日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jan 15, 2021 (Fri)

‌【Interviews, Challenge to environmental changes, Dry bulk】Asano Vice President of “K”Line aims to optimize the fleet

Mr. Atsuo Asano, Vice President and Representative Director of “K”Line

　In recent years, changes in the environment surrounding the dry bulk sector have been remarkable, s ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80In+recent+years%2C+changes+in+the+environment+surrounding+the+dry+bulk+sector+have+been+remarkable%2C+such+as+a+decline+in+domestic+steel+demand+and+a+headwind+to+coal-fired+power+generation+due+to+the+tide+of+decarbonization.+We+asked+the+heads+of+the+dry+bulk+divisions+of+Japanese+3+big+carriers+about+how+to+respond+to+the+challenges+they+face%2C+such+as+the+decrease+in+long-term+transportation+contracts+and+intensifying+market+fluctuations%2C+to+achieve+stable+growth.+The+first+is+Atsuo+Asano%2C+Executive+Vice+President+and+Representative+Director+of+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine.+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Market+conditions+are+recovering+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+summarize+the+dry+bulk+market+conditions+in+2020%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCapesize+market+conditions+started+with+a+slump+due+to+unseasonable+weather+in+Brazil.+Combined+with+the+impact+of+the+spread+of+the+new+coronavirus+infection%2C+the+first+half+was+depressed.+From+around+June%2C+economic+activities+in+each+country+resumed%2C+and+the+latter+half+of+the+year+gradually+recovered.+China%E2%80%99s+stimulus+package+strongly+helped+market+recovery.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+recovery+of+steel+raw+material+transportation+to+Japan+was+from+July+onwards.+Transportation+demand+fell+sharply+during+the+slump+in+the+first+half+of+the+year%2C+both+domestically+and+internationally.+Due+to+postponement+of+COA+%28Contract+of+Affreightment%29%2C+the+number+of+ships+with+contract+type+that+is+temporarily+exposed+to+market+conditions+has+increased.+This+put+pressure+on+profits.+However%2C+after+autumn%2C+transportation+demand+recovered+due+to+the+recovery+of+the+automobile+industry.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWood+chip+transportation+was+sluggish+due+to+the+decline+in+paper+production.+It+has+not+fully+recovered+even+at+the+moment+%28December+2020%29.+With+the+progress+of+telework+and+digitalization%2C+the+demand+for+paper+is+declining.+The+chip+carrier+has+not+been+diverted+to+other+uses+and+its+operation+is+declining.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+outlook+for+the+dry+bulk+market+in+2021%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAlthough+the+coronavirus+pandemic+will+continue%2C+the+economy+will+have+to+move+and+transportation+demand+will+arise.+Overall%2C+it+is+positioned+as+a+%E2%80%98year+in+the+process+of+recovery.%E2%80%99+Economic+activity+will+become+more+active+if+the+development+and+dissemination+of+vaccines+progresses.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+2020%2C+steel+raw+material+transportation+to+Japan+has+fallen+since+2019%2C+but+shipments+to+China+and+India+have+increased.+It+may+continue+to+increase+in+2021.+China%E2%80%99s+stimulus+package+is+expected+to+continue+in+2021%2C+and+we+expect+its+effects.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+supply+of+ships+is+expected+to+be+limited+in+2021+and+2022.+Mass-built+ones+around+2010+and+2011+will+go+into+regular+inspections+and+supply+will+be+temporarily+curtailed.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Over+20+compressions+within+the+fiscal+year+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+fleet+management+policy%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+management+plan+announced+in+August+2020%2C+we+are+promoting+the+sale+and+return+of+vessels+by+the+end+of+2020+with+the+aim+of+reducing+the+fleet+of+more+than+20+vessels%2C+mainly+dry+bulk+and+PCTC+vessels.+It+is+becoming+increasingly+important+to+incorporate+changes+in+the+industrial+structure+surrounding+shipper+companies+and+how+to+hold+the+fleet+portfolio+and+fleet.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+will+continue+to+optimize+the+size+of+the+fleet+after+2021.+Specifically%2C+the+company+plans+to+reduce+its+long-term+fixed+fleet+%28own+vessels+and+medium-+to+long-term+chartered+vessels%29+of+352+vessels+%28out+of+the+current+fleet+of+450+vessels%29+by+52+vessels+over+the+next+five+years.