East Japan News

Japan's military said on Thursday that it had spotted four large Russian amphibious warfare ships sailing close to its islands as they traveled west, possibly towards Europe.Pictures of the amphibious transports, typically used for landing expeditionary forces ashore, published by Japan's defense ministry showed what appeared to be military trucks loaded onto the deck of one of the vessels."We don't know where they are heading, but their heading suggest it is possible," a Japanese defense ministry spokesman said.

Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the Middle East as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90% of its crude oil imports, remains volatile, Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday.Under the plan approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet, a helicopter-equipped destroyer and two P-3C patrol planes will be dispatched for information-gathering aimed at ensuring safe passage for Japanese vessels through the region.If there are any emergencies…

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper did not have any particular exchange on the U.S.-proposed maritime coalition in the Middle East, Japan's top government spokesman said on Wednesday.Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the premier and Esper confirmed the two nations would work on peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region as well as further strengthen the alliance between Japan and the United States.Suga also met Esper separately and the two didn't discuss the maritime coalition in the Middle East, either. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko;

Japanese marine renewable energy technology compan Eco Marine Power (EMP) is conducting an evaluation trial using the MgBOX fuel cell or air battery in co-operation with Furukawa Battery Co., Ltd. (Furukawa Battery) and several ship owners.These trials will help determine how this innovative emergency battery can be best stored and used on ships. Once this work is completed it is planned to make the MgBOX available for use worldwide on a variety of vessels, offshore platforms & other marine applications.The MgBOX is a small and portable emergency magnesium (Mg) air battery developed by Furukawa Battery. The MgBOX can be stored for long periods and is activated by simply adding fresh or salt water.

Russian energy giant Gazprom and Japanese Mitsui & Co. Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding at the Eastern Economic Forum on the liquefied natural gas plant project Baltic LNG.The memorandum was signed after the meeting between Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Mitsui Chairman of the Board of Directors Masami Iijima.The parties discussed the ongoing cooperation on the Sakhalin II project and the prospects for collaboration between the companies. In particular, the meeting addressed the construction of the third train of the Sakhalin II LNG plant.Alexey Miller and Masami Iijima also considered the avenues for cooperation in the area of small- and mid-scale LNG in the Far East.Japan’s Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

MidEast-Asia rates likely to remain flat until August; paper derivative trades show no uptick until October. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are likely to remain flat next week, a situation that could well last until August, brokers said on Friday. "Rates are stuck. I don't see there being any hope for July cargoes. Similar rate levels are probably here for August cargoes," a Singapore-based supertanker broker said on Friday. Current pricing of VLCC derivative futures for the Middle East-Japan route stood at 52.50 on the Worldscale measure for July. That falls to W49.75 for August, W49.50 for September and W54.50 in October. "That indicates much of the same rates story we've got now," the broker said. "There's been bits and bobs of chartering activity this week.

Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which rose to multi-month highs this week, are likely to hold firm as owners tread water before the release of further Middle-East and West Africa cargoes, ship brokers said on Friday. "The market is taking a bit of a breather. The market is waiting for Saudi Arabian cargoes," said Captain Ashok Sharma, managing director of broking house BRS Baxi Far East in Singapore. These are expected to be released early next week, followed by cargoes from Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this week spot returns in the VLCC market touched their lowest level since October 2014, with TCE earnings for Middle East/Japan (TD3) falling close to $20,000/day, says Gibson Weekly Tanker Market Report. The current weakness has been essentially driven by the build-up of available tonnage, leaving charterers with healthy numbers to choose from. However, is this a temporary blip or are there more fundamental forces at play? Perhaps, the best way to understand the current situation would be to examine the main drivers of the VLCC market both last year and so far in 2016 to see what has changed. Back in 2015, the spectacular strength in all crude tanker markets (not just VLCCs) was underpinned by very limited growth in supply coupled with major gains in demand.

The demand for container shipping is really not going anywhere at the moment. Indicators for growth in the first months of 2016 point to limited overall demand and huge variations from trade to trade. In addition, all numbers are impacted by Chinese New Year, which disrupts most trade figures for the first months of any year. BIMCO’s own data for the United States (US) imports on the east coast shows an increase of 6.5%, a significant rise even above the strong level seen in 2015. The west coast imports of loaded containers are only impressive in comparison with the very poor volumes seen in 2015. These were impacted heavily by the conflict between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) which clogged up the main ports.

NYK has concluded a contract with United Green for partial ownership of a canola flower field along the Sanriku shoreline, an area that suffered extensive damage from the tsunami that accompanied the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. United Green is a general incorporated association that has implemented a recovery project involving canola flower fields in Kamaishi city in Iwate prefecture. To improve the landscape and help develop a sustainable regional industry, canola flowers have been planted in farmlands that had been damaged by salt or simply abandoned. This contract will make NYK an owner of a specific area of the canola flower field.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. today announced that MOL cooperated in the transport of the “Tachinepta” float (*1) Samba Carnival (*2) Components of the float, weighing about 5 tons in all, were placed into 15 containers and loaded aboard an MOL-operated containership. The vessel departed the Port of Shimizu on November 25, 2014, and arrived at Santos, Brazil on January 7. The Tachinepta was then assembled by craftspeople who traveled to the site from Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. When the magnificent float was completed for the opening of the Carnival on February 13, it measured more than  featured in the  that began in Sao Paulo, Brazil on February 13. The year 2015 marks the 120th anniversary for signing the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between Japan and Brazil.

