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News Releases in 2006

December 26 2006

NYK Begins Accepting Applications for NYK Nature Fellowship

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK; Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Miyahara), in collaboration with Earthwatch Japan,* a nonprofit organization, has started accepting applications from university students for the NYK Nature Fellowship, in which university students will be dispatched to research and survey sites in marine environments overseas.

The fellowship was also created with the aim of assisting scientists worldwide with marine environmental research, which requires human and financial support. Earthwatch, an international nongovernmental organization (NGO), assists research activities by providing human support-by dispatching volunteers from all around the world to marine sites in order to assist research activities-and financial support, both of which are essential to environmental field surveys.

In 2006, NYK, in collaboration with Earthwatch Japan, a branch NGO of Earthwatch, dispatched five Japanese university students for volunteer work at overseas marine environmental-research sites for the first time. This year, 2007, will mark the second year that NYK has sent university students overseas as part of this fellowship.

Applicants should refer to fellowship guidelines at the following link: http://www.nyk.com/fellowship/ (Japanese Only)

NYK established the NYK Nature Fellowship in commemoration of its receipt of the Thor Heyerdahl International Maritime Environmental Award** in 2005. The joint fellowship was created to allow NYK to cooperate with university students and work toward achieving a better global society. Fellowship recipients engage in marine research activities together with volunteering NYK staff members from overseas countries, and receive instruction and guidance from scientists. NYK believes that fellowship recipients can utilize the experience gained through marine research and cultural exchange.

Protecting the ocean, land, and sky is an important theme of the NYK Group's social contribution activities. In addition, NYK intends to continue to place importance on activities that support the growth of people who are responsible for the next generation.

* 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.

*	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.