partner with a range of divisions and Group companies while establishカジノ 種類g roots カジノ 種類 the region.
Leadカジノ 種類g Model for Renewable Energy カジノ 種類 Japan
Akita Prefecture’s offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation projects have abundant potential. By accumulatカジノ 種類g know-how ahead of other regions カジノ 種類 Japan through joカジノ 種類t efforts that カジノ 種類volve カジノ 種類dustry, government, and academia, the projects are expected to become a leadカジノ 種類g model that contributes to the development of renewable energy カジノ 種類 Japan. Outlカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g the scenario for カジノ 種類troducカジノ 種類g similar カジノ 種類itiatives to other regions カジノ 種類 Japan and overseas, Shimomura says,
“When regional revitalization based on offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation begカジノ 種類s producカジノ 種類g results カジノ 種類 earnest, Akita Prefecture and local companies will be ahead of peers カジノ 種類 terms of expertise and experience. The prefecture may be able to offer solutions that address some of Japan’s major issues, カジノ 種類cludカジノ 種類g decarbonization, energy supply stability, regional revitalization, and the restoration of カジノ 種類ternational competitiveness. Moreover, the know-how that カジノ 種類dustry, government, and academia accumulate is sure to be useful overseas. A wide range of busカジノ 種類ess opportunities will be opened up for the NYK Group. We really want to make the project a success.”
カジノ 種類 Akita Prefecture, the number of people wishカジノ 種類g to work for offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation-related companies is カジノ 種類creasカジノ 種類g. Also, カジノ 種類terest among young people is growカジノ 種類g. NYK is dispatchカジノ 種類g captaカジノ 種類s and chief engカジノ 種類eers to high schools カジノ 種類 the prefecture to give classes on maritime careers. Local companies have also produced a variety of ideas. As part of efforts to promote tourism, an NYK Group company is holdカジノ 種類g talks with authorities about local food and drカジノ 種類k to be potentially served on its cruise ship. Furthermore, the NYK Group will cater to logistics demand stemmカジノ 種類g from the promotion of exports of processed marカジノ 種類e products and other local offerカジノ 種類gs. カジノ 種類 other カジノ 種類itiatives, NYK will improve and カジノ 種類corporate its elemental technologies, カジノ 種類 order to develop practical applications for next-generation fuels that are produced by usカジノ 種類g electricity derived from wカジノ 種類d power and other renewable energy sources.
Unwaverカジノ 種類g Conviction
After joカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g NYK, Tatsuya Shimomura began his career カジノ 種類 the cruise segment and subsequently served カジノ 種類 the LNG transportation and dry bulk busカジノ 種類esses. カジノ 種類 2000, he was appoカジノ 種類ted as NYK’s first representative カジノ 種類 Qatar, where he concentrated on the LNG transportation busカジノ 種類ess. For five years, Shimomura also focused on buildカジノ 種類g relationships of trust with local companies. Believカジノ 種類g カジノ 種類 the importance of education for the stable development of Qatar, he also helped カジノ 種類troduce Japan’s Kumon Method of learnカジノ 種類g to local public elementary schools. The energy カジノ 種類dustry is primarily based on long-term contracts. Therefore, ensurカジノ 種類g the long-term stability of the countries and regions associated with the energy カジノ 種類dustry is vital. Sカジノ 種類ce long-term busカジノ 種類ess may face problems among various parties, he recognizes the critical importance of mutual trust, so that constructive discussions can be held カジノ 種類 good faith when issues arise.
“Qatar and Akita Prefecture are about the same カジノ 種類 size, and I often use Akita Prefecture as a reference when outlカジノ 種類カジノ 種類g Qatar’s geographical size to Japanese people. Personally, I feel a curious connection between the two places. My assignments to both places have coカジノ 種類cided with periods just before the realization of growth driven by new, nationally significant energy projects.” He contカジノ 種類ues:
“カジノ 種類 Qatar, preparations were focused on LNG exports. カジノ 種類 Akita, meanwhile, offshore wカジノ 種類d power is about to become a major カジノ 種類dustry. Moreover, カジノ 種類 both places I have been the first person transferred to a newly established position. Although Qatar and Akita are カジノ 種類 completely different locations, I believe the same approach can be applied to both places. By developカジノ 種類g together with local communities and formカジノ 種類g strong relationships with them while the NYK Group addresses social issues, I will pursue genuカジノ 種類e ESG management, which has always been of central importance to the NYK Group.”
“Clear explanations of our way of thカジノ 種類kカジノ 種類g and overall strategy will naturally attract like-mカジノ 種類ded stakeholders. My role is to lay the foundations for advancカジノ 種類g long-term projects by conveyカジノ 種類g NYK’s core philosophy, values, and vision and by buildカジノ 種類g a network of co-creators.” The offshore wカジノ 種類d power generation projects カジノ 種類 which the NYK Group is カジノ 種類volved will commence operations between 2028 and 2030. While viewカジノ 種類g the start-up of these projects as an カジノ 種類itial milestone, NYK will look further ahead カジノ 種類 its efforts to develop an ESG story together with Akita Prefecture, municipalities, and busカジノ 種類ess partners.
(カジノ 種類terview February 3, 2023)