日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily May 28, 2025 (Wed)

‌【Interview】Mr. Takano, GM of ship finance of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, on targeting for 2 trillion yen in ship finance balance

Takahiro Hirano, Ship Finance Department General Manager, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank

　Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank established a new “Ship Finance Department“ on April 1. Takahiro Hirano, ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3ESumitomo+Mitsui+Trust+Bank+%3C%2Fb%3Eestablished+a+new+%E2%80%9CShip+Finance+Department%E2%80%9C+on+April+1.+Takahiro+Hirano%2C+who+has+been+appointed+as+the+general+manager+of+the+department%2C+stated+in+an+interview+with+this+newspaper+that+the+bank+aims+to+achieve+a+ship+finance+loan+balance+of+2+trillion+yen+in+the+near+future.+This+represents+a+25%25+increase+from+the+current+outstanding+ship+finance+loan+balance+of+1.6+trillion+yen.+We+asked+Mr.+Hirano+about+the+goals+of+this+organizational+restructuring+and+his+plans+for+the+future.%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Areas+to+compete+in%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+aim+of+the+organizational+restructuring%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+sales+functions+related+to+ship+finance+that+were+previously+located+in+the+sales+offices+in+Tokyo%2C+Osaka%2C+and+Hiroshima%2C+and+the+planning+functions+related+to+ship+finance+that+were+previously+located+in+the+Structured+Finance+Division%2C+will+be+consolidated+into+the+Ship+Finance+Department+to+strengthen+our+ability+to+respond+to+changes+in+the+business+environment+and+intensifying+competition.+From+now+on%2C+we+will+cover+the+whole+of+Japan+from+two+bases%2C+Tokyo+and+Matsuyama+branch+%28Ehime+Prefecture%29.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBanks+are+generally+cautious+about+setting+up+new+divisions.+Despite+this%2C+we+decided+to+establish+a+new+ship+finance+department+because+we+felt+that+ship+finance+was+an+area+in+which+we+should+compete%2C+just+like+real+estate%2C+which+has+traditionally+been+our+strength.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+not+many+areas+in+Japanese+industry+where+we+can+demonstrate+competitiveness+on+a+global+level.+However%2C+Japan+has+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+maritime+clusters+and+has+a+strong+presence+on+a+global+scale.+We+will+contribute+to+the+further+development+of+the+maritime+industry+through+finance.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHuman+resource+development+is+also+one+of+our+goals.+Ship+finance+requires+not+only+knowledge+about+finance%2C+but+also+knowledge+about+shipping.+Personal+connections+are+also+important.+The+bank+has+accumulated+knowledge+through+many+years+of+experience+in+ship+financing.+It+is+people+who+make+them+come+alive.+We+want+to+deepen+the+talent+pool+in+ship+finance.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Increase+in+syndicated+loan+originations%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+the+outstanding+balance+of+ship+finance+loans%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+total+balance+of+loans+managed+by+our+company+is+approximately+1.8+trillion+yen.+This+figure+includes+syndicated+loans+%28co-financing%29+that+we+have+organized+and+that+are+being+provided+by+investors%2C+mainly+regional+banks.+Excluding+these%2C+our+loan+balance+is+just+under+1.6+trillion+yen.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CApproximately+550+ships+are+financed+by+us.+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carriers+account+for+the+most+in+terms+of+value%2C+followed+by+bulkers+and+container+ships.+In+terms+of+number+of+vessels%2C+bulkers+account+for+the+largest+share+of+30%25.+LNG+carriers%2C+container+ships%2C+tankers%2C+and+PCTCs+follow.+We+also+provide+loans+to+cruise+ships.+The+outstanding+loan+balance+for+overseas+shipowners+is+approximately+330+billion+yen.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+the+number+of+opportunities+for+us+to+structure+syndicated+loans+for+LNG+carriers+increases%2C+the+balance%2C+including+loans+from+investors%2C+is+gradually+increasing.+However%2C+our+loan+balance+has+remained+stable+in+recent+years.+This+is+because+borrowing+companies+are+making+early+repayments+as+a+result+of+selling+their+ships.