日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Dec 15, 2025 (Mon)

Caravel Group COO Angad Banga: Accelerating Investment in People and Technology to Drive Maritime Conglomerate Strategy

(From left) Mr. Uchida, Mr. Banga, and Mr. Subramaniam

　Hong Kong’s Caravel Group, which owns major ship management company Fleet Management, is stepping u ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Hong+Kong%E2%80%99s+%3Cb%3ECaravel%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%2C+which+owns+major+ship+management+company+Fleet+Management%2C+is+stepping+up+investment+in+human+resources+and+technology.+We+spoke+with+the+company%E2%80%99s+COO+%28Chief+Operating+Officer%29%2C+Angad+Banga%2C+about+the+significance+of+its+acquisition+of+an+Indian+merchant+marine+university+and+its+aim+in+becoming+the+largest+shareholder+of+Pacific+Basin+Shipping+%28PB%29%2C+a+leading+dry+bulk+shipping+company.+Rajalingam+Subramaniam%2C+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29+of+Fleet+Management%2C+was+also+present+and+added+comments.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Looking+back+on+this+year%2C+how+would+you+assess+it%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CSeveral+strategic+investments+that+will+bring+major+transformation+to+the+%3Cb%3ECaravel%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+have+taken+concrete+shape.+The+biggest+milestone+this+year+was+the+acquisition+of+India%E2%80%99s+International+Maritime+Institute+%28IMI%29%2C+a+merchant+marine+university.+Established+in+1991%2C+the+school+is+one+of+India%E2%80%99s+leading+merchant+marine+universities%2C+producing+about+400+marine+officer+cadets+each+year.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFleet+Management+and+IMI+have+had+a+cooperative+relationship+for+about+20+years.+Going+forward%2C+the+school%E2%80%99s+outstanding+graduates+will+be+incorporated+into+our+talent+pipeline.+In+the+future%2C+I+hope+they+will+play+active+roles+not+only+as+seafarers+but+also+in+shore-based+positions%2C+such+as+ship+management+and+oversight.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+acquired+shares+in+PB.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CPB+has+established+a+solid+position+as+an+operator+of+small-+and+medium-sized+dry+bulk+vessels.+Acquiring+the+company%E2%80%99s+shares+is+a+sign+of+our+confidence+in+the+dry+bulk+sector%2C+especially+in+the+Handymax+and+Ultramax+segments.+It+also+aligns+with+our+core+strengths.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+currently+hold+about+18%25+of+PB%E2%80%99s+shares+and+are+its+largest+shareholder.+PB%E2%80%99s+current+share+price+is+above+the+level+when+we+first+acquired+it.+We+will+continue+to+actively+consider+attractive+investment+opportunities+if+they+arise.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition%2C+we+jointly+ordered+an+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+bunkering+%28fuel+supply%29+vessel+with+the+European+shipping+company+Celsius+Shipping.+We+also+invested+in+Captain%E2%80%99s+Eye%2C+an+Israeli+startup%2C+together+with+MOL+PLUS%2C+the+MOL+Group%E2%80%99s+corporate+venture+capital+arm%2C+and+Eastern+Pacific+Shipping%2C+a+Singaporean+shipowner.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Acquisition+of+an+Indian+merchant+marine+university+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+significance+of+acquiring+IMI%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+manage+more+than+750+vessels.+Of+these%2C+620+are+under+ship+management%2C+and+about+130+are+newbuild+projects.+More+than+27%2C000+seafarers+are+assigned+to+the+vessels+we+manage.+More+than+20%2C000+of+them+are+Indian+seafarers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+acquisition+of+IMI+demonstrates+our+strong+commitment+to+seafarer+development.+This+will+not+only+develop+seafarers+after+they+come+on+board%2C+but+will+also+extend+to+education+before+they+embark.+We+see+education+and+training+not+as+a+cost+but+as+an+investment+in+safety+and+operational+quality.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Fleet+Management+has+enhanced+its+seafarer+training+facility+in+the+Philippines.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+place+the+highest+priority+on+investing+in+people+and+in+technology.+In+the+Philippines%2C+an+existing+seafarer+training+facility+was+relocated%2C+and+training+equipment+was+upgraded.+State-of-the-art+simulators+for+ship+handling%2C+engine+operations%2C+and+liquid+cargo+handling+were+introduced%2C+and+efforts+to+recruit+and+train+instructors+were+also+strengthened.+We+plan+to+increase+the+number+of+Filipino+seafarers+from+about+4%2C000+to+about+6%2C000+over+the+next+two+years.