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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Apr 24, 2025 (Thu)

‌【Interview】Mr.Cadji, President of Union Maritime on Japan & US port fee issues

Cadji, Hoshino (far left), Kawamura (far right), and project manager James Doherty (second from the right)

　The Japanese subsidiary of Union Maritime, a major British shipowner, is now in its second year sin ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+Japanese+subsidiary+of+%3Cb%3EUnion+Maritime%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+a+major+British+shipowner%2C+is+now+in+its+second+year+since+its+establishment.+We+spoke+to+President+Laurent+Cadji%2C+who+was+visiting+Japan%2C+about+the+company%E2%80%99s+partnership+with+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry+and+the+impact+of+the+Trump+administration%E2%80%99s+China+policy+on+the+market.%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Azumi+Kashiwai%29%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Expanding+management+contracts%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+has+been+the+response+so+far+to+the+business+expansion+of+your+Japanese+subsidiary%2C+%3Cb%3EUnion+Maritime%3C%2Fb%3E+Services+%28Tokyo%29%2C+which+was+established+in+2023%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COver+the+past+two+years%2C+they+have+exceeded+our+expectations.+Takahiro+Hoshino%2C+Head+of+Japan%2C+and+Ira+Kawamura%2C+Business+Administrator%2C+are+building+our+brand+in+Japan+and+forging+new+relationships+with+key+partners.+Amid+growing+uncertainty+in+the+global+market%2C+our+deep+cooperative+relationship+in+the+important+market+of+Japan+is+of+great+significance.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFurthermore%2C+Kiyoto+Hiratsuka%2C+a+former+domestic+tanker+operator+with+a+background+in+maritime+engineering%2C+joined+the+Japanese+subsidiary+in+April%2C+bringing+the+total+to+three+people.+His+presence+will+enable+Japanese+shipowners+and+operators+to+receive+maritime+technical+support+in+Japanese%2C+without+any+time+lag.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CGoing+forward%2C+we+will+expand+sales+to+Japanese+shipping+operators+and+shipowners+in+order+to+expand+the+number+of+ships+under+management+by+our+in-house+ship+management+company%2C+Atlantas+Ship+Management.+Atlantas+manages+approximately+30+tankers%2C+mainly+ships+owned+by+our+company%2C+and+also+manages+some+ships+on+contract+with+third+parties.+We+aim+to+double+the+fleet+we+manage+in+the+future%2C+and+would+like+to+increase+the+number+of+orders+we+receive+from+Japan.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Discussing+MR+sharing%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+progress+of+fleet+development+in+Japan%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAfter+establishing+our+Japanese+subsidiary%2C+we+ordered+two+chemical+tankers+from+Fukuoka+Shipbuilding+and+have+secured+long-term+charter+agreements+for+18+new+ships+from+Japanese+shipowners.+On+the+financing+side%2C+we+have+arranged+sale+and+leasebacks+of+25+vessels+with+Japanese+shipowners%2C+and+have+also+secured+direct+loans+from+leasing+companies.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFurthermore%2C+negotiations+are+underway+with+Japanese+companies+to+share+the+ships.+We+are+in+fruitful+discussions+regarding+two+high-spec+Chinese-made+MR+%28Medium+Range%29+product+carriers.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+current+size+of+%3Cb%3EUnion+Maritime%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+fleet%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+currently+have+about+60+existing+ships%2C+including+long-term+chartered+ones%2C+and+60+to+65+new+ships+on+order%2C+totaling+just+over+120+ships.+The+fleet+is+experiencing+exciting+growth+this+year+with+many+long-term+charter+vessels+from+Japan+joining+the+fleet+and+many+newbuild+ships+scheduled+for+delivery+in+Japan%2C+China+and+Korea.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+LR1%2FMR+exemption%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--On+April+17%2C+the+U.S.+government+revealed+details+of+port+entry+fees+for+Chinese-built+ships.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIt+turned+out+that+the+impact+on+the+tanker+market+will+not+be+as+severe+as+people+had+feared.+LR+%28Large+range%29+1+and+MR+product+carriers+and+chemical+tankers+of+80%2C000+dwt+or+less+are+expected+to+be+exempted+from+the+rule%2C+making+this+a+very+important+decision+for+the+U.S.%E2%80%99s+import+and+export+trade.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CAframax+tankers+will+also+be+exempt+from+port+entry+fees+when+entering+U.S.+ports+in+ballast+%28empty+vessels%29+or+for+the+Canada-Caribbean+trade+within+2%2C000+nautical+miles+of+a+U.S.+port.+In+other+words%2C+the+actual+impact+on+the+market+in+which+we+operate+is+not+that+great.+However%2C+a+more+significant+impact+is+expected+for+VLCCs+%28Very+Large+Crude+Carrier%29+and+Chinese+shipping+companies.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CBy+some+estimates%2C+port+fees+would+only+impact+5%25+of+U.S.+oil+imports%2C+with+little+impact+on+exports.+It%E2%80%99s+safe+to+say+the+U.S.+government+has+taken+a+more+cautious+approach.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Given+the+U.S.+government%E2%80%99s+tough+stance+toward+China%2C+some+shipping+companies+are+considering+shifting+from+Chinese+leasing+to+Japanese+financing.+How+do+you+view+the+China+risk%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+think+fundraising+in+Japan+is+a+really+good+approach.+Japan+is+a+great+place+to+do+business+and+the+financial+institutions+are+very+supportive.+Meanwhile%2C+Chinese+finance+is+also+highly+competitive+and+its+banks+are+well+capitalized+despite+the+global+challenges+it+faces.+We+are+keen+to+do+business+with+quality+financial+institutions+and+are+in+ongoing+discussions+with+banks+in+Japan+and+around+the+world.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+your+outlook+for+the+shipping+market+this+year%3F%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+uncertainty+we+are+witnessing+will+have+an+impact+on+global+trade+and+economic+growth.+To+overcome+these+risks%2C+we+need+to+work+closely+with+our+partners+in+a+wide+range+of+areas%2C+including+chartering+and+financing.+However%2C+the+U.S.%E2%80%99s+exemption+of+oil+and+gas+imports+from+new+tariffs+reflects+the+country%E2%80%99s+focus+on+energy%2C+and+tanker+fundamentals+remain+resilient+compared+to+other+markets.%E2%80%9C%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+30+wind-powered+vessels+introduced%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80This+month%2C+the+International+Maritime+Organization+%28IMO%29+approved+medium-term+measures+to+reduce+GHG+%28greenhouse+gas%29+emissions.%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+regulatory+impact+will+be+substantial%2C+with+old+and+inefficient+ships+being+severely+penalized+and+high-quality+ships+benefiting+much+more+than+we+anticipated.+Our+company+is+actively+investing+in+Wind+Assist+Ship+Propulsion+for+ships%2C+with+plans+to+install+them+on+30+to+35+ships+by+2027.+This+year%2C+the+completion+of+an+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+fueled+product+carrier+is+also+expected.+There+is+huge+value+in+incorporating+modern+technologies+such+as+wind+propulsion+into+high-quality%2C+efficient+ships+to+achieve+further+energy+savings.%E2%80%9C%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