日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Aug 13, 2024 (Tue)

‌【Interview】Mr. Kuwata, vice president of MOL, we strategically own our vessels in the dry bulk business

Hirofumi Kuwata, Vice President and General Manager of Headquarters of Dry Bulk Business, MOL

　MOL has a dry bulk fleet of approximately 300 vessels. In June, the company decided to make Gearbul ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+has+a+dry+bulk+fleet+of+approximately+300+vessels.+In+June%2C+the+company+decided+to+make+Gearbulk+Holding+%28headquartered+in+Switzerland%29%2C+an+equity+method+affiliate+engaged+in+the+open+hatch+ship+business%2C+a+consolidated+subsidiary.+We+spoke+to+Vice+President+Hirofumi+Kuwata%2C+who+became+the+head+of+the+Headquarters+of+Dry+Bulk+Business+on+April+1%2C+about+his+aspirations+and+leadership.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I%E2%80%99d+like+to+start+by+asking+about+your+aspirations.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+year%2C+our+company+celebrates+its+140th+anniversary.+The+company%E2%80%99s+founding+business+was+transporting+dry+bulk+cargo.+As+dry+cargo+accounts+for+the+majority+of+seaborne+cargo+movements%2C+it+can+be+said+to+be+right+at+the+heart+of+our+shipping+business.+That+has+changed+over+time+and+continues+to+this+day.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+transforming+our+business+portfolio+to+achieve+the+vision+for+FY+2035+set+out+in+our+group+management+plan%2C+%E2%80%98BLUE+ACTION+2035%E2%80%99.+We+would+like+to+reassess+the+positioning+of+our+dry+bulk+business+and+develop+a+distinctive+business+based+on+the+theme+of+%E2%80%99change+and+growth%E2%80%99.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Changes+in+cargo+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+planning+to+lead%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+volume+of+dry+cargo+transported+by+sea%2C+including+iron+ore%2C+coal%2C+and+grains%2C+amounts+to+5+billion+tons+per+year.+Due+to+the+trend+towards+decarbonization%2C+cargo+movement+of+some+cargo+is+expected+to+slow+down%2C+while+that+of+other+cargo+is+expected+to+increase.+I+think+cargo+movement+volume+in+2035+will+be+roughly+the+same+as+it+is+now.+However%2C+cargo+types+and+trades+are+likely+to+change.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIf+the+way+steel+is+made+changes%2C+demand+for+iron+ore+and+coking+coal+will+decrease.+On+the+other+hand%2C+transportation+of+HBI+%28reduced+iron%29+and+scrap+for+electric+furnaces+is+expected+to+increase.+If+hydrogen+reduction+technology+can+be+established%2C+it+is+possible+that+demand+for+transporting+hydrogen+will+emerge.+There+will+also+be+demand+for+transportation+to+capture%2C+store+and+reuse+the+CO2+%28carbon+dioxide%29+that+cannot+be+reduced.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWhen+cargo+changes%2C+the+required+ship+sizes+and+types+also+change.+We+will+also+work+closely+with+the+%E2%80%98Carbon+Solutions+Business+Development+Unit%E2%80%99%2C+which+is+part+of+both+the+Headquarters+of+Energy+Business+and+the+Headquarters+of+Dry+Bulk+Business%2C+to+pool+the+knowledge+and+expertise+of+our+group+and+rapidly+respond+to+changes+in+transportation+needs.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Trade+patterns+are+also+expected+to+change.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAlthough+cargo+movements+to+developed+countries+such+as+Japan+are+expected+to+decline%2C+cargo+movements+to+Southeast+Asia+and+India%2C+which+continue+to+experience+economic+growth%2C+are+likely+to+continue+to+grow.+Strong+growth+in+iron+ore+and+bauxite+exports+is+also+expected+from+West+Africa.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+focus+on+Asia%2C+including+Japan%2C+where+we+have+expertise%2C+and+increase+our+presence+in+India+and+the+Middle+East+as+well.+We+are+also+considering+opening+a+base+in+Dubai%2C+United+Arab+Emirates.+We+will+also+be+looking+at+transatlantic+logistics+involving+Africa+and+South+America.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+needed+for+growth%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+large+bulker+business+is+built+on+stable+profits+based+on+long-term+contracts+with+shippers.+In+terms+of+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+which+mainly+engage+in+short-term+contracts%2C+we+have+undergone+two+restructurings+and+have+shifted+to+a+light+asset+strategy.+Our+main+focus+has+been+to+curb+investment+in+ships+and+avoid+incurring+losses+even+during+recessions.+However%2C+recent+favorable+performance+has+improved+the+company%E2%80%99s+overall+financial+condition%2C+and+the+position+of+the+dry+bulk+business+in+its+portfolio+strategy+has+also+changed.+The+dry+bulk+carrier+fleet+is+also+becoming+leaner.+It%E2%80%99s+time+to+change+strategy.