Courses at Tokyo University to Be Funded by NYK, 5 Shipbuilders
July 20, 2007
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
IHI Marine United
Kawasaki Shipbuilding
Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding
Universal Shipbuilding
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK; head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; president: Koji Miyahara) and five (5) shipbuilding companies have agreed to jointly fund courses for the study of new technology development strategies in shipping and shipbuilding. The courses, which are being offered for the first time, began on June 1 at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Engineering.
The purpose behind this initiative is to foster new shipping and shipbuilding technologies and to provide necessary basic research to address and solve problems of safety and environmental protection two matters of current global concern. Through collaboration between the companies and the university, the courses will accurately reflect real world needs and serve as a foundation for the training of future leaders of the maritime industries.
Hidetoshi Sueoka, formerly of the Shipbuilding Research Centre of Japan (SRC), serves as adjunct professor for the courses. Direction and evaluation of the research is being overseen by an advisory committee of representatives from the six companies.
Eventually a maritime research center is expected to emerge from the collaboration. This will engage proactively in research and development that unites Japanese and international researchers and industry engineers in a contribution that supports the competitiveness of Japan' maritime industries.
Participating with NYK are the shipbuilding companies Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (head office: Tokyo; president: Kazuo Tsukuda), IHI Marine United (head office: Tokyo; president and representative director: Yoshinori Iwashimizu), Kawasaki Shipbuilding (head office: Kobe; president: Yuichi Taniguchi), Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (head office: Tokyo; president: Yasuhiko Katoh), and Universal Shipbuilding (head office: Kawasaki; president and executive director: Shin Takeuchi).