日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Apr 23, 2025 (Wed)

‌【Interview】Mr.Kuroyanagi, Managing Director of Kumiai Navigation, on Three Decades in Singapore

Mr. Tomomaru Kuroyanagi, Managing Director, Kumiai Navigation

　Kumiai Navigation, a Singapore-based shipowner of the Kumiai Senpaku group (headquartered in Tokyo) ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EKumiai+Navigation%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+a+Singapore-based+shipowner+of+the+Kumiai+Senpaku+group+%28headquartered+in+Tokyo%29%2C+celebrated+its+30th+anniversary+on+April+20.+We+interviewed+Managing+Director+Tomomaru+Kuroyanagi%2C+whose+company+was+a+pioneer+in+the+expansion+of+Japanese+shipping+into+Singapore%2C+developed+global+charter+demand%2C+and+built+a+solid+foundation+at+the+forefront+of+the+international+market%2C+about+the+company%E2%80%99s+30-year+journey+and+its+outlook+for+the+future.%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Azumi+Kashiwai%29%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Please+reflect+on+the+circumstances+surrounding+your+entry+into+Singapore+at+the+time+of+the+company%E2%80%99s+founding.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+parent+company%2C+Kumiai+Senpaku%2C+was+founded+in+1972+by+its+founder%2C+Toyoshige+Shiraishi.+With+the+strong+support+of+customers+in+Japan%2C+it+became+a+shipowner+with+a+fleet+of+about+30+vessels+in+less+than+a+dozen+years+after+its+establishment.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+after+Mr.+Shiraishi+passed+away+suddenly+in+1988+and+the+company+entered+a+period+of+stability+following+its+initial+growth+phase%2C+the+low+growth+of+the+Japanese+economy+also+made+it+difficult+to+expand+the+fleet.+In+the+1990s%2C+as+the+yen+continued+to+appreciate%2C+the+management+at+the+time+felt+a+sense+of+crisis+that+not+only+would+it+be+difficult+for+the+company+to+grow+if+it+remained+in+Japan%2C+but+even+to+survive+as+a+shipowner%2C+and+thus+sought+opportunities+overseas.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+other+words%2C+it+was+a+decision+we+could+not+avoid%2C+and+in+April+1995%2C+our+company+was+established+in+Singapore+as+a+wholly-owned+subsidiary+of+Kumiai+Senpaku.+We+purchased+six+vessels+from+Kumiai+Senpaku+to+form+our+fleet+and+began+operations+as+a+shipowner.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBefore+the+purchase%2C+the+six+vessels+were+under+charter+contracts%2C+but+with+the+understanding+of+our+customers%2C+the+previous+contracts+were+canceled+and+new+contracts+were+signed+with+our+company.+Being+able+to+secure+stable+income+from+the+very+beginning+was+significant%2C+and+I+am+truly+grateful+to+our+customers+at+that+time.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+a+prerequisite+for+the+establishment+of+our+company%2C+in+order+to+maintain+completely+independent+management%2C+the+top+management+at+the+time+told+us%2C+%E2%80%99Proceed+with+the+mindset+of+severing+ties+with+Kumiai+Senpaku.%E2%80%99+Personally%2C+in+my+late+twenties%2C+I+wanted+to+take+on+new+challenges%2C+so+I+went+to+Singapore+with+a+completely+fresh+mindset.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+started+from+scratch%2C+handling+everything+from+registration+to+office+setup+and+staff+hiring%2C+but+the+Maritime+and+Port+Authority+of+Singapore+%28MPA%29+provided+us+with+thorough+support.+It+is+precisely+because+Singapore+supports+the+shipping+industry+as+a+nation+that+we+have+been+able+to+continue+operating+as+a+Japanese+shipowner+to+this+day.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Ability+to+withstand+market+conditions%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Currently%2C+among+your+fleet+of+19+vessels%2C+30%25+of+the+time-chartered+ships+are+for+Japanese+clients+and+70%25+are+for+non-Japanese+clients%2C+reflecting+increasing+globalization.+How+have+you+developed+overseas+demand%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+not+as+though+business+with+overseas+charterers+increased+right+away.+At+that+time%2C+in+Singapore%2C+where+we+had+no+business+foundation+or+name+recognition%2C+if+we+ask%2C+%E2%80%99We+are+from+Japan+and+would+like+you+to+charter+our+ships%2C%E2%80%99+the+response+usually+was%2C+%E2%80%99Kumiai%3F+Who%3F+%E2%80%99That%E2%80%99s+the+way+things+used+to+be.