NYK Line | News Releases | NYK Holds Completion Ceremony for NYK Nature Fellowship Recipients<

News Releases in 2006

October 17 2006

NYK Holds Completion Ceremony for NYK Nature Fellowship Recipients

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Miyahara) held a completion ceremony for university student recipients of the NYK Nature Fellowship* at the NYK head office on October 13, 2006.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Kikujiro Namba, president of Earthwatch Japan,** and Ms. Yoko Takahashi, president of the Japan Philanthropic Association. At the ceremony, Mr. Koji Miyahara, president of NYK, stated, "I strongly hope that the students share with many people the precious experiences gained through participating in marine environmental-research activities and make the best use of those experiences in order to work toward achieving a better global society."

In a debriefing session, fellowship recipients had many comments about things learned through experiences at the research sites. Comments included, "I realized that the data we collected was linked to the entire field of environmental protection research," and, "I understand that our lifestyle has a huge impact on the environment." Additionally, recipients commented on convictions that formed after the experience. One recipient stated, "I learned about the importance of thinking about environmental issues on a global scale while taking actions locally. I would like to start off by talking about environmental issues with neighborhood children."

NYK will continue to dispatch five NYK Group staff members to the marine environmental research sites in order for them to engage in marine research together with participants from all around the world.

* NYK Nature Fellowship
NYK, in commemoration of its receipt of the Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award*** in May 2005, established the NYK Nature Fellowship as one of two NYK-Heyerdahl commemorative projects. The fellowship is aimed at supporting various activities for conducting research and surveys, and supplying human resources to six selected maritime environmental-protection projects. The fellowship is supported by approximately 50 million yen: the US$100,000 (approximately 10 million yen) cash prize that accompanied the Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award and an additional 40 million yen contributed by NYK.

** Earthwatch Japan
Earthwatch, established in 1971 in Boston, is the world's largest international nongovernmental organization and provides researchers with both human and financial support for overseas field research and surveys. Volunteers dispatched all over the world by Earthwatch have taken active roles at cutting-edge scientific sites, receiving instruction from world-class scientists.
Earthwatch Japan was established in 1993 for the purpose of promoting Earthwatch activities in Asia. In 2003, it was certified as a nonprofit organization.

*** Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award
This award was established by Dr. Thor Heyerdahl**** and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association in June 1999 in order to improve the global environment, announce to all segments of society the environmental benefits of shipping as a mode of transport, and encourage the implementation of new, specific environmental measures.
An award recipient is generally selected every two years. The Green Award Foundation won the inaugural award in 2001, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation won the award in 2003, and NYK won the third award in 2005 and received a cash prize of US$100,000. (http://www.heyerdahlaward.com)

**** Dr. Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002)
A Norwegian cultural anthropologist and explorer, Dr. Heyerdahl successfully completed a voyage in 1947 on the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia on a kon tiki, a light raft made of balsa without nails or wires.

*	NYK Nature Fellowship NYK, in commemoration of its receipt of the Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award*** in May 2005, established the NYK Nature Fellowship as one of two NYK-Heyerdahl commemorative projects. The fellowship is aimed at supporting various activities for conducting research and surveys, and supplying human resources to six selected maritime environmental-protection projects. The fellowship is supported by approximately 50 million yen: the US$100,000 (approximately 10 million yen) cash prize that accompanied the Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award and an additional 40 million yen contributed by NYK.

**	Earthwatch Japan Earthwatch, established in 1971 in Boston, is the world's largest international nongovernmental organization and provides researchers with both human and financial support for overseas field research and surveys. Volunteers dispatched all over the world by Earthwatch have taken active roles at cutting-edge scientific sites, receiving instruction from world-class scientists. Earthwatch Japan was established in 1993 for the purpose of promoting Earthwatch activities in Asia. In 2003, it was certified as a nonprofit organization.

***	Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award This award was established by Dr. Thor Heyerdahl**** and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association in June 1999 in order to improve the global environment, announce to all segments of society the environmental benefits of shipping as a mode of transport, and encourage the implementation of new, specific environmental measures. An award recipient is generally selected every two years. The Green Award Foundation won the inaugural award in 2001, the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation won the award in 2003, and NYK won the third award in 2005 and received a cash prize of US$100,000. (http://www.heyerdahlaward.com)

****	Dr. Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) A Norwegian cultural anthropologist and explorer, Dr. Heyerdahl successfully completed a voyage in 1947 on the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia on a kon tiki, a light raft made of balsa without nails or wires.