日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Aug 01, 2025 (Fri)

‌【Interview】Shinomiya Tanker Executives, aim to expand its fleet to more than 20 vessels

Chairman Shinomiya (center), President Shinomiya (right), Managing Executive Officer Susumu Kobayashi (left)

　Shinomiya Tanker, a shipowner based in Tokushima (headquartered in Anan City, Tokushima), was found ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EShinomiya+Tanker%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+a+shipowner+based+in+Tokushima+%28headquartered+in+Anan+City%2C+Tokushima%29%2C+was+founded+in+1968+as+a+non-International+coastal+trading+chemical+tanker+company.+It+expanded+its+business+to+include+domestic+LPG+%28liquefied+petroleum+gas%29+vessels+and+entered+the+ownership+of+ocean-going+vessels+in+the+late+1990s.+Currently%2C+the+company+is+proceeding+with+the+newbuilding+program+of+five+40%2C000-dwt+%28Type+40%29+Handysize+bulkers+and+is+working+to+rebuild+its+ocean-going+fleet.+We+interviewed+Chairman+Hitoshi+Shinomiya+and+President+Shinji+Shinomiya+about+their+business+strategies.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Azumi+Kashiwai%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+%3Cb%3EShinomiya+Tanker%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+current+fleet%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+seven+ocean-going+vessels%3A+three+Type+60-66+Supramax+bulkers%2C+one+Type+63+open+hatch+bulker%2C+one+Type+40+Handysize+bulker%2C+one+4%2C872+TEU+container+ship%2C+and+one+5%2C000-cubic-meter+class+LPG+carrier.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+its+most+recent+peak%2C+the+ocean-going+fleet+had+more+than+10+vessels%2C+but+due+to+the+intermittent+exercise+of+purchase+options+%28PO%29+by+charterers+amid+rising+dry+bulk+market+conditions+during+the+coronavirus+pandemic%2C+the+number+of+owned+vessels+decreased.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+coasting+fleet+consists+of+three+LPG+carriers+and+one+cement+carrier%2C+for+a+total+of+four+vessels%2C+and+the+company+is+also+entrusted+with+the+management+of+one+LPG+vessel.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+the+deployment+contracts+for+the+ocean-going+fleet%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+charter+ships+to+overseas+operators+such+as+those+in+Norway%2C+Greece%2C+Switzerland%2C+the+UAE+%28United+Arab+Emirates%29%2C+and+South+Korea.+Currently%2C+one+open+hatch+ship+and+one+Handysize+ship+are+on+TC-out+%28time+charter%29%2C+while+the+remaining+three+bulkers%2C+the+container+ship%2C+and+the+LPG+carrier+are+on+BBC+%28bare+boat+charter%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Five+new+Handysize+ships+to+be+built+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+are+proceeding+with+a+newbuilding+program+of+five+Type+40+Handysize+ships%2C+scheduled+for+completion+between+July+this+year+and+2027.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COne+ship+each+will+be+built+at+Imabari+Shipbuilding%E2%80%99s+main+plant+%28Imabari%2C+Ehime%29+and+I-S+Shipyard+%28also+in+Imabari%29%2C+two+ships+at+Hakodate+Dock+%28Hakodate%2C+Hokkaido%29%2C+a+member+of+the+Namura+Shipbuilding+Group%2C+and+one+ship+at+Naikai+Zosen+%28Onomichi%2C+Hiroshima%29.+All+deployment+contracts+are+TC-out%2C+and+the+ships+will+be+chartered+to+overseas+operators+for+periods+of+5+to+8+years.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+first+ship+was+already+completed+in+mid-July+at+Hakodate+Dock%2C+and+by+2027%2C+when+all+five+new+ships+are+delivered%2C+the+ocean-going+and+non-International+coastal+trading+fleet+is+expected+to+expand+to+17+vessels.+We+hope+to+expand+the+fleet+to+more+than+20+vessels+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+was+the+background+behind+the+decision+to+order+these+five+ships%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAround+2023%2C+we+anticipated+a+series+of+PO+%28purchase+option%29+exercises+for+our+owned+vessels%2C+so+we+took+the+initiative+to+proceed+with+newbuilding+programs.+In+the+end%2C+seven+POs+were+exercised%2C+and+the+funds+obtained+from+them+were+used+as+equity+for+the+newbuilding+orders.+For+this+newbuilding+series%2C+we+have+put+in+a+little+over+20%25+as+a+down+payment.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+current+shipping+market%2C+uncertainties%2C+including+the+tariff+policies+of+the+Trump+administration+in+the+US%2C+are+increasing%2C+making+it+difficult+for+charterers+to+make+long-term+commitments.+From+this+perspective%2C+it+was+good+that+we+were+able+to+secure+long-term+charters+by+placing+orders+early.