A new BIMCO clause provides a simple, practical and commercial solution focusing on the basic obligations and responsibilities of owners and charterers when dealing with the Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM). The spread by ships of AGM poses a severe risk to agricultural resources in many parts of the world. Strict regulations are imposed by authorities in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to guard against this invasive and destruction pest. The moths don't cause damage to foliage directly as they do not eat during this short phase of their life, which may last only 2 or 3 weeks. The damage is done by the AGM caterpillar which has a voracious appetite.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) yesterday concluded an agreement with Miyaji Engineering Group, Inc. (MEG) whereby, effective April 1, 2015, MHI will transfer a 51% ownership stake in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Bridge & Steel Structures Engineering Co., Ltd. (MBE), a group company, to MEG. Simultaneously, a shareholders agreement was also concluded between MHI and MEG. The Japanese market for social infrastructure is currently very robust, with strong demand in widespread evidence for projects to spur recovery in regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, for upgrades to the nation's rapidly aging infrastructure, for new expressways and Shinkansen (bullet train) lines, and for facilities of various kinds in the runup to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 occurred on Saturday off the eastern coast of Japan, triggering a small tsunami with waves up to 20 inches, but no damage on the northeast coast of the country will be reported, local meteorological agency said. Northeastern Japan was devastated by a catastrophic tsunami in March 2011. No irregularities were reported at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which was severely damaged by the disaster of 2011, which caused the worst nuclear accident in the world since the Chernobyl meltdown in Ukraine in 1986. The earthquake reached category 4 on the Japanese seismic scale of 1-7, which means that there is little chance that generated serious damage.

Car Carriers change to latest energy-saving units: part of sales proceeds to aid Great East Japan Earthquake reconstruction efforts. To make improvements in energy and economic efficiency, NYK has installed E·COOL, a next-generation energy-saving fluorescent lighting system produced by Optrom, Inc., on six NYK-operated car carriers. Since April 2012, approximately 13,000 fluorescent lights have been replaced by E·COOL. E·COOL uses a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) that has been used for years in LCD monitors.

Tsunami warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and other weather service providers will be sent to vessels via NYK's 'e-missions' system. The warnings are intended to allow affected vessels to determine the best course of action through contact with those on shore and use of the Tsunami-Response Guidelines NYK developed and released last year. When a tsunami warning is issued, a tsunami alert will be sent (in English) to NYK vessel operators and about 800 vessels that make use of NYK 'e-missions'.

On May 17, 2013, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) will sign an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) to build a Sayaendo series new-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. Sayaendo series ships feature a unique structure that integrates the LNG tank cover with the ship hull, resulting in significantly improved fuel consumption and maintainability. From 2020 the new ship will be used mainly for transportation of LNG produced by the Ichthys LNG Project in Australia for Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. and Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc.

Elomatic (a marine consulting company in Finland), and Garroni Progetti  (an Italian ship designer) are working together to show that NYK is striving to develop technically in the long term and also to lead in future development of shipping operations, including cargo handling and traffic infrastructure. The theme of the expo will be “The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities,” and the event will feature displays illustrating the progress and future prospects of maritime technology, a new growth driver for the advancement of humanity.

NYK has drawn upon the lessons learned from the tremendous tsunami damage sustained by vessels after the east Japan earthquake in March of last year to create tsunami-response guidelines for ships in port. The guidelines, the first to be developed for Japan, were presented at a recent meeting hosted by the Japan Institute of Navigation. The guidelines detail how a vessel in port should react to information about an incoming tsunami, particularly by giving top priority to preserving life and then minimizing damage to the vessel hull and port facilities. The guidelines will be provided as a reference material to assist ship masters in their decision-making process during their review of the circumstances at the time and the changes likely to be caused by the incoming tsunami.

NYK Group company, held a get-together on board its 58,000-ton bulk carrier New Pride with guests from the Ishinomaki area in Miyagi prefecture to celebrate the installation of a new mechanical unloader (cargo handling machinery) at the port’s No. 7 Hiyori wharf and to pray for the further recovery and development of the port. Two of the port’s three unloaders toppled into the sea during the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing tsunami, and the port’s handling capacity had since been reduced significantly.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) records a loss in its recent quarterly financial report. MOL recorded a loss in its business performance over the first quarter, despite making an improvement in its bottom line compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year. Difficult trading conditions were attributed to the sovereign debt crisis in southern Europe, only moderate economic growth in USA, and in China a weakened pace of growth. On the other hand, In Japan, the automobile industry experienced strong domestic sales due to the government subsidy program for eco-friendly cars. In addition, exports were steady, particularly to the U.S., and expansion in restoration demand related to the Great East Japan Earthquake brought about a gentle tone of economic recovery.

Conley & Associates, Inc. (CAI) is a major provider of technical services, supply chain management and life cycle support for U.S. Military communications and navigation systems deployed throughout the world, including the Middle-east, Japan, the Mediterranean, Central America and the U.S. Conley was recently selected to be a U.S. Raytheon Anschütz Distributor. Raytheon Anschütz GmbH, a division of Raytheon Corporation, is located in Kiel Germany and is a leading manufacturer of integrated naval bridge systems and nautical equipment such as gyro compasses, autopilots, steering control systems, monitoring systems, radar systems, electronic charting equipment and communication systems.

NYK bulk coal carrier resumes direct shipments to earthquake-damaged port of Haramach. The 90,000 dwt NYK-operated bulk carrier “Haramachimaru” filled with coal has arrived at a dedicated port for a thermal power station operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. This was the first arrival of a coal carrier at the berth since the Great East Japan Earthquake last year. The berth is located in the town of Haramachi, and wharf operations restarted as the power station became operational again. A total of 89,000 tons of coal from Newcastle, Australia, was unloaded from the vessel, Haramachimaru.