日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Sep 25, 2025 (Thu)

‌【Interview】MOL Senior Managing Executive Officer Tanimoto on Ship Management Merger Strategy

Mitsuhisa Tanimoto, Senior Managing Executive Officer (Chief Safety Quality Officer, Director General of the Headquarters of Safety Operations), MOL

　MOL has decided to merge its six core ship management companies into MOL Global Ship Management (MO ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+has+decided+to+merge+its+six+core+ship+management+companies+into+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Global+Ship+Management+%28%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3EGSM%29%2C+a+wholly-owned+ship+management+subsidiary+based+in+Singapore.+We+spoke+to+Mitsuhisa+Tanimoto%2C+Senior+Managing+Executive+Officer+and+Director+General+of+the+Headquarters+of+Safety+Operations%2C+about+the+aim+of+consolidating+ship+management+functions.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Until+now%2C+ship+management+companies+were+divided+by+ship+type.+I+would+like+to+hear+what+your+aim+is+in+integrating+the+ship+management+companies.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThrough+this+integration%2C+we+will+consolidate+the+management+know-how+we+have+cultivated+for+each+ship+type+while+simplifying+the+entire+organization%2C+simultaneously+strengthening+our+safety+management+system+and+improving+efficiency+through+integrated+decision-making.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CUntil+now%2C+our+group+has+managed+over+200+ships+through+a+number+of+ship+management+companies.+There+were+benefits+to+specializing+in+the+management+of+different+ship+types+for+each+business%2C+but+indirect+management+from+the+headquarters+was+necessary+to+achieve+unified+ship+management+across+the+entire+group.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+integration+will+eliminate+the+need+for+indirect+management%2C+as+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3EGSM%E2%80%99s+decisions+will+immediately+become+the+overall+management+policy.+The+result+is+a+fast-communicating+organization.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAs+a+secondary+purpose%2C+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3EGSM+itself+will+have+a+management+perspective+and+aim+to+create+a+system+that+will+continue+to+grow+as+an+organization.+If+there+were+ship+management+companies+tied+to+each+business%2C+they+would+be+greatly+affected+by+the+ups+and+downs+of+that+business%2C+but+by+taking+on+the+management+of+a+variety+of+ship+types%2C+we+can+operate+the+organization+independently+in+line+with+the+growth+of+the+shipping+industry+as+a+whole.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Has+the+increasing+complexity+of+ship+management+operations+due+to+the+trend+toward+decarbonization+also+had+an+impact+on+this+merger%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+increasing+opportunities+to+manage+dual-fuel+ships+that+are+compatible+with+alternative+fuels+with+a+lower+environmental+impact.+Recently%2C+the+company+has+been+completing+dual-fuel+vessels+of+all+types+and+is+systematically+developing+human+resources+in+anticipation+of+an+increase+in+the+number+of+vessels+it+will+manage.+Integration+will+enable+the+effective+sharing+of+management+standards%2C+human+resources%2C+and+expertise.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Integration+to+be+completed+in+FY2026+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+specifically+will+you+proceed+with+the+integration+of+the+group+ship+management+companies%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+launched+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3EGSM+in+Singapore+on+July+22.+The+company+will+be+used+as+a+base+to+integrate+the+six+ship+management+companies.+We+are+currently+proceeding+with+the+transfer+of+vessels+and+aim+to+complete+the+integration+within+FY2026.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+integration+will+have+significant+benefits+in+terms+of+practical+aspects+such+as+IT+systems+and+ship+supply+purchasing%2C+and+we+expect+to+see+standardization+of+operations%2C+improved+quality%2C+and+stronger+bargaining+power+due+to+the+expansion+of+purchasing+scale.+We+want+to+see+the+results+of+this+integration+come+to+fruition+as+quickly+as+possible.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+the+future+of+your+base%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CShip+management+operations+are+currently+based+in+Singapore%2C+Tokyo+and+London%2C+UK.+We+will+set+Singapore+as+our+head+office+and+reconsider+where+we+can+best+do+what+for+each+function+while+considering+establishing+new+bases.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Strengths+of+LNG+carrier+knowledge+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+strengths+in+ship+management%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+integration+will+enable+us+to+share+the+management+know-how+of+various+ship+types+that+we+have+cultivated+over+our+140-year+history+on+the+same+platform.+In+particular%2C+the+knowledge+and+know-how+about+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+carriers%2C+of+which+we+have+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+fleets%2C+can+be+applied+to+the+management+of+dual-fuel+LNG+ships%2C+enabling+high-level+safety+management+and+fleet+operation.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CLNG+fuel+will+likely+be+used+until+around+2050+as+a+bridge+solution+until+zero-emission+fuels+become+widespread.+Compared+to+other+alternative+fuels%2C+the+fuel+supply+infrastructure+is+well+developed%2C+giving+it+an+overwhelming+advantage+in+terms+of+ease+of+procurement.+Our+group+has+completed+the+construction+of+a+wide+range+of+dual-fuel+LNG+ships%2C+including+PCTCs%2C+bulkers%2C+tankers%2C+ferries+and+tugboats.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+An+organization+that+is+constantly+changing+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Are+there+any+issues+related+to+ship+management+operations%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+believe+that+the+essence+of+ship+management+is+managing+%E2%80%98people.%E2%80%99+By+utilizing+their+individual%E2%80%99s+strengths+and+supporting+their+weaknesses%2C+we+can+create+a+ship+that+gives+people+peace+of+mind.+When+it+comes+to+managing+%E2%80%98people%2C%E2%80%99+the+most+important+thing+is+to+return+the+crew+safely+to+their+families.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+number+of+crew+members+on+the+ships+we+manage+is+on+the+order+of+20%2C000.+Our+biggest+challenge+is+to+create+a+system+where+each+and+every+person+on+shore+and+at+sea+is+constantly+aware+of+problems+and+continues+to+improve+and+grow%2C+so+that+all+crew+members+can+disembark+with+a+smile+on+their+face.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+taken+all+sorts+of+measures+to+prevent+serious+accidents%2C+including+the+introduction+of+equipment+and+operations+based+on+the+fail-safe+concept.+Starting+this+year%2C+we+have+also+started+providing+mental+care+for+seafarers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+seafarers+to+be+able+to+work+with+peace+of+mind%2C+they+and+their+families+must+be+in+good+physical+and+mental+health.+Working+with+a+charity+that+has+a+long+history+of+supporting+seafarers%2C+we+provide+counselling+services+by+welfare+officers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+line+with+changes+in+the+shipping+industry%2C+the+situation+surrounding+ship+management+is+also+changing+significantly.+The+progress+of+new+technologies+such+as+AI+%28artificial+intelligence%29+is+also+remarkable.+I+want+to+focus+on+creating+an+organization+that+is+not+bound+by+convention%2C+and+that+can+continue+to+change+and+adapt+to+the+best+possible+form+for+both+the+organization+and+its+people.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Mitsuhisa+Tanimoto+graduated+from+Tokyo+University+of+Mercantile+Marine+%28now+Tokyo+University+of+Marine+Science+and+Technology%29+in+1990+and+joined+Mitsui+O.S.K.+Lines+%28now+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%29.+He+was+appointed+captain+in+2007%2C+head+of+the+Maritime+Safety+Department+in+2019%2C+Executive+Officer+in+2021%2C+and+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+2022%2C+and+has+held+his+current+position+since+April+2024.+%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%E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【インタビュー　船舶管理機能を集約】商船三井専務執行役員(チーフ・セーフティ・クオリティ・オフィサー、安全運航本部長)・谷本光央氏、安全強化・効率化を実現

2025/09/25(木)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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