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+want+to+ensure+that+we+can+make+good+profits+when+the+dry+bulk+market+is+good.+When+the+market+is+bad%2C+we+try+to+avoid+losses+as+much+as+possible.+To+do+this%2C+we+need+to+take+some+risks.+We+will+invest+in+ships+ourselves+and+strategically+gain+market+exposure.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Incorporating+our+own+ships+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Will+you+be+increasing+the+number+of+ships+you+own%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CGoing+forward%2C+time+chartering+from+shipowners+through+charter+chain+management+will+remain+our+core+business.+However%2C+until+now%2C+almost+all+ships%2C+especially+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers%2C+have+been+chartered+from+shipowners.+We+will+change+this.+We+will+gradually+incorporate+our+own+ships.+We+will+seek+out+opportunities+to+invest+in+both+new+and+secondhand+vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+the+strengths+of+the+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%E2%80%99s+dry+bulk+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+is+the+trust+in+the+marine+transport+services+we+provide+and+the+business+chain+we+have+built+with+affiliated+companies+such+as+shippers%2C+shipyards%2C+shipowners+and+ports+based+on+that+trust.+Furthermore%2C+our+strengths+include+credibility%2C+technological+capabilities%2C+and+flexibility+to+quickly+respond+to+changes+in+the+business+environment.+We+want+to+strengthen+our+business+domains+where+we+can+utilize+our+strengths.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUnlike+European+dry+bulk-dedicated+shipping+companies%2C+we+are+not+good+at+pursuing+fleet+size+and+competing+in+the+market.+We+will+sincerely+address+the+needs+of+our+customers+and+society%2C+and+devote+resources+to+businesses+that+work+with+customers+to+think+up+and+implement+solutions.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+environmental+friendliness%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+terms+of+large+bulkers%2C+we+are+moving+forward+with+the+introduction+of+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+fueled+ships.+Although+fuel+switching+for+medium-sized+bulkers+is+difficult%2C+we+have+decided+to+use+methanol-fueled+ships.+We+are+also+working+to+commercialize+new+fuels+such+as+ammonia.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+focus+on+introducing+fuel-saving+devices+and+wind-powered+propulsion+auxiliary+equipment%2C+as+well+as+adopting+new+energy-saving+heavy+oil-fired+ships.+We+are+also+promoting+the+%E2%80%98DarWIN+Project%2C%E2%80%99+which+utilizes+digital+technology+to+pursue+optimal+operations.+The+hard+sail+system+wind+propulsion+device+%E2%80%98Wind+Challenger%E2%80%99+is+attracting+growing+interest+from+customers+as+its+effectiveness+has+been+verified+during+actual+voyages.+We+will+continue+to+install+them+systematically+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--The+company+plans+to+make+Gearbulk+Holding%2C+which+operates+approximately+60+open+hatch+bulkers%2C+a+consolidated+subsidiary+around+January+2025.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSemi-liner+services+are+the+norm+for+open+hatch+vessels%2C+so+this+is+a+very+unique+business+among+dry+bulk+vessels.+It+is+similar+to+a+container+ship+and+can+be+considered+a+network-based+business.+We%E2%80%99ve+been+interested+in+this+for+a+while+now.+Currently%2C+we+have+a+49%25+stake+in+Gearbulk.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+volatility+in+the+freight+rate+market+for+open+hatch+vessels+is+relatively+low.+This+is+because+it+is+a+niche+business+using+specialized+ships+that+requires+know-how+and+is+not+something+that+anyone+can+do.+Using+the+opportunity+to+increase+our+investment+ratio+in+Gearbulk+to+approximately+72%25%2C+we+would+like+to+create+synergies+and+discover+new+cargo%2C+and+make+the+open+hatch+ship+business%2C+which+is+expected+to+generate+stable+profits%2C+one+of+the+pillars+of+our+dry+bulk+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Hirofumi+Kuwata+graduated+from+Faculty+of+Law%2C+Kyoto+University+in+1986+and+joined+Yamashita-Shinnihon+Steamship+%28now+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%29.+In+2012%2C+he+became+General+Manager+of+the+Dedicated+Vessel+Division%3B+in+2016%2C+General+Manager+of+the+Coal+Carrier+Division%3B+in+2017%2C+Executive+Officer%3B+in+2020%2C+Managing+Executive+Officer%3B+in+2023%2C+Senior+Managing+Executive+Officer%3B+and+in+April+2024%2C+he+assumed+his+current+position.+Born+in+Kumamoto+Prefecture.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【インタビュー　ドライバルク事業の舵取り】商船三井副社長ドライバルク営業本部長・鍬田博文氏、戦略転換 一定リスク許容

2024/08/13(火)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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