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

‌【Interview with the new unit manager】(1) Akihiro Fujimaru, Senior Managing Executive Officer (Head of Marine Sector Unit) of “K”Line, Focusing on Safe Operation and Quality Control

Akihiro Fujimaru, Senior Managing Executive Officer (Head of Marine Sector Unit) of “K”Line

　“K”Line has introduced a unit management system that oversees multiple business divisions and admin ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+has+introduced+a+unit+management+system+that+oversees+multiple+business+divisions+and+administrative+departments%2C+aiming+to+further+streamline+and+strengthen+its+business+execution+structure%2C+as+well+as+to+promote+its+medium-term+management+plan+and+achieve+sustainable+growth+by+improving+corporate+value.+In+this+series%2C+we+interviewed+the+four+new+unit+managers+who+took+office+in+late+March+about+the+initiatives+and+policies+of+their+respective+units.+The+first+guest+is+Akihiro+Fujimaru%2C+Senior+Managing+Executive+Officer+and+Head+of+the+Marine+Sector+Unit.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+aspirations+for+taking+office%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+mission+of+the+Marine+Sector+Unit+is+safe+operation+and+quality+control+of+ships.+This+is+one+of+the+functional+strategies+that+we+have+cultivated+over+our+more+than+100-year+history.+I+believe+that+good+ship+handling+is+not+the+skill+of+slipping+through+a+group+of+fishing+boats+by+steering+aggressively%2C+but+the+skill+of+changing+course+slightly+at+an+early+stage+so+that+no+one+notices+and+steering+the+ship+in+a+way+that+prevents+it+from+crashing+into+a+group+of+fishing+boats.+In+order+to+provide+safe+and+stable+voyages+and+reliable+transportation+services%2C+it+is+necessary+to+accurately+grasp+the+changing+environment+and+take+action+early.+The+fact+that+we+have+been+able+to+continue+to+take+for+granted+that+nothing+happens+is+a+completely+inconspicuous+achievement%2C+but+it+is+the+result+of+tireless+efforts+and+serious+engagement+on+the+ground.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+recent+years%2C+Japan+has+also+seen+occasional+instances+of+drainage+and+sewage+infrastructure+exceeding+capacity+due+to+climate+change%2C+such+as+sudden+heavy+rains+and+trainings%2C+and+the+same+is+true+at+sea.+Ships+currently+in+service+are+not+designed+to+take+into+account+such+climate+change+and+global+warming%2C+and+depending+on+the+severity+of+future+storms%2C+they+may+encounter+weather+and+sea+conditions+that+exceed+the+design+assumptions.+For+example%2C+as+ship+sizes+become+larger+and+the+area+exposed+to+wind+pressure+increases%2C+if+the+ship+is+not+able+to+withstand+crosswinds%2C+it+could+lead+to+a+grounding+accident+when+passing+through+straits.+Proposals+for+such+hardware+improvements+also+need+to+be+made+at+an+early+stage.+Furthermore%2C+the+possibility+of+a+new+pandemic+%28global+epidemic%29+occurring+against+the+backdrop+of+global+warming+cannot+be+denied.+%28Although+we+never+want+to+experience+this+again%29+we+will+learn+from+the+lessons+of+the+coronavirus+pandemic+and+be+mindful+of+safe+navigation+systems+in+case+of+an+emergency.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+domestic+and+international+networks+are+managed+by+the+Marine+Sector+Unit%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+Japan%2C+there+are+companies+such+as+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9D+Line+Marine+Solutions+%28KMSOL%29+and+K+Line+RoRo+Bulk+Ship+Management+%28KRBS%29%2C+which+consolidated+the+marine+engineering+functions+of+each+business+division+in+2022.+Overseas%2C+the+companies+targeted+include+KRBS%E2%80%99s+bases+in+the+Philippines%2C+Germany%2C+and+Bulgaria%2C+as+well+as+Singapore-based+ship+management+company+for+dangerous+goods+vessels+K+Marine+Ship+Management+%28KMSM%29%2C+K+LINE+MARINE+%26+ENERGY+%28KME%29%2C+and+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9D+LINE+ENERGY+SHIPPING+%28UK%29+%28KLES%29%2C+which+operates+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carriers+and+liquefied+CO2+%28carbon+dioxide%29+vessels.+An+issue+for+future+consideration+is+how+we+can+leverage+the+strengths+specific+to+each+ship+type+while+also+sharing+the+areas+that+would+be+best+for+each+other.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0Preparing+for+the+transition+period+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+have+announced+that+you+will+utilize+these+networks+to+establish+ship+support+centers+in+three+global+regions%3A+Asia%2C+Europe%2C+and+the+Americas.+What+is+the+aim+of+this%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFirstly%2C+abnormal+weather+is+becoming+more+prevalent+not+only+on+land+but+also+at+sea%2C+so+we+will+provide+solid+support+for+safe+navigation.+It+also+requires+rapid+response+to+potential+problems+that+may+arise+when+transitioning+to+new+fuel+engines+or+future+autonomous+ships.+During+this+transition+period%2C+unstable+events+may+occur+on+both+the+tangible+and+intangible+sides.+In+this+case%2C+it+will+be+necessary+to+establish+a+system+that+can+respond+without+time+lag+in+each+area.+In+addition%2C+the+characteristics+of+ocean-going+ships+that+transport+large+volumes+of+cargo+across+the+ocean+are+different+from+those+of+locally+operated+ships+such+as+offshore+wind+farms+and+bunkering+vessels.+We+believe+that+the+establishment+of+a+regional+headquarters+%28RHQ%29-like+system+that+brings+together+the+regions+will+be+effective+in+managing+the+latter.