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+sales+strategy%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWhile+the+long-term+fixed+fleet+is+declining%2C+we+will+focus+on+acquiring+overseas+commercial+rights+in+parallel+so+that+the+equilibrium+will+not+shrink.+In+steel+raw+material+transportation%2C+we+would+like+to+capture+new+demand+based+on+India+and+the+Middle+East%2C+where+we+have+a+long+track+record.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+are+few+new+deals+with+Chinese+steel+makers.+On+the+other+hand%2C+cargo+contracts+are+becoming+CIF+%28including+freight+and+insurance%29%2C+and+we+would+like+to+maintain+a+good+relationship+with+shippers.+However%2C+the+shipper+side+is+aiming+to+shorten+the+contract.+This+is+also+important+when+considering+the+fleet+portfolio.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+the+balance+between+cargo+and+the+fleet%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+want+to+take+more+cargo%2C+but+the+term+of+the+transportation+contract+is+going+to+be+shortened.+With+this+new+coronavirus%2C+uncertainty+about+the+future+has+increased%2C+and+the+trend+has+further+progressed%2C+and+at+the+same+time%2C+market-linked+%28index+link%29+contracts+are+increasing.+Under+such+circumstances%2C+the+cargo+coverage+rate+of+our+fleet+is+85-90%25+for+Capesize+and+70%25+for+small+and+medium-sized+vessels.+It%E2%80%99s+been+down+from+a+period+of+time%2C+and+we+need+to+push+forward+with+the+compression+of+our+core+fleet.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+small+and+medium-sized+vessels%2C+we+carried+out+structural+reforms+such+as+charter+cancellation+in+FY2018.+After+that%2C+the+balance+of+payments+has+improved+after+the+ship+returned+naturally+due+to+the+expiration+of+the+period.+We+will+continue+to+consider+if+there+are+vessels+that+can+be+returned+early.+We+haven%E2%80%99t+requested+a+reduction+in+charter+fees+for+the+past+two+years.+We+have+not+implemented+any+noticeable+impairment+of+our+own+vessels.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Utilize+kite+and+others+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+thoughts+on+next-generation+fuels%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CReducing+GHG+%28greenhouse+gas%29+emissions+is+a+proposition+that+the+entire+company+should+fulfill.+We+are+conducting+research+on+next-generation+fuels+every+day.+The+next+major+fuel+will+be+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29.+And+there+is+no+doubt+that+the+next+is+ammonia+and+then+hydrogen.+We+recognize+that+increasing+the+size+of+fuel+tanks+for+ammonia+and+the+realization+of+storage+technology+at+minus+253+degrees+Celsius+for+hydrogen+are+issues.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CNext-generation+fuel+vessels+are+costly.+In+addition+to+technological+development+trends%2C+we+must+be+able+to+gain+the+understanding+of+our+customers%2C+including+passing+them+on+to+fares.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition%2C+by+utilizing+not+only+next-generation+fuels+but+also+energy-saving+additives+such+as+kites%2C+we+aim+to+achieve+the+goal+of+exceeding+the+IMO+%28International+Maritime+Organization%29+set+forth+in+the+long-term+guideline+%E2%80%98%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9CLINE+Environmental+Vision+2050.%E2%80%99%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+status+of+the+replacement+of+seafarers+who+are+stagnant+due+to+the+coronavirus+pandemic%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+is+gradually+improving.+The+worst+was+July+2020%2C+when+the+number+of+people+in+our+operating+fleet+with+a+boarding+period+of+more+than+10+months+reached+1%2C100.+In+December%2C+the+number+has+dropped+to+the+200+level.+It+is+possible+to+change+500-600+people+every+month+now.+Many+Filipinos+are+assigned+to+bulkers%2C+and+we+will+continue+to+strive+for+steady+replacement+by+deviating+%28deviation%29+to+Manila.%E2%80%9C+%28Posted+regularly%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Atsuo+Asano+Joined+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+in+1983.+Head+of+Steel+Raw+Materials+Group+in+2009%2C+Executive+Officer+in+2010%2C+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+2014%2C+Senior+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+2018%2C+Representative+Director%2C+Senior+Managing+Executive+Officer+in+2019%2C+incumbent+since+June+2020.+59+years+old.%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%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【インタビュー　環境変化に挑む　ドライバルク部門】(上)川崎汽船代表取締役副社長・浅野敦男氏、船隊適正化 5年で52隻減へ

2021/01/15(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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