+We+also+believe+that%2C+given+the+ongoing+labor+shortage+at+shipyards%2C+it+will+continue+to+be+difficult+for+ship+prices+to+fall+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAll+TC+contracts+for+the+five+newbuildings+include+POs.+As+expected%2C+overseas+operators+require+POs%2C+and+without+them%2C+conditions+such+as+charter+rates+tend+to+become+slightly+less+favorable.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+was+the+reason+for+putting+all+five+newbuildings+on+TC+contracts%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUntil+a+few+years+ago%2C+we+had+secured+three+TC+contracts+for+ocean-going+shipping%2C+but+due+to+the+exercise+of+POs+and+vessel+sales%2C+by+the+first+half+of+this+year%2C+we+were+down+to+only+one+open+hatch+vessel+on+TC+for+the+Swiss+shipping+company+Gearbulk.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBasically%2C+under+a+BBC+%28bare+boat+charter%29%2C+there+is+no+off-hire+or+docking%2C+and+the+owner+does+not+have+to+bear+accident+risks.+However%2C+there+are+challenges+such+as+the+difficulty+of+recovering+vessels+and+unpaid+receivables+if+the+charterer+goes+bankrupt%2C+and+if+we+are+not+involved+at+all+in+vessel+management+as+a+shipowner%2C+it+is+hard+to+accumulate+knowledge+and+know-how+about+ships.+It+is+important+to+handle+a+certain+number+of+TCs.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Partnership+with+management+companies+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+managing+your+ocean-going+fleet%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+entrust+this+to+Eagle+Ship+Management+%28head+office+in+Tokyo%29+and+Toei+Japan+%28head+office+in+Kobe%29.+However%2C+we+do+not+leave+all+management+to+them.+Our+marine+technical+staff+are+also+deeply+involved+in+the+operation+of+the+vessels+entrusted+to+management.+Based+on+reports+from+the+vessels%2C+we+consult+and+support+the+management+company+on+operational+and+technical+matters%2C+and+when+problems+occur%2C+we+work+hard+together+on+troubleshooting.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+various+approaches+to+ship+ownership+management.+Some+owners+focus+on+building+and+selling+ships%2C+while+others+aim+to+generate+profits+from+operating+revenues.+We+partner+with+ship+management+companies+to+minimize+losses+such+as+off-hire+%28suspension+of+charter+contracts%29+due+to+problems+and+strive+to+earn+profits+through+operating+revenues.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+should+not+rely+entirely+on+ship+management+companies%2C+trading+companies%2C+or+brokers.+We+also+strive+to+deepen+our+knowledge+of+ships+and+business+and+value+relationships+where+we+can+always+exchange+opinions+on+an+equal+footing.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+future+investment+plans%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAlthough+the+round+of+newbuilding+programs+has+been+completed%2C+we+are+still+negotiating+the+sale+and+leaseback.+In+addition%2C+we+are+discussing+with+charterers+the+construction+and+time+charter+%28TC%29+of+vessels+for+transporting+decarbonized+fuels+and+small+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carriers%2C+but+since+ship+prices+are+high+and+ship+management+is+becoming+more+challenging%2C+we+have+no+choice+but+to+take+a+cautious+approach.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+I+also+feel+the+importance+of+taking+on+new+challenges.+Since+its+founding%2C+our+company+has+focused+on+special-purpose+vessels+and+is+well-versed+in+gas+tankers%2C+such+as+chemical+tankers+equipped+with+refrigerated+flat+tanks+and+LPG+carriers.+By+leveraging+this+strength%2C+it+is+possible+that+in+the+future+we+may+also+pursue+carbon+neutrality+through+LNG-fueled+vessels+and+ammonia-fueled+vessels.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Visit+to+European+shipowners+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+working+to+strengthen+relationships+with+overseas+charterers%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+place+importance+on+having+our+top+executives+travel+overseas+themselves+to+meet+and+speak+directly+with+operators+in+Europe+and+Asia.+In+early+June%2C+we+visited+charterers+and+shipowners+in+Europe%2C+including+the+Netherlands%2C+Belgium%2C+Greece%2C+and+London+in+the+UK%2C+and+deepened+mutual+understanding+and+relationships+as+business+partners.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAmong+the+charterers%2C+we+have+especially+close+relationships+with+Gearbulk%2C+a+Swiss+shipping+company%2C+and+HMM%2C+a+Korean+shipping+company.+I+would+like+to+continue+to+firmly+maintain+this+relationship+going+forward+as+well.