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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Mar 09, 2021 (Tue)

‌【Interview】MOL Drybulk aims to grow the bulker business with the keywords of decarbonization and electrification

Mr. Kazuhiko Kikuchi, Executive Officer of MOL

　MOL will reorganize its dry bulk carrier business within the group. The tramper business for small ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+will+reorganize+its+dry+bulk+carrier+business+within+the+group.+The+tramper+business+for+small+and+medium-sized+bulkers+such+as+Handymax+and+Handysize%2C+the+wood+chip+carrier+business%2C+and+the+Panamax+business+excluding+steel+and+domestic+electric+power+will+be+transferred+to+the+wholly+owned+subsidiary%2C+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Kinkai.+On+April+1%2C+%E2%80%9C%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Drybulk%E2%80%9C+%28name+changed+from+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Kinkai%29+will+make+a+new+start+as+a+comprehensive+dry+shipping+company+with+a+fleet+of+about+200+vessels+based+on+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Kinkai.+We+asked+Kazuhiko+Kikuchi%2C+executive+officer+of+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+who+will+be+the+president+of+the+new+company%2C+about+future+policies.+%28Interviewer+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+aspiration%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCreate+a+strong+and+supple+organization+that+can+respond+swiftly+to+changes+in+the+business+environment.+As+a+professional+group+of+dry+bulk%2C+we+provide+one-stop+service+by+various+bulkers+of+10%2C000+to+100%2C000+dwt+including+heavy+lift+vessels.+By+doing+so%2C+we+would+like+to+build+a+business+structure+that+can+sustainably+generate+profits.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+aim+to+be+a+resilient+organization+that+has+sales+capabilities%2C+market+tolerance%2C+and+profitability%2C+and+can+flexibly+respond+to+any+changes+in+the+business+environment.+Demonstrate+synergies+not+only+in+sales+but+also+in+management+departments+to+strengthen+cost+competitiveness.+By+providing+new+value+to+customers%2C+we+will+improve+the+corporate+value+of+the+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Group.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Break+through+the+current+situation+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+background+and+aim+of+the+business+restructuring%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+trampers%2C+we+carried+out+structural+reforms+in+2016%2C+and+have+been+searching+for+the+ideal+way+of+business+since+then.+A+light+asset+type+was+adopted+to+correct+the+rigidity+of+ship+costs%2C+and+the+intake+of+difficult+cargo+was+also+strengthened.+We+are+proud+that+I+have+been+refining+my+skills+and+securing+stable+profits+in+order+to+realize+them%2C+but+I+felt+that+something+was+needed+to+break+through+the+current+situation.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COn+the+other+hand%2C+chip+carriers+are+expected+to+shrink+in+the+Japanese+market%2C+and+there+is+a+growing+demand+for+ideas+like+trampers.+Treatment+of+high-cost+ships+without+specific+contracts+built+during+the+period+of+soaring+market+conditions+is+also+an+issue.+Multipurpose+vessels+in+Asian+Waters+had+the+challenge+of+relying+on+specific+cargo+and+markets.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAt+that+point%2C+we+were+hit+by+a+coronavirus+pandemic.+It+became+apparent+that+it+was+supposed+to+happen+in+the+future+at+a+scale+and+speed+that+was+higher+than+expected.+There+is+a+limit+to+how+one+department+can+respond+to+sudden+changes+in+the+business+environment.+Therefore%2C+I+thought+it+was+essential+to+bring+together+the+resources+related+to+the+dry+bulk+of+the+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%2C+excluding+steel+raw+material+vessels+and+coal+carriers+for+domestic+electric+power.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COne+of+the+reasons+for+the+restructuring+was+that+the+business+foundations+of+both+businesses+had+been+strengthened.+Trampers+have+been+in+the+black+since+the+structural+reforms.+Chip+carriers+are+also+steadily+accumulating+medium-+to+long-term+contracts%2C+and+their+overseas+customer+base+is+growing.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMultipurpose+vessels+in+Asian+Waters+are+also+differentiated+by+our+technological+and+sales+capabilities%2C+and+boast+the+top+share+in+biomass+fuel+transportation+to+Japan.+We+were+able+to+decide+to+become+stronger+together+because+we+have+strengths+in+that+foundation.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Also+pay+attention+to+food+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+do+you+aim+for+growth%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+three+keywords+are+%E2%80%98decarbonization%E2%80%99%2C+%E2%80%98food%E2%80%99%2C+and+%E2%80%98electrification%E2%80%99.+In+%E2%80%98decarbonization%2C%E2%80%99+we+have+no+choice+but+to+expect+a+decline+in+the+volume+of+thermal+coal+shipments+to+Japan+as+coal-fired+power+plants+are+shut+down.+On+the+other+hand%2C+imports+of+biomass+fuels+such+as+wood+pellets+and+PKS+%28Palm+Kernel+Shell%29+will+increase.+Demand+for+transportation+of+wind+power-related+materials+and+equipment+will+also+increase.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+grain+movement+did+not+drop+even+under+the+coronavirus.+As+steady+growth+is+expected+in+the+future%2C+we+will+respond+to+growth+in+transportation+demand%2C+including+related+fertilizers.+Advances+in+electrification+will+boost+demand+for+copper+ore+and+nickel.+Electric+vehicles+%28EV%29+use+four+times+as+much+copper.+We+will+put+more+effort+into+taking+in+these+cargoes.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+your+future+challenges%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COverseas+expansion+is+an+issue.+It+goes+without+saying+that+the+Japanese+market+is+important.+On+top+of+that%2C+we+will+capture+the+expanding+overseas+transportation+demand+and+aim+for+further+growth.+For+trampers%2C+we+will+pursue+the+optimal+combination+of+round-trip+voyages+centered+on+the+target+cargo+to+improve+profitability.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CChina+will+be+the+focus+of+chip+carriers.+Until+now%2C+we+have+been+actively+responding+to+transportation+demand+for+China.+The+transportation+ratio+between+Japan+and+China+is+about+3%3A+2.+China+has+banned+the+import+of+used+paper+from+this+year.+Chip+imports+may+increase+further.+Capture+transportation+demand%2C+including+for+fuel.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+multipurpose+vessel+in+Asian+Waters%2C+the+Southeast+Asian+region+will+be+a+priority+area.+This+is+because+it+has+strengths+in+transporting+steel+materials+from+Japan+to+Southeast+Asia.+We+will+continue+to+take+in+return+cargo+such+as+biomass+fuel.+We+also+set+up+a+base+in+Jakarta%2C+Indonesia+last+December.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Consider+wind+power+propulsion+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+about+environmental+friendliness%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+considering+the+adoption+of+alternative+fuels+such+as+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+and+the+installation+of+hard-wing+sails+that+use+wind+energy+as+propulsion.+We+have+business+relationships+with+customers+in+a+variety+of+industries.+Many+customers+have+environment-related+technologies+and+knowledge.+We+would+like+to+cooperate+with+customers+and+partners+to+propose+transportation+services+and+logistics+solutions+with+less+environmental+impact.+%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Kazuhiko+Kikuchi+graduated+from+Hitotsubashi+University+in+1986+and+joined+Mitsui+O.S.K.+Lines+%28currently+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E%29.+General+Manager+of+Dry+Bulk+Shipping+Division+2+in+2016+and+in+his+current+position+since+April+2019.+From+April+2021%2C+he+will+be+appointed+as+Managing+Executive+Officer+and+President+of+%3Cb%3EMOL%3C%2Fb%3E+Drybulk.+58+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%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%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