日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Sep 11, 2025 (Thu)

‌【Interview】Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen New President Yamaga on Ambition for Further Growth

Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen President, Noriaki Yamaga

　Noriaki Yamaga, who became president of Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen in June, said, “Next year, our compan ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Noriaki+Yamaga%2C+who+became+president+of+%3Cb%3EKawasaki+Kinkai%3C%2Fb%3E+Kisen+in+June%2C+said%2C+%E2%80%9CNext+year%2C+our+company+will+celebrate+its+60th+anniversary.+We+would+like+to+build+on+the+history+that+our+predecessors%2C+officers%2C+and+employees+have+built+up+to+now+and+take+the+company+to+the+next+level.%E2%80%9C+We+spoke+to+President+Yamaga+about+the+company%E2%80%99s+policy+across+a+wide+range+of+areas%2C+including+international+shipping%2C+domestic+shipping%2C+and+offshore+support.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Takafumi+Suzuki%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+aspirations+upon+taking+office%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CNext+year%2C+our+company+will+celebrate+its+60th+anniversary.+This+long+history+has+been+supported+by+relationships+of+trust+with+customers+based+on+a+proven+track+record%2C+as+well+as+strong+relationships+of+trust+with+the+local+community+in+the+ferry+and+domestic+liner+vessel+businesses.+This+is+the+business+foundation+that+our+predecessors+and+executives+have+built+up+over+many+years.+My+job+is+to+build+on+this+history+and+take+the+company+to+the+next+level.+This+may+sound+a+bit+exaggerated%2C+but+I+want+to+move+the+company+forward+and+grow+it+as+a+corporation.+I+aim+to+create+a+%3Cb%3EKawasaki+Kinkai%3C%2Fb%3E+Kisen+that+is+loved+not+only+by+our+customers+and+the+local+community%2C+but+above+all+by+all+our+stakeholders%2C+including+our+clients+and+employees.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+strengths%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+involved+in+both+international+business%2C+mainly+in+coastal+waters%2C+and+domestic+business.+The+domestic+shipping+business+is+also+diverse%2C+including+irregular+cargo+ships%2C+ferries%2C+and+RORO+ships.+Through+our+group+company+Offshore+Operation%2C+we+also+operate+a+business+involving+survey+and+work+vessels+and+offshore+support+vessels+that+support+marine+development.+Our+uniqueness+and+strength+lies+in+our+diverse+range+of+businesses.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+policy+regarding+international+shipping+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBiomass+fuel+cargo+transportation+is+a+major+source+of+revenue.+In+2016%2C+we+established+an+internal+working+group+and+have+been+one+of+the+first+to+advance+research+and+initiatives+into+biomass+transportation.+In+recent+years%2C+biomass+power+plants+have+been+operating+all+over+Japan%2C+and+fuel+demand+has+been+steadily+increasing.+Biomass+transportation+is+expected+to+see+stable+demand+over+the+long+term+in+line+with+the+operation+of+power+plants.+By+capturing+this+demand%2C+we+will+be+able+to+stabilize+the+revenue+base+of+our+international+shipping+business%2C+which+is+susceptible+to+market+fluctuations.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Various+ship+types+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--The+company+also+invests+in+biomass+power+plants.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+investing+in+power+plant+projects+themselves+to+ensure+more+stable+business+development.+By+being+involved+in+the+projects%2C+we+hope+to+gain+a+deeper+understanding+of+the+business+and+fulfill+our+role+by+being+involved+in+long-term%2C+stable+transportation+demand.+As+a+result%2C+this+will+also+lead+to+stabilization+of+the+international+shipping+business.+In+particular%2C+the+types+of+biomass+fuel+cargoes%2C+such+as+wood+pellets%2C+are+increasing%2C+and+transport+lots+are+also+becoming+larger.+To+meet+diverse+needs%2C+we+offer+a+wide+range+of+vessel+types%2C+from+Twin+Deckers+to+19%2C000-dwt+to+42%2C000-dwt+bulkers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+domestic+shipping%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CDue+to+the+declining+population%2C+the+overall+volume+of+domestic+logistics+is+not+expected+to+increase+significantly%2C+but+there+are+significant+opportunities+for+modal+shift%2C+particularly+in+the+areas+of+ferries+and+RORO+ships.+Due+to+work+style+reforms+for+truck+drivers+and+environmental+concerns%2C+the+shift+from+land+transport+to+maritime+transport+is+likely+to+accelerate+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHow+we+perceive+modal+shift+and+capture+that+demand+is+important.+Modal+shift+has+stages.+The+first+stage+involves+trucks+with+drivers+still+on-board+using+ferries.+In+fact%2C+this+trend+is+gradually+increasing%2C+and+there+is+a+possibility+that+demand+for+short-distance%2C+medium-distance%2C+and+long-distance+ferries+will+increase%2C+especially+from+the+perspective+of+work+style+reforms.+The+second+stage+is+unmanned+navigation%2C+where+only+the+chassis+is+transported+by+ferry+or+RORO+ship.+However%2C+this+has+a+greater+impact+on+the+entire+supply+chain%2C+including+shippers%E2%80%99+capital+investment+and+logistics+practices%2C+and+full-scale+progress+is+yet+to+come.