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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Aug 04, 2025 (Mon)

‌【Interview】Mr. Kristoffersen, CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen on SC Optimization Business

Wallenius Wilhelmsen CEO Lasse Kristoffersen

　Wallenius Wilhelmsen is a Norwegian shipping company with one of the world’s largest fleets of RORO ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EWallenius+Wilhelmsen%3C%2Fb%3E+is+a+Norwegian+shipping+company+with+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+fleets+of+RORO+ships+and+PCTCs.+With+a+fleet+of+130+vessels%2C+the+company+provides+comprehensive+logistics+services+spanning+land+and+sea%2C+helping+to+optimize+its+customers%E2%80%99+supply+chains.+I+spoke+to+the+company%E2%80%99s+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29%2C+Lasse+Kristoffersen%2C+about+his+outlook+for+the+business+environment+and+management+policies.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+impact+will+US+tariff+policy+have%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+creates+a+lot+of+uncertainty.+Our+company%E2%80%99s+two+main+business+pillars+are+shipping+and+logistics.+The+cargo+we+handle+includes+automobiles%2C+high+and+heavy+such+as+construction+and+mining+equipment%2C+and+break+bulk+such+as+machine+tools%2C+but+automobiles+make+up+the+largest+volume.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFollowing+the+US%E2%80%99s+announcement+that+it+would+impose+additional+tariffs+on+imported+cars%2C+there+was+a+rush+of+demand+and+we+were+forced+to+respond+to+transportation+demand.+After+that%2C+there+was+a+different+reaction.+While+European+automakers+temporarily+suspended+exports%2C+South+Korean+and+Japanese+automakers+saw+this+as+an+opportunity+to+export+to+the+U.S.+market+and+launched+an+export+offensive.+In+response%2C+we+have+shifted+our+shipping+allocations+from+Europe+to+Asia.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+outlook+for+the+RORO+ship+and+PCTC+markets%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+need+to+keep+an+eye+on+how+the+trade+patterns+change.+There+is+no+doubt+that+many+new+ships+will+be+delivered+in+the+coming+years.+The+number+of+ships+required+for+the+fleet+replacement+and+renewal+to+be+carried+out+over+a+five-year+period+will+be+completed+in+two+years.+There+is+a+high+possibility+that+there+will+be+an+oversupply+of+ships+for+a+period+of+time.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+anticipation+of+this%2C+we+have+entered+into+multi-year+transportation+agreements+with+our+customers+to+maintain+our+business+relationships+and+market+share.+So+far+this+year+alone%2C+the+company+has+renewed+transportation+contracts+worth+between+%242+billion+and+%243+billion+in+both+the+shipping+and+logistics+sectors.+We+expect+the+market+to+be+weak+over+the+next+few+years%2C+but+we+are+well+prepared.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Logistics+beyond+shipping+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I%E2%80%99d+like+to+hear+about+your+growth+strategy.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+not+just+a+shipping+company.+Our+mission+is+to+work+with+customers+to+help+optimize+the+entire+supply+chain+for+products+such+as+automobiles+and+construction+machinery.+That+is+why+we+are+investing+heavily+in+logistics+facilities+for+pre-delivery+inspections+and+temporary+storage.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+we+support+Toyota+Motor%2C+one+of+our+major+Japanese+clients%2C+in+terms+of+logistics%2C+supporting+Toyota%E2%80%99s+global+expansion%2C+including+handling+the+marine+transport+of+cars+produced+at+its+South+African+factory+to+Europe.+By+2024%2C+for+the+first+time%2C+sales+from+logistics+services+exceeded+sales+from+ocean+freight+services.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CToyota%E2%80%99s+focus+goes+beyond+port-to-port+transportation%3B+it%E2%80%99s+about+how+to+get+cars+from+the+factory+to+the+dealership+in+the+most+efficient+and+environmentally+friendly+way+possible.+By+providing+comprehensive+services%2C+we+are+able+to+contribute+to+improving+our+customers%E2%80%99+supply+chain+management.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+also+actively+investing.+New+logistics+facilities+will+be+built+at+ports+in+Norway+and+Sweden.