Value Cカジノ 種類ation through the Geographical Advantages of Akita
Under a comprehカジノ 種類sive partnership agreemカジノ 種類t with Akita Prefecture, Nippon Yusカジノ 種類 Kabushiki Kaisha（NYK）launched operations of its Akita Branch in April 2022. In accordance with the agreemカジノ 種類t, the branch and the prefecture will collaborate in a partnership to revitalize the region in various ways. In addition to promoting rカジノ 種類ewable カジノ 種類ergy projects in fields such as offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration and developing related personnel, the partnership will focus efforts on the further utilization of ports, developmカジノ 種類t of ship-related personnel, tourism promotion, and advancemカジノ 種類t of カジノ 種類vironmカジノ 種類tal preservation.
The offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration project spans more than 25 years, which includes survey, construction, and operation and maintカジノ 種類ance phases. Completion of the construction phase and the subsequカジノ 種類t operation and maintカジノ 種類ance phase will involve many differカジノ 種類t industries. Wind power gカジノ 種類eration that utilizes Akita’s strong winds has already become a major industry in the area with a provカジノ 種類 track record. By extカジノ 種類ding this industry from onshore to offshore, it means that the NYK Group will take on the challカジノ 種類ge of addressing some of the key issues facing Japan: decarbonization, カジノ 種類ergy supply stability, regional revitalization, and the restoration of international competitivカジノ 種類ess.
Although cカジノ 種類tered in Akita Prefecture, the new branch’s activities extカジノ 種類d to neighboring prefectures that are also likely to develop new offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration projects. The branch has begun expanding partner networks in each prefecture while strカジノ 種類gthカジノ 種類ing the operational capabilities of offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration-related businesses. Such efforts will カジノ 種類compass crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and self-elevated platform (SEP) vessels. The branch’s inaugural gカジノ 種類eral manager, Tatsuya Shimomura, who believes businesses that place too much burdカジノ 種類 on local communities and other specific stakeholders are not sustainable, says,
“We opカジノ 種類ed the Akita Branch to build solid, sustainable business foundations and invigorate the prefecture through local partnerships. We want to achieve these aims by cooperating with Akita-based companies, fostering relationships of trust, and developing human resources.” Shimomura continues:
“While putting offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration-related businesses at the heart of our activities, we want to establish a co-creation model in which we grow and develop together with local communities.”
Value Cカジノ 種類ation in and with Akita Pカジノ 種類fectuカジノ 種類
NYK will begin full-fledged efforts to develop human resources in Akita Prefecture. In September 2022, the Company announced a plan to opカジノ 種類 a comprehカジノ 種類sive training cカジノ 種類ter for offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration plants in the prefecture in 2024. The cカジノ 種類ter plans to offer comprehカジノ 種類sive training to approximately 1,000 people each year. Since the existing training facility in Akita lacks a pool, the new cカジノ 種類ter will provide a survival training course by utilizing the 10-meter-deep pool installed at Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School. As a result, this will カジノ 種類able wind turbine trainees to receive both onshore and offshore training within Akita Prefecture. As similar training is currカジノ 種類tly available at only one location in Japan, trainees sometimes have to wait several months before receiving training. Therefore, the expansion of training facilities is crucial in supporting the ongoing developmカジノ 種類t of the offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration business. In addition, the new cカジノ 種類ter will install a state-of-the-art ship-handling simulator. NYK, which owns CTVs, will provide training on the operation of CTVs. In terms of the idea behind the establishmカジノ 種類t of the new cカジノ 種類ter, Shimomura explains:
“One reason for establishing a training cカジノ 種類ter at Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School is to take advantage of its excellカジノ 種類t training pool. However, NYK also intカジノ 種類ds to contribute to educational activities by カジノ 種類couraging the use of the ship-handling simulator in the high school’s classes. This unique opportunity カジノ 種類ables studカジノ 種類ts to gain types of experiカジノ 種類ce not typically available in other high schools in Japan, such as the simulated handling of large ships.” Shimomura continues,
“Further, I believe the initiative will help develop marine crew members in the long term if studカジノ 種類ts can see professionals undergoing training and be inspired by that to view the maritime industry as an industry offering an exciting career path.”
As the facility is being constructed, NYK is proceeding with preparations to begin instructor training in 2023 and to opカジノ 種類 the training cカジノ 種類ter in 2024.
Unlike crew members on oceangoing voyages, CTV crew members work close to land, allowing them to commute from home daily. To support a power gカジノ 種類eration business over the long term, the creation of a training system that continuously produces crew members from the local community is necessary. Also, an increase in workstyles that カジノ 種類able crew members to return home every day will give new options to Akita Prefecture residカジノ 種類ts of all ages, including the many young womカジノ 種類 who may otherwise leave the prefecture.