+We+would+like+to+provide+financial+services+that+meet+customer+needs+and+increase+our+balance+from+1.6+trillion+yen+to+2+trillion+yen+in+the+near+future.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Broadening+the+investor+base%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+current+situation+surrounding+ship+financing%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+shortening+of+charter+contract+periods+is+becoming+evident.+There+are+very+few+loan+projects+that+are+expected+to+produce+stable+long-term+cash+flows.+In+order+to+meet+the+demand+for+capital+under+such+circumstances%2C+personnel+with+specialized+knowledge+of+shipping+are+essential.+It+is+also+necessary+to+keep+track+of+the+outlook+for+cargo+movements+by+ships+we+finance%2C+supply+and+demand+forecasts+by+ship+type+and+size%2C+and+the+progress+of+fuel+conversion.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CShipowners%E2%80%99+capital+needs+are+growing+for+environmentally+friendly+dual-fuel+ships%2C+LNG+carriers%2C+and+continuous+construction.+Since+we+cannot+handle+this+on+our+own%2C+we+would+like+to+expand+our+investor+base.+Currently%2C+the+number+of+investors+has+increased+to+64+companies%2C+mainly+Japanese+regional+banks.+In+the+future%2C+we+are+considering+selling+it+to+individuals+as+a+performance-based+dividend+investment+product.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+strengths%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+handle+ship+financing+on+a+national+and+global+scale.+We+have+a+wide+range+of+connections%2C+from+shipping+companies+based+in+Tokyo+to+ship+owners+in+the+Setouchi+area+and+beyond.+We+also+have+contacts+with+major+shipping+companies+in+Europe+and+Asia.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+quality+and+quantity+of+information+we+can+gather+through+our+domestic+and+international+networks+is+a+major+strength.+Based+on+the+knowledge+and+experience+we+have+accumulated+over+many+years+in+the+ship+finance+business%2C+we+will+combine+highly+accurate+information+with+the+wide+range+of+functions+possessed+by+a+trust+bank+to+propose+optimal+solutions+to+our+customers.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+the+impact+of+US+maritime+policy%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CPolicies+are+changing+rapidly%2C+so+I+want+to+remain+calm+and+carefully+assess+trends.+This+not+only+poses+a+threat%2C+but+also+a+business+opportunity.+In+recent+years%2C+Chinese-owned+leasing+companies+have+dominated+the+ship+finance+market.+However%2C+under+the+Trump+administration%2C+there+is+a+risk+that+the+vessels+will+be+deemed+to+be+related+to+China+and+will+suffer+disadvantages.+Therefore%2C+Japanese+financial+institutions+and+shipowners+may+be+able+to+provide+loan+restructuring+and+other+services.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+personnel+structure%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+Ship+Finance+Department+has+20+staff+members.+In+addition%2C+including+staff+at+our+bases+in+Matsuyama%2C+London%2C+Singapore+and+Hong+Kong%2C+and+at+our+group+company+Sumitomo+Mitsui+Trust+Panasonic+Finance%2C+the+total+number+of+staff+involved+in+ship+finance+is+55.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition%2C+we+have+four+trainees+from+reginal+banks.+In+order+to+meet+the+large+demand+for+funds%2C+it+will+also+be+necessary+to+invite+investors%2C+including+Japanese+regional+banks%2C+and+arrange+loans.+We+accept+personnel+from+Japanese+regional+banks+that+have+not+previously+been+familiar+with+ship+financing%2C+and+have+them+acquire+knowledge+related+to+ship+financing.+One+of+our+missions+is+to+increase+the+number+of+people+who+work+on+projects+together.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Takahiro+Hirano+joined+Sumitomo+Trust+and+Banking+in+1995.+In+2012%2C+he+served+as+head+of+the+Corporate+Sales+Division+2+at+the+Matsuyama+Branch+of+Sumitomo+Mitsui+Trust+Bank%2C+in+2017%2C+as+deputy+head+of+the+Head+Office+Sales+Division+2+and+head+of+the+Corporate+Sales+Division+2%2C+and+in+2023%2C+as+head+of+the+Matsuyama+Branch.+Since+April+2025%2C+he+has+been+the+Ship+Finance+Department+General+Manager+and+General+Manager+of+the+Head+Office+Sales+Division+2.%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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【インタビュー　船舶ファイナンスの今】三井住友信託銀行　船舶ファイナンス部長　平野隆啓氏、融資残高2兆円目指す

2025/05/28(水)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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