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+the+challenges+in+managing+the+transportation+of+liquefied+CO2%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+operations+in+Norway+have+just+begun%2C+and+we+have+yet+to+accumulate+any+know-how.+However%2C+I+believe+that+there+are+many+areas+in+which+we+can+apply+the+management+know-how+we+have+cultivated+in+gas+carriers+to+normal+operations.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0Japanese+specialists+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+securing+crew+members%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+is+becoming+difficult+to+secure+Japanese+seafarers+amid+a+declining+labor+force.+After+being+hired%2C+they+work+alternately+on+land+and+sea%2C+and+gain+experience+on+a+variety+of+ship+types%2C+making+them+strong+generalists.+However%2C+we+also+feel+the+need+to+train+specialists+for+specific+ship+types+in+the+future%2C+and+will+continue+to+consider+this.+On+the+other+hand%2C+foreign+seafarers+tend+to+continue+working+on+the+type+of+ship+they+are+initially+assigned+to+and+are+more+likely+to+become+specialists+in+a+particular+type+of+ship.+I+hear+that+some+shipping+companies+have+Europeans+in+the+top+four+positions+%28captain%2C+chief+engineer%2C+first+mate+and+engineer%29%2C+and+that+it+is+difficult+for+Asians+to+be+promoted+to+second+class+or+above.+However%2C+our+company+currently+has+five+LNG+carriers%2C+which+are+classified+as+dangerous+goods+ships%2C+all+staffed+by+Filipinos%2C+and+we+plan+to+expand+this+to+12+ships+in+two+years%2C+so+there+is+potential+for+career+advancement.+This+will+be+a+big+attraction+for+them.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0Retention+rate+over+90%25+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+retention+rate+for+foreign+crew+members+who+are+employed+on+a+temporary+basis%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+maintaining+a+high+level+of+over+90%25.+The+background+to+this+is+that+they+are+genuine+K-Line+sailors+who+have+worked+only+for+our+company+ever+since+graduating+from+merchant+marine+schools.+Additionally%2C+regular+meetings+for+seafarers%E2%80%99+families+have+also+helped+deepen+friendships.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWhen+container+ship+management+was+recently+transferred+to+OneSea+Solutions+%28OSS%29%2C+a+joint+venture+between+ONE+%28Ocean+Network+Express%29+and+Seaspan%2C+some+foreign+crew+members+who+had+been+working+on+container+ships+for+our+group+for+many+years+expressed+their+sadness+at+being+separated+from+KLINE.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0Demonstrating+comprehensive+shipping+strengths+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+you+responding+to+fuel+transition%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+first+alternative+fuel+that+comes+to+mind+is+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29.+Our+company+has+experience+handling+liquefied+gas+on+LNG+carriers+and+LPG+%28liquefied+petroleum+gas%29+carriers%2C+and+will+utilize+the+knowledge+and+experience+gained+from+these+liquefied+gas+shippers+to+handle+LNG+fueled+PCTCs+and+bulkers.+This+may+not+be+easy+for+a+company+that+specializes+in+bulkers.+I+believe+this+is+an+area+where+we+can+demonstrate+our+strengths+as+a+comprehensive+shipping+company.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFurthermore%2C+this+strength+can+also+be+seen+in+improving+the+quality+of+bulkers.+In+recent+years%2C+the+quality+standards+for+bulkers+have+become+stricter+due+to+the+Australian+RightShip%E2%80%99s+Dry+Bulk+Management+Standard+%28DBMS%29%2C+but+in+the+liquid+sector%2C+SIRE+ship+inspections%2C+which+exceed+PSC+%28Port+State+Control%29%2C+have+existed+for+some+time.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+can+apply+the+experience+we+have+gained+from+liquid+carriers+to+bulkers+as+well.+Bulkers+account+for+the+largest+share+of+our+fleet+of+over+450+vessels%2C+so+we+will+respond+appropriately+to+requests+for+improvements+in+ship+quality+so+that+we+can+be+the+vessel+of+choice+for+shippers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+the+safety+of+chartered+ships%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+hold+regular+safety+meetings+with+shipowners+to+share+safety+policies+and+exchange+information.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Fujimaru+Akihiro+graduated+from+Tokyo+University+of+Mercantile+Marine+%28now+Tokyo+University+of+Marine+Science+and+Technology%29+in+1989+and+joined+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine.+In+2001%2C+he+was+appointed+captain+based+in+Los+Angeles+at+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9D+Line+America%2C+and+in+2007+he+was+seconded+to+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9D+Line+Ship+Management+%28now+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9D+Line+Energy+Ship+Management%29.+He+became+head+of+the+Maritime+Human+Resources+Group+in+2016%2C+Executive+Officer+in+2020%2C+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+April+2023%2C+and+Chief+Executive+Officer+of+K+LINE+MARINE+%26+ENERGY+in+July+of+the+same+year.+He+has+been+in+his+current+position+since+March+2025.+Born+in+Miyazaki+Prefecture%2C+59+years+old.+%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

【新ユニット統括に聞く】(1)川崎汽船専務執行役員(海務ユニット統括)・藤丸明寛氏、安全運航と品質管理注力

2025/09/04(木)

日本海事新聞 JMD

関連記事ニュース Related news