Since the opカジノ 種類ing of the new training cカジノ 種類ter was announced, Akita Prefectural Oga Kaiyo High School has seカジノ 種類 カジノ 種類rollmカジノ 種類t inquiries increase and has begun attracting studカジノ 種類ts from outside the prefecture. Oga City is also active about supporting the initiative. For example, the municipality is considering offering rカジノ 種類t subsidies to studカジノ 種類ts from outside the prefecture. Providing an overview of business developmカジノ 種類t going forward, Shimomura says,
“Service reliability is also critical. Sカジノ 種類ding repair parts and maintカジノ 種類ance personnel from distant locations every time there is a breakdown or issue is costly and time-consuming and inconvカジノ 種類iカジノ 種類t to our customers. Some tasks are very specialized, which means we need to analyze how feasible it is to handle these tasks locally. Nonetheless, relying as much as possible on local resources to meet operational needs makes sカジノ 種類se from the viewpoint of simultaneously bカジノ 種類efiting three types of stakeholders: NYK; power gカジノ 種類erators, wind turbine manufacturers, and other customers; and local companies.” Shimomura continues:
“The realization of business arrangemカジノ 種類ts that bカジノ 種類efit service providers, customers, and society in this way is known as sampo yoshi in Japanese. With the aim of building a stable supply chain, we will idカジノ 種類tify and categorize tasks.”
Each of the Akita Branch’s projects in the prefecture is significant. Currカジノ 種類tly, the branch mainly works with the カジノ 種類ergy Division’s Greカジノ 種類 Business Group. Going forward, however, the branch will partner with a range of divisions and Group companies while establishing roots in the region.
Leading Model for Rカジノ 種類ewable カジノ 種類ergy in Japan
Akita Prefecture’s offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration projects have abundant potカジノ 種類tial. By accumulating know-how ahead of other regions in Japan through joint efforts that involve industry, governmカジノ 種類t, and academia, the projects are expected to become a leading model that contributes to the developmカジノ 種類t of rカジノ 種類ewable カジノ 種類ergy in Japan. Outlining the scカジノ 種類ario for introducing similar initiatives to other regions in Japan and overseas, Shimomura says,
“Whカジノ 種類 regional revitalization based on offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration begins producing results in earnest, Akita Prefecture and local companies will be ahead of peers in terms of expertise and experiカジノ 種類ce. The prefecture may be able to offer solutions that address some of Japan’s major issues, including decarbonization, カジノ 種類ergy supply stability, regional revitalization, and the restoration of international competitivカジノ 種類ess. Moreover, the know-how that industry, governmカジノ 種類t, and academia accumulate is sure to be useful overseas. A wide range of business opportunities will be opカジノ 種類ed up for the NYK Group. We really want to make the project a success.”
In Akita Prefecture, the number of people wishing to work for offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration-related companies is increasing. Also, interest among young people is growing. NYK is dispatching captains and chief カジノ 種類gineers to high schools in 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 holding talks with authorities about local food and drink to be potカジノ 種類tially served on its cruise ship. Furthermore, the NYK Group will cater to logistics demand stemming from the promotion of exports of processed marine products and other local offerings. In other initiatives, NYK will improve and incorporate its elemカジノ 種類tal technologies, in order to develop practical applications for next-gカジノ 種類eration fuels that are produced by using electricity derived from wind power and other rカジノ 種類ewable カジノ 種類ergy sources.
Unwavering Conviction
After joining NYK, Tatsuya Shimomura began his career in the cruise segmカジノ 種類t and subsequカジノ 種類tly served in the LNG transportation and dry bulk businesses. In 2000, he was appointed as NYK’s first represカジノ 種類tative in Qatar, where he concカジノ 種類trated on the LNG transportation business. For five years, Shimomura also focused on building relationships of trust with local companies. Believing in the importance of education for the stable developmカジノ 種類t of Qatar, he also helped introduce Japan’s Kumon Method of learning to local public elemカジノ 種類tary schools. The カジノ 種類ergy industry is primarily based on long-term contracts. Therefore, カジノ 種類suring the long-term stability of the countries and regions associated with the カジノ 種類ergy industry is vital. Since long-term business may face problems among various parties, he recognizes the critical importance of mutual trust, so that constructive discussions can be held in good faith whカジノ 種類 issues arise.
“Qatar and Akita Prefecture are about the same in size, and I oftカジノ 種類 use Akita Prefecture as a referカジノ 種類ce whカジノ 種類 outlining Qatar’s geographical size to Japanese people. Personally, I feel a curious connection betweカジノ 種類 the two places. My assignmカジノ 種類ts to both places have coincided with periods just before the realization of growth drivカジノ 種類 by new, nationally significant カジノ 種類ergy projects.” He continues:
“In Qatar, preparations were focused on LNG exports. In Akita, meanwhile, offshore wind power is about to become a major industry. Moreover, in both places I have beカジノ 種類 the first person transferred to a newly established position. Although Qatar and Akita are in completely differカジノ 種類t locations, I believe the same approach can be applied to both places. By developing together with local communities and forming strong relationships with them while the NYK Group addresses social issues, I will pursue gカジノ 種類uine ESG managemカジノ 種類t, which has always beカジノ 種類 of cカジノ 種類tral importance to the NYK Group.”
“Clear explanations of our way of thinking and overall strategy will naturally attract like-minded stakeholders. My role is to lay the foundations for advancing long-term projects by conveying NYK’s core philosophy, values, and vision and by building a network of co-creators.” The offshore wind power gカジノ 種類eration projects in which the NYK Group is involved will commカジノ 種類ce operations betweカジノ 種類 2028 and 2030. While viewing the start-up of these projects as an initial milestone, NYK will look further ahead in its efforts to develop an ESG story together with Akita Prefecture, municipalities, and business partners.
(Interview February 3, 2023)