Today, I had opportunity to visit to Japan again, after my last visiting in 2001 during JICA training. But this occasion, it seemed very different than previous one; this is because I went together with another twenty five students of World Maritime University, Sweden who were Sasakawa fellow students came from different countries around the world. We left Sweden on September 9^th by flight SAS Airlines SK 983 and arrive at Narita International Airport in Tokyo on September 10^th at 09.35 AM.

　

 The activity was begun on the same day since we arrive in Tokyo. The first place that we visited was the Museum Maritime Science. In here, welcome and familiarization meeting was held by field study organizer. For the first time, we could meet with Mr. Eisuke Kudo, The managing director of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF), Mr. Hidemasa Tagami, Mr. Shinichi Ichikawa and Ms. Emi as well, those who are familiarized from Friends of WMU Japan newsletter for a long time.

　

 In the next day, September 12^th, we left Hotel Villa Fontaine at 09.30 sharply for Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). It was a good experience for us to know how Japan government conducts public administration in the maritime sector from this good office. Meeting was opened by speech from Director of Maritime Bureau. He hoped that during students made observation in his office. We might much learn about maritime affair which contributes to the safety and marine environment pollution prevention. Further, students were divided into three groups: Maritime administration as a flag state in ship matter, maritime administration as a flag state in seafarer matter and maritime administration as a port state & coastal state.

　

 This report will discuss about maritime administration as a flag state in seafarer matter which is my allocation part of field study report. It consists three sections. First section is concerning Seafarer Policy Division which will discuss about seafarer administration. Second is safety Management and Seafarers Labour Division which will discuss about mariners law and related training. And the last part is License Division which will discuss about seafarer certification in different levels.

　

 Seafarer Policy Division, through this division MLIT deals with seafarer administration which handles several activities: labour issues such as employment working condition, social welfare and minimum wage. Training and education, piloting system and international cooperation relating to seafarer are also its concern.

　

 It is important to be noted, that more than ten years, Seamen's Employment Center of Japan (SECOJ) under ODA Seafarers Training Scheme has carried out training for seafarer from developing countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The training consists of 2 months pre-sea training at Marine Technical College, 3 months on board training conducted by National Institute for Sea Training (NIST) and 9 months on board training on merchant vessel of Japanese shipping companies.

　

 There are three ministries which responsible for seafarer education (ET) and training in Japan. Under Ministry Land, Infrastructure and Transport, education and training of seafarer is conducted by Independent Administration Institution (IAI) such as Marine Technical College (MTC) which conducts upgrading and refreshing training certificate and National Institute for Sea Training (NIST) which has 5 training ships. Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has Tokyo University of Mercantile marine, Kobe University of Mercantile marine and National College of Maritime Technology for class-3 certificate. While for class-4 and rating, there are school for seafarer's training. In addition several private universities also involve in seafarer's education and training.

　

 The last ministry which engage in seafarer ET is Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The ministry supervise IAI Fisheries academy and 47 fisheries senior high school and special only for fishing vessel certification. Japanese fishery industry has employed more than 5000 Indonesian seafarer in recently years. Bust mostly, they are for rating, whereas Japan actually need more officers due to shortage of young officers. So in the near future, cooperation between two countries relating to seafarer supplying needs to be more improved.

　

 Second division is the Safety Management and Seafarer Labour division. This division deals with regulations and ordinances of mariner's law such as training regulations, health, sanitation, safety and security in ports and ships. Their task is to transform the International convention like STCW Code, SOLAS, ISPS Code, MARPOL and Maritime Labour Conventions into national regulations. Consequently, Japan seafarer education and training has changed, it was signed by existing of new various training such as training for certain ship types, training for SSO, CSO and PFSO, and training for navigating management and seafarer labour inspector.

　

 Third division is the license division. In order to compliance with STCW 95, manning scale for ship's officers engage on ships of 20 G/T or more are arranged as follow: There are 5 area of manning: Smooth water area, it means harbour adjacent water and river, Near coasting area, it consists of water within 20 miles of each Japan coast, Greater coasting area, Limited greater coasting area and Ocean going area.

　

 The group session was finished at 12.00, after all explanation from three divisions had completely delivered. Question and answer session were also given by staff of MLIT, particularly, student who wants to know further on specific part, such as assessment and examination system and on board training procedure as well. Visiting to MLIT has given more idea to us about the role of administration in education and training, as well as seafarer matter. We could compare weaknesses and strength between different system in Japan and in our country.

　

 It was a long journey from Copenhagen Airport to Narita Airport which took about eleven (11) hours. Our group, the Sasakawa Fellowship, Class of 2007, arrived in