Three NYK Ships Recognized by MLIT for their Contribution to Marine Weather Watch
June 17, 2005
(From left) Chief Engineer Hiroshi Inaka
and Captain Yuichi Tsuruya
Three NYK-operated cargo ships were recently recognized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) for the contribution these ships made in observing marine weather conditions and transmitting observation results.
The MLIT's Minister Award and the Meteorological Agency's Director-General Award were presented to the Japanese-flag vessels that participated in observing and reporting marine weather conditions. As of the end of 2004, a total of 666 Japanese vessels were registered for this project. To date, nine vessels, including NYK's three freighters, have received awards. Of the recognized vessels, only four have been merchant ships, while the remaining five were training ships from colleges or other institutions.
NYK ships receiving awards are as follows:
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Minister Award: Century Leader No.3 (pure car carrier)
Meteorological Agency's Director-General Award: Sanshu Maru (coal carrier) and Northwest Swift (LNG carrier)
With this recognition, NYK is determined to continue providing information on marine weather conditions, while doubling efforts to ensure ship safety.
| Century Leader No.3 |
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| Sanshu Maru |
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| Northwest Swift |
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Because oceans cover 70 percent of the earth's surface, they greatly affect world weather. However, meteorological data on oceans is limited, which creates "blind spots" in the meteorological observation of the world.
Meteorological data collection by vessels sailing oceans helps compensate for the shortcomings of meteorological surveys. Not only is data collection encouraged by the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO), data collection is also stipulated in the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) of the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The underlying concept is that vessels navigating oceans help collect information on weather conditions in the oceans, and in exchange, oceangoing ships receive weather data from meteorological agencies around the world.
The method for ships transmitting weather data is standardized. Observation results of wind direction, atmospheric pressure and temperature, water temperature, the height of sea swells, and the types and heights of clouds, are all converted into numerical codes. This information is transmitted to Japan if vessels are located between Japan and 160 degrees west longitude, and to the United States if vessels are further east. This information is then distributed throughout the world via WMO's international weather-data communication network. Based on such information, meteorological agencies around the globe compile meteorological data, such as weather charts, which are then fed back to traveling vessels.
Even vessels equipped with computers and other state of the art devices need to be warned of dangerous weather conditions, such as typhoons and thick fog. On the other hand, even cutting-edge weather-forecast technology using the most sophisticated computers is of little use in the absence of meteorological data for vast oceans around the globe.
It may be said, therefore, that our day-to-day life on land, not to mention the safety of oceangoing vessels, benefits immeasurably from the ongoing give and take cooperation between land and oceans in the observation of weather conditions.