+It+also+opened+a+large+logistics+facility+at+Brunswick+Terminal+in+the+United+States.+Logistics+services+that+go+beyond+maritime+transport+are+the+driving+force+behind+our+growth.+We+will+also+introduce+new+technologies%2C+such+as+digital+technology%2C+to+optimize+and+visualize+the+entire+supply+chain.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+14+methanol+carriers+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--The+International+Maritime+Organization+%28IMO%29+agreed+on+mid-term+measures+toward+net+zero+at+MEPC83+%2883rd+Marine+Environment+Protection+Committee%29+held+in+April.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+introduction+of+carbon+pricing+is+a+welcome+move.+This+will+encourage+a+shift+from+conventional+marine+fuels+to+new+fuels+with+lower+GHG+%28greenhouse+gas%29+emissions.+We+have+set+an+ambitious+goal+of+reaching+net+zero+by+2040+and+have+ordered+14+methanol+dual-fuel+vessels+to+help+us+achieve+this+goal.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+is+the+mainstream+fuel+for+PCTCs%2C+but+why+did+you+choose+methanol+fuel%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+fuel+strategy+is+multifaceted.+Existing+ships+are+increasingly+using+biodiesel+fuel.+We+decided+to+equip+our+new+ships+with+methanol+dual-fuel+engines+because+we+believe+this+is+the+fastest+path+towards+using+zero-emission+green+fuel.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMethanol+fuel+is+expected+to+use+biomethanol+and+synthetic+methanol.+The+former+is+synthesized+from+methane+gas+derived+from+biomass%2C+while+the+latter+is+made+from+hydrogen+generated+using+electricity+derived+from+renewable+energy+sources+and+CO2+%28carbon+dioxide%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+since+methanol+is+a+carbon-based+fuel%2C+ammonia+will+likely+become+the+dominant+green+fuel+of+the+future.+The+new+ships+are+also+being+designed+with+ammonia+fuel+in+mind.+By+the+mid-2030s%2C+we+will+be+using+a+combination+of+biofuels%2C+methanol+and+ammonia.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+are+also+developing+wind+propulsion+technology+for+ships.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+participating+in+the+%E2%80%99Oceanbird%E2%80%99+project%2C+which+develops+a+wind-powered+propulsion+device+that+utilizes+Wingsails.+The+plan+was+to+install+it+on+an+actual+ship+and+conduct+demonstration+tests+within+the+year%2C+but+the+installation+date+is+expected+to+be+slightly+delayed.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFirst%2C+we%E2%80%99ll+install+one+Wingsail.+In+the+future%2C+the+goal+is+to+install+4+to+6+units.+It+is+not+realistic+to+rely+solely+on+wind+power+to+propel+a+ship%2C+but+it+is+possible+for+wind+power+to+provide+part+of+the+propulsion+energy.+New+fuels+are+expensive%2C+so+energy-saving+technologies+will+become+more+valuable.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+partnerships+with+Japanese+maritime+stakeholders%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CJapan+is+a+very+important+market.+The+company%E2%80%99s+relationship+with+Japanese+shippers+began+in+the+1960s+with+the+transport+of+Japanese+cars+to+Europe.+We+have+a+wide+range+of+business+relationships+with+shippers%2C+shipbuilding+companies%2C+financial+institutions%2C+and+others%2C+including+building+new+ships+at+Japanese+shipyards.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+provide+a+variety+of+transport+services+to+shippers%2C+not+just+automobiles%2C+but+also+construction+machinery%2C+heavy+machinery%2C+break+bulk%2C+and+more.+It+serves+as+a+bridge+between+Japan+and+markets+such+as+Europe+and+North+America.+We+would+like+to+continue+contributing+to+our+customers%E2%80%99+businesses+as+a+logistics+partner.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%28Posted+from+time+to+time%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Lasse+Kristoffersen+completed+a+master%E2%80%99s+degree+in+naval+architecture+and+ocean+engineering+at+the+Norwegian+University+of+Science+and+Technology+%28NTNU%29.+He+held+various+management+positions+at+the+Det+Norske+Veritas+%28DNV%29+before+moving+to+the+Norwegian+shipping+company+Torvaldo+Klaveness.+He+became+the+company%E2%80%99s+CEO+in+2011.+He+has+been+in+his+current+position+since+June+2022.+%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%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