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+does+the+%3Cb%3ECaravel%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+position+its+ship-owning+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COwning+LNG+bunkering+vessels+is+a+new+endeavor+for+us.+In+collaboration+with+Celsius+Shipping%2C+we+ordered+two+20%2C000-cubic-meter+LNG+bunkering+vessels+from+China+Merchants+Heavy+Industries+%28CMHI%29+in+China.+They+will+be+delivered+in+2027.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+Group%E2%80%99s+businesses+rest+on+three+pillars%3A+maritime-related+services+centered+on+ship+management%2C+trading+in+iron+ore+and+coal%2C+and+asset+management.+In+the+trading+business%2C+we+handle+transactions+such+as+20+million+tons+of+iron+ore+per+year+and+5+million+tons+of+coal+per+year.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBy+diversifying+our+business+and+having+multiple+revenue+sources%2C+we+aim+to+stabilize+our+management.+Even+within+the+maritime-related+business%2C+service+income+from+ship+management+and+other+activities+provides+stable+revenue+that+is+less+susceptible+to+market+conditions%2C+while+owned+vessels+and+the+like+can+be+expected+to+generate+substantial+returns+during+the+upside+of+the+market+cycle.+Our+goal+is+to+build+a+revenue+structure+that+benefits+from+both+stability+and+cyclical+market+conditions.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+owned-vessel+business%2C+as+of+the+beginning+of+this+year+we+owned+five+bulkers+and+one+feeder+container+ship.+The+container+ship+is+jointly+owned+with+a+partner.+We+sold+three+of+the+five+bulkers+because+our+investment+in+the+dry+segment+proportionally+increased+following+the+acquisition+of+PB.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+dry+bulk+shipping+business+is+highly+sensitive+to+market+conditions.+On+the+other+hand%2C+LNG+bunkering+vessels%2C+as+mobile+fuel-supply+infrastructure%2C+are+expected+to+generate+stable+cash+flow+and+returns.+It+can+also+be+used+for+small-lot+LNG+transport.+We+would+like+to+continue+pursuing+vessel+investment+opportunities+in+various+forms.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+AI+as+a+driving+force+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Captain%E2%80%99s+Eye%2C+in+which+you+have+invested%2C+develops+AI+%28artificial+intelligence%29-based+camera+surveillance+solutions+for+ships.+What+is+AI%E2%80%99s+potential+in+the+maritime+sector%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAI+will+play+an+extremely+important+role+in+enhancing+safety%2C+efficiency%2C+and+sustainability+across+the+entire+maritime+industry.+Predictive+maintenance+has+already+been+implemented+for+marine+equipment%2C+replacing+conventional+scheduled+maintenance.+There+are+various+use+cases%2C+including+optimal+voyage+planning+that+helps+reduce+fuel+consumption+and+greenhouse+gas+%28GHG%29+emissions%2C+and+systems+that+monitor+regulatory+compliance+in+real+time.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CHowever%2C+at+this+point%2C+it+can+be+said+that+we+are+still+in+the+early+stages+of+utilization.+I+think+AI+will+become+the+driving+force+transforming+the+entire+maritime+industry+in+every+phase%2C+from+ship+design+and+construction+to+chartering+and+operations.+Basically%2C+we+will+use+technology+to+complement+and+enhance+human+work%2C+whether+at+sea+or+on+land.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+main+focus+of+using+AI+for+Fleet+Management+is+to+enhance+operational+excellence.+We+will+maximize+the+performance+of+the+managed+vessels+by+strengthening+safety+management+systems%2C+improving+predictability%2C+and+optimizing+asset+utilization.+Investment+in+Captain%E2%80%99s+Eye+is+also+part+of+these+efforts.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+new+solution+will+be+combined+with+our+proprietary+comprehensive+data+platform+for+vessel+management%2C+%E2%80%99PARIS%E2%80%99+%28Planning+and+Reporting+Infrastructure+for+Ships%29%2C+to+help+improve+safe+and+efficient+operations+and+support+customers%E2%80%99+data-driven+decision-making.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+150+vessels+for+Japanese+shipowners+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+position+the+Japanese+market%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+Japanese+market+is+extremely+important.+The+fact+that+we+recruited+Mr.+Kazutomi+Uchida%2C+formerly+with+a+trading+company%2C+as+Director+of+Business+Development+earlier+this+year+is+a+reflection+of+that.+The+company+is+considering+expanding+its+staffing+in+Japan.+The+company+has+been+entrusted+with+managing+approximately+150+vessels+for+about+25+Japanese+shipowners.+This+includes+vessels+managed+by+MarFleet+Management%2C+a+joint+venture+established+with+Marubeni.+The+company+provides+exclusive+services+for+vessels+owned+by+Marubeni.