Japanese shipping companies MOL, NYK Line and “K” LINE, along with the Japanese Shipowners’ Association, have announced plans to donate a large training ship to help train seafarers in Japan.
As announced, recognizing the vital role of Japanese seafarers in maintaining and advancing maritime transport the major Japanese shipping companies together with the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA), have begun concrete discussions about donating a large training vessel to the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers (JMETS).
According to a report by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), JMETS faces several challenges, including unstable finances, fewer onboard training days due to rising fuel costs, shortages of instructors and crew and difficulties accommodating students with varying skill levels and qualification goals on the same vessel. Additionally, JMETS’s training ships and school buildings are aging.
To support JMETS’s ongoing reforms, our industry has decided to explore donating a large training vessel as part of a broader effort to strengthen maritime education. We sincerely hope this donation will support JMETS’s reforms and contribute to the steady development and training of highly skilled Japanese seafarers.
…the companies commented in a joint statement.
The next step involves defining the vessel’s specifications and consulting with shipyards, with the goal of completing the project by around 2030.
AloJapan.com