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFrom+there%2C+with+the+help+of+brokers%2C+we+gradually+promoted+our+company%2C+visiting+not+only+Singapore+but+also+Europe+to+raise+the+profile+of+%3Cb%3EKumiai+Navigation%3C%2Fb%3E.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+was+three+to+four+years+after+our+establishment+that+we+were+first+able+to+sign+a+contract+with+a+non-Japanese+charterer.+We+concluded+a+charter+contract+with+a+European+shipping+company+for+an+Aframax+vessel+whose+charter+contract+for+Japan+had+expired.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFrom+around+2007+to+2008%2C+business+with+non-Japanese+clients+grew%2C+and+we+repeatedly+arranged+spot+and+short-+to+medium-term+charters+with+major+resource+companies+such+as+Rio+Tinto%2C+as+well+as+Cargill%2C+SwissMarine%2C+and+other+leading+companies+with+shipping+bases+in+Singapore.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+VLGCs+%28Very+Large+LPG+%EF%BC%9Cliquefied+petroleum+gas%EF%BC%9E+Carriers%29%2C+we+have+contracts+with+major+energy+companies+such+as+Equinor+of+Norway+and+AltaGas+of+Canada.+Having+the+cargo+owner+as+the+charterer+provides+a+great+sense+of+security%2C+and+I+believe+this+is+a+distinctive+feature+for+us+as+a+shipowner.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COne+of+the+factors+behind+this+business+development+is+that%2C+over+the+years%2C+our+financial+position+has+strengthened%2C+enabling+us+to+take+on+a+certain+level+of+market+risk.+By+steadily+accumulating+capital+gains+%28profits+from+asset+sales%29+by+taking+advantage+of+Singapore%E2%80%99s+preferential+tax+system+for+shipping%2C+we+have+gained+the+ability+to+withstand+market+fluctuations.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSimply+entering+Singapore+for+a+short+period+is+not+enough+to+turn+tax+benefits+into+corporate+strength.+We+are+now+seeing+the+results+of+30+years+of+steady+business+efforts+in+Singapore.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Upholding+the+pride+of+a+shipowner%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+distinctive+features+in+terms+of+human+resources%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAlthough+our+staff+is+small%2C+at+about+20+people%2C+we+have+continued+to+hire+steadily%2C+and+as+a+result%2C+Japanese+and+local+staff+have+integrated+well%2C+and+we+feel+that+excellent+human+resources+have+been+developed.+We+do+not+manage+our+own+vessels%2C+but+since+one+third+of+our+staff+are+marine+engineers%2C+we+are+confident+in+our+quality+management+and+safe+operations.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+30+years+of+accumulated+experience+and+know-how+as+a+time+charter+owner.+In+recent+years%2C+the+responsibilities+and+workload+of+shipowners+have+increased+due+to+compliance+with+safety+and+environmental+regulations%2C+but+our+company+is+able+to+respond+to+any+situation+that+may+arise.+We+have+also+reliably+handled+charters+with+major+resource+companies+and+leading+European+energy+companies.+Even+if+we+receive+complaints+from+customers%2C+we+never+pass+them+off+to+a+third+party+but+face+them+head-on+and+resolve+them+ourselves.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Contributing+to+Japan%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--In+the+spring+of+2019%2C+you+became+the+first+Japanese+shipping+company+to+place+an+order+for+a+VLGC+%28Very+Large+LPG+Carrier%29+equipped+with+a+dual-fuel+LPG+engine%2C+and+have+been+making+advanced+investments.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CJapan+is+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+importers+of+LPG%2C+and+Japanese+wholesalers%2C+shipping+companies%2C+and+shipyards+have+world-class+capabilities+in+the+operation%2C+management%2C+and+construction+of+VLGCs.+Around+2016%2C+momentum+for+LPG-fueled+VLGCs+grew+in+Japan%2C+led+by+major+wholesalers%2C+but+it+did+not+materialize%2C+and+actual+adoption+was+first+achieved+by+Equinor+and+European+shipping+companies.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+the+time%2C+we+felt+that+if+things+continued+as+they+were%2C+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry+would+fall+behind+overseas+competitors%2C+and+the+development+of+LPG-fueled+ships+changed+from+something+we+%E2%80%99wanted+to+do%E2%80%99+to+something+we+%E2%80%99had+to+do.