+I+think+this+trend+will+inevitably+come+eventually%2C+and+we+want+to+be+prepared+by+carefully+determining+the+timeline+and+other+factors.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Hokkaido+route+as+strength+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+current+state+of+modal+shift%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+patchy+depending+on+the+area.+For+example%2C+the+situation+is+different+in+Kyushu%2C+which+is+connected+to+Honshu+by+land%2C+and+Hokkaido%2C+which+can+only+be+reached+by+boat+or+train.+The+logistics+environment+is+also+different%2C+and+some+believe+that+unmanned+navigation+by+RORO+ship+is+more+advanced+in+Hokkaido.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+strength+is+the+Hokkaido+route.+At+the+Tomakomai+Port%2C+the+gateway+to+Hokkaido%2C+we+offer+frequent+service+with+four+ferry+and+two+RORO+ship+sailings+per+day%2C+a+total+of+six+daily+departures.+It+is+possible+to+capture+both+demand+for+RORO+ships+connecting+Kanto+and+Hokkaido%2C+and+demand+for+ferries+for+those+coming+overland+from+Tohoku+and+northern+Kanto.+The+breadth+of+our+services+in+Tomakomai+is+a+major+strength+of+ours.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Towards+realizing+synergy+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I%E2%80%99d+like+to+ask+about+the+offshore+support+vessel+business.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COffshore+Operation%2C+a+group+company%2C+owns+five+vessels+for+undersea+surveys+and+work%2C+and+conducts+business+using+its+own+vessels.+There+are+only+a+limited+number+of+such+research+vessels+in+Japan%2C+so+owning+the+asset+is+a+major+advantage.+In+the+future%2C+we+will+be+able+to+play+an+active+role+in+the+installation+of+promising+offshore+wind+power+generation+facilities+and+in+the+various+research+vessel+projects+that+will+be+required+in+the+preparation+stage+for+these+facilities.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+offshore+wind+power+generation+support+vessel+business+is+centered+around+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+Wind+Service+%28KWS%29%2C+which+was+established+as+a+50%2F50+joint+venture+with+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine%2C+and+by+utilizing+the+assets+and+knowledge+of+Offshore+Operation%2C+we+will+be+able+to+generate+extremely+powerful+synergies+within+the+group.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Promoting+work+style+reform+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+securing+crew+members%2C+which+is+a+particular+challenge+in+domestic+shipping%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+shortage+of+seafarers+is+a+structural+issue+for+the+entire+industry.+This+is+not+a+problem+that+can+be+solved+by+one+company+alone.+We+will+contribute+to+public+relations+activities+across+the+industry+and+also+promote+our+own+initiatives+such+as+work+style+reform.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+we+introduced+Starlink%2C+a+high-speed%2C+low-latency+satellite+broadband+service%2C+on+board+ships.+This+not+only+enables+crew+members+to+communicate+with+their+families+at+any+time+but+also+facilitates+online+meetings+and+image+sharing+with+people+on+shore%2C+significantly+improving+operational+efficiency.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+policy+for+the+fleet+development%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CPlanned+fleet+development+is+important.+The+company+plans+to+build+several+bulkers+over+the+next+two+to+three+years.+Ferries+and+RORO+ships+will+also+be+developed+in+a+planned+manner.+However%2C+the+next+challenge+is+how+to+respond+to+environmental+concerns.+This+will+be+done+while+assessing+trends+in+new+technologies+such+as+alternative+fuels.+I+want+to+keep+working+on+it+without+missing+the+timing.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+words+do+you+value+when+working%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9C%E2%80%99Communicate+with+intention.%E2%80%99+Communicate+carefully+and+with+care+so+that+the+%E2%80%99intentions%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%99opinions%E2%80%99+behind+the+words+are+properly+conveyed+to+the+other+person.+I+want+to+value+this+fundamental+aspect+of+communication.+Also%2C+although+it%E2%80%99s+not+an+expression%2C+I+want+to+always+keep+in+mind+the+attitude+of+looking+at+situations+and+issues+objectively+without+preconceptions%2C+formulating+hypotheses%2C+and+implementing+the+PDCA+%28Plan%2C+Do%2C+Check%2C+Act%29+cycle+with+a+sense+of+urgency.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Noriaki+Yamaga+graduated+from+Faculty+of+Law%2C+Tohoku+University+in+1986+and+joined+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine.+He+became+Executive+Officer+in+2020%2C+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+2021%2C+and+Senior+Executive+Officer+in+April+2024%2C+and+joined+%3Cb%3EKawasaki+Kinkai%3C%2Fb%3E+Kisen+in+March+2025%2C+where+he+has+held+his+current+position+since+June+of+the+same+year.+61+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

【新トップの舵取り】川崎近海汽船社長・山鹿徳昌氏、一段上のステージへ

2025/09/11(木)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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