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CGiven+the+large+overall+scale+of+the+vessels+under+our+management%2C+we+have+accumulated+an+enormous+amount+of+experience+and+data.+Based+on+that+experience+and+data%2C+we+can+propose+best+practices+and+areas+for+improvement+to+customers.+Another+strength+is+our+expertise+in+supervising+the+construction+of+newbuild+vessels.+When+considering+whether+to+adopt+environmental+technologies+and+the+like%2C+we+can+provide+advice+from+a+neutral+standpoint+on+the+pros+and+cons%2C+as+well+as+on+life-cycle+assessment.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTo+meet+the+advanced+needs+of+Japanese+customers%2C+we+are+increasing+investment+in+people+and+technology.+In+addition+to+systematically+training+seafarers+who+can+be+assigned+to+dual-fuel+vessels%2C+we+have+also+developed+the+vessel+management+data+platform+%E2%80%99PARIS%E2%80%99+and+have+been+operating+it.+With+%E2%80%99PARIS%2C%E2%80%99+customers+can+also+access+it+freely+and+monitor+the+status+of+their+own+vessels+in+real+time.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Hong+Kong+remains+alive+and+well+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--As+trade+frictions+between+China+and+the+United+States+continue%2C+some+have+pointed+out+that+Hong+Kong%E2%80%99s+strengths+as+a+maritime+city+could+be+undermined.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+optimistic+about+Hong+Kong%E2%80%99s+future+prospects.+As+geopolitical+tensions+rise%2C+trade+becomes+more+fragmented+and+regionalized%2C+and+the+world+as+a+whole+grows+somewhat+more+inward-looking+than+before%2C+every+region+faces+its+own+challenges.+Hong+Kong+remains+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+shipping+hubs%2C+and+we+believe+it+will+continue+to+grow+in+this+sector.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+four+reasons+for+this+belief.+First%2C+Hong+Kong+is+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+international+financial+centers.+Access+to+international+financial+markets+is+indispensable+for+the+development+of+the+maritime+industry.+Second+is+its+role+as+a+%E2%80%99super+connector%E2%80%99+bridging+mainland+China.+Hong+Kong+has+become+a+hub+where+capital+and+talent+flow+from+the+world+to+China%2C+and+from+China+to+the+world.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+Chinese+companies+are+increasingly+listing+on+the+Hong+Kong+market+and+using+the+funds+raised+through+those+listings+to+expand+into+Europe%2C+South+America%2C+and+other+regions.+Looking+ahead%2C+we+also+sense+signs+that+Chinese+shipping+companies+will+step+up+their+global+expansion%2C+using+Hong+Kong+as+a+foothold.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThird%2C+Hong+Kong+forms+the+GBA+%28Greater+Bay+Area%29+together+with+Guangdong+Province+and+Macao.+Each+city+in+the+GBA+plays+an+important+role+within+the+maritime+ecosystem.+Guangzhou+has+strengths+in+shipbuilding+and+manufacturing.+Shenzhen+is+a+hub+for+innovation+and+technology.+Together%2C+these+synergistic+effects+will+further+enhance+Hong+Kong%E2%80%99s+potential+as+a+maritime+center.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFourth%2C+Hong+Kong+still+remains+one+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+maritime+hubs.+Four+of+the+major+ship+management+companies+have+bases+in+Hong+Kong.+Eight+of+the+top+10+ship+finance+companies+have+expanded+into+Hong+Kong.+In+the+marine+insurance+sector%2C+there+were+also+new+developments+last+month%2C+such+as+the+launch+of+the+Hong+Kong+Shipowner+Mutual+Assurance+Association.+A+major+factor+is+that+the+Hong+Kong+government+provides+strong+support+for+the+maritime+industry.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+fact+that%2C+against+the+backdrop+of+government+support+for+the+commodities+trading+sector%2C+shippers+are+clustering+and+decisions+related+to+maritime+transport+are+made+in+Hong+Kong+is+a+major+attraction+for+maritime-related+companies.+Furthermore%2C+it+is+believed+that+it+could+also+play+an+important+role+as+a+green+maritime+center.+In+addition+to+access+to+green+finance+and+sustainability-linked+loans%2C+new+fuels+such+as+methanol+and+ammonia+will+be+produced+in+China%2C+and+Hong+Kong+could+become+a+trading+hub+and+a+bunkering+%28fuel+supply%29+hub+for+them.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Angad+Banga%2C+after+a+career+at+financial+institutions%2C+joined+%3Cb%3ECaravel%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+in+2013+and+became+Executive+Director.+He+has+been+in+his+current+position+since+2016.+He+also+served+as+chairman+of+the+Hong+Kong+Shipowners+Association+from+2023+to+2025.+%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

【Global Lens】【インタビュー　海事コングロマリットの戦略】カラベルグループCOO　アンガド・バンガ氏、人材・技術へ投資加速

2025/12/15(月)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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