%E2%80%99%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+also+received+a+message+from+Kawasaki+Heavy+Industries%2C+the+construction+yard%2C+saying+they+would+%E2%80%98do+everything+possible+to+make+it+happen%E2%80%99%2C+which+made+us+fully+commit+to+the+newbuilding+project.+There+was+also+a+sense+of+crisis+that+once+the+spark+of+challenging+new+technology+was+extinguished%2C+it+would+be+difficult+to+reignite+it.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+a+Singaporean+company%2C+but+we+always+want+to+contribute+to+the+Japanese+maritime+industry%2C+and+by+extension%2C+to+the+Japanese+economy%2C+in+any+way+we+can.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Building+a+third+pillar%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--The+current+fleet+consists+of+eight+VLGCs%2C+two+small+LPG+carriers%2C+and+nine+bulkers%2C+with+outstanding+newbuilding+orders+for+three+VLGCs+and+one+bulker.+What+is+your+approach+to+future+fleet+development%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThirty+years+after+our+establishment%2C+our+management+base+has+become+stronger%2C+and+I+feel+that+we+now+have+an+environment+where+we+can+take+on+various+challenges.+However%2C+at+this+point%2C+uncertainties+regarding+next-generation+fuels+and+persistently+high+ship+prices+have+made+fleet+development+difficult.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CEspecially+regarding+next-generation+fuels%2C+if+we+were+to+invest+recklessly+in+a+particular+new+technology+now%2C+we+might+place+a+heavy+burden+on+those+who+will+be+responsible+for+our+company%E2%80%99s+future.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COn+the+other+hand%2C+from+a+portfolio+perspective%2C+I+also+feel+that+we+should+continue+to+steadily+develop+our+fleet.+We+have+a+management+base+that+will+allow+us+to+go+for+about+the+next+five+years+without+placing+newbuilding+orders%2C+but+the+overall+balance+of+the+fleet+will+deteriorate%2C+and+distortions+will+inevitably+arise+somewhere.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+personally+place+great+importance+on+the+concept+of+%E2%80%99balance%E2%80%99+in+management.+While+keeping+in+mind+the+fundamental+principle+of+buying+when+prices+are+low%2C+I+still+want+to+proceed+with+fleet+development%2C+even+if+only+gradually.+The+long-term+challenge+is+to+build+a+%E2%80%99third+pillar%E2%80%99+following+VLGCs+and+bulkers.+Owning+tankers+is+also+being+considered.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+A+hub+of+intellect%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+has+the+Singapore+shipping+market+changed%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWhen+we+first+entered+the+market%2C+prices+were+low+and+there+was+an+abundance+of+high-quality+and+affordable+talent.+There+is+still+an+abundance+of+talented+people%2C+but+costs%2C+including+labor%2C+food%2C+housing%2C+and+education%2C+have+been+skyrocketing.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThanks+to+the+generous+support+of+the+MPA+%28Maritime+and+Port+Authority+of+Singapore%29+for+the+maritime+industry%2C+Singapore+remains+an+attractive+maritime+hub.+However%2C+when+it+comes+to+developing+into+a+comprehensive+center%2C+including+operations%2C+chartering%2C+and+ship+management%2C+challenges+are+emerging+regarding+costs+and+securing+human+resources.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSome+shipping+companies+have+already+relocated+their+daily+operational+tasks+to+India+and+other+countries.+Japan+could+also+be+a+strong+candidate+for+shifting+some+functions%2C+as+the+quality+of+labor+is+very+high+and+costs+are+lower+compared+to+other+countries.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFrom+this+perspective%2C+what+may+remain+in+Singapore%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry+in+the+future+are+its+intellectual+functions.+It+may+move+in+the+direction+of+becoming+a+hub+for+decision-making+headquarters.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Tomomaru+Kuroyanagi+graduated+in+1987+from+Tokyo+University+of+Mercantile+Marine+%28now+Tokyo+University+of+Marine+Science+and+Technology%29%2C+and+joined+Kumiai+Senpaku.+In+1995%2C+he+transferred+to+%3Cb%3EKumiai+Navigation%3C%2Fb%3E.+He+has+been+in+his+current+position+since+2010.+He+was+born+in+Kanagawa+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

【Global Lens】【インタビュー　創立30周年】クミアイ・ナビゲーションマネジングダイレクター　黒柳智丸氏、星港に活路 基盤築く

2025/04/23(水)

日本海事新聞 JMD

関連記事ニュース Related news