Nippon Yusen announced that on November 14, it received a visit from 10 government officials, including Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA of the Republic of Fiji, at its Keihin Dock Group facility, and that they toured its Koyasu factory.
<The sixth person from the left is Fiji's Prime Minister, Sitiveni Lingamamanda Lambuka.>
The inspection lasted approximately one hour, during which Keihin Dock introduced its environmentally friendly technologies for next-generation fuel vessels and explained the relationship between the company group and Fiji. The Fijian side showed great interest in Keihin Dock's technological capabilities, which led to the construction of the "Sakigake," the world's first commercially-built ammonia-fueled vessel, in order to achieve decarbonization of ships.
Fiji is an island nation located in the heart of the South Pacific, and the development of the shipping and shipbuilding sectors plays a crucial role in its national economy. This inspection was conducted as part of the Prime Minister's visit to Japan, with the aim of directly observing shipbuilding technology and facilities.
Since entering the shipping market to South Pacific island nations, including Fiji, in 1981, the company group has provided uninterrupted regular shipping services, even during the COVID-1 pandemic. Currently, only the company group (the company itself and its subsidiary NYK Bulk Project) and one other company are meeting Fiji's transportation needs, including not only automobile transport but also containers and conventional cargo, with direct services from the Far East region. In 2021, the company also contributed to supporting public infrastructure, such as transporting a police boat from Nagoya Port, thus contributing to the development of Fiji's maritime industry and social infrastructure.
Keihin Dock, as the sole shipbuilding company within the group, has been involved in the construction and repair of ships both domestically and internationally for many years, and is highly regarded for its technical capabilities and safety management system. This inspection was realized at the strong request of the Prime Minister himself and was presented as a case study for the development of the country's maritime industry.