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+partnership+with+HMM+began+in+the+early+2000s+with+the+chartering+of+a+52%2C000-dwt+%28Type+52%29+bulker+that+was+ordered+from+Tsuneishi+Shipbuilding.+At+the+time%2C+the+Korean+economy+was+going+through+a+difficult+period%2C+and+HMM+was+trying+to+rebuild+itself+by+selling+off+its+car+carrier+division+and+other+businesses.+With+the+support+of+The+Tokushima+Taisho+Bank%2C+we+were+able+to+conclude+our+first+ship+charter+contract.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COver+the+past+20+years%2C+we+have+chartered+a+total+of+three+ships%2C+and+HMM+still+expresses+their+gratitude%2C+saying%2C+%E2%80%99Being+able+to+charter+ships+from+Japan+for+the+long+term+during+difficult+times+was+significant%E2%80%99.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Commitment+to+construction+quality+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+personnel+structure%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+15+employees%2C+of+whom+9+are+staff+in+the+marine+affairs%2C+engineering%2C+and+crew+departments.+Currently%2C+two+of+them+are+dispatched+as+construction+supervisors+to+Hakodate+Dock+and+I-S+Shipyard.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+purpose+of+dispatching+construction+supervisors%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+company+has+a+culture+that+is+particular+about+construction+quality.+We+have+a+policy+of+not+entirely+leaving+maintenance+of+ships+to+shipyards.+Currently%2C+for+the+Handysize+bulkers+under+construction%2C+our+supervisor+stays+at+the+shipyard+from+before+the+keel+laying+and+boards+the+ship+for+one+or+two+voyages+after+completion.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+construction+supervisors+check+every+detail+at+the+shipyard+every+day.+In+order+to+supervise+the+construction+quality+of+new+ships+and+ship+management%2C+we+must+have+a+deeper+understanding+of+ships.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+particular%2C+in+the+construction+of+non-international+coastal+trading+vessels%2C+if+we+are+not+deeply+involved+from+the+design+stage+and+do+not+build+them+carefully+and+meticulously%2C+it+will+greatly+affect+their+cruising+speed%2C+fuel+efficiency%2C+and+stability+%28restorability%29.%E2%80%9C+One+of+our+coasting+LPG+%28liquefied+petroleum+gas%29+vessels+is+designed+and+built+to+minimize+rolling+even+in+difficult+sea+areas+such+as+off+Aomori+and+off+Ishikari%2C+performs+well+even+in+rough+weather%2C+and+we+are+proud+that+it+is+highly+rated+by+both+shippers+and+charterers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Enhancing+our+image+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+working+to+secure+human+resources%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+staff+have+visited+more+than+a+dozen+seafarer+training+institutions+nationwide%2C+from+Kyushu+to+Hokkaido.+Recently%2C+at+a+certain+school%2C+more+than+50+companies+have+submitted+job+offers+for+just+20+students%2C+and+we+are+witnessing+firsthand+the+intensifying+competition+for+talent+and+the+current+shortage+of+seafarers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+past%2C+Tokushima+Prefecture+had+the+largest+number+of+499+gross+ton+non-International+coastal+trading+vessels+in+Japan%2C+and+there+were+about+200+costal+shipowners%2C+but+now+the+number+has+decreased+to+around+70%2C+about+one-third+of+what+it+used+to+be.+Due+in+part+to+the+merger+of+the+prefecture%E2%80%99s+fisheries+high+school+with+a+science+and+technology+high+school%2C+there+are+now+few+young+people+aspiring+to+become+maritime+professionals.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CDue+to+the+declining+birthrate%2C+labor+shortages+are+becoming+pronounced+in+all+industries.+Unless+workplaces+are+created+that+young+Japanese+seafarers+find+attractive%2C+it+will+be+difficult+to+sustain+the+costal+shipping+business.+It+will+be+necessary+to+consider+measures+to+support+seafarers%E2%80%99+wellbeing+such+as+increasing+ship+size%2C+designing+living+quarters+to+be+as+spacious+and+comfortable+as+those+on+ocean-going+vessels%2C+and+improving+communication+environments.+At+the+same+time%2C+it+will+also+become+important+to+make+efforts+to+raise+public+awareness+of+the+shipping+industry+itself+and+improve+its+image+through+PR+activities+such+as+TV+commercials+and+social+networking+services+%28SNS%29+on+the+internet.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%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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【徳島船主　次代への舵取り】四宮タンカー　代表取締役会長・四宮斉氏、取締役社長・四宮新二氏。船隊20隻以上に成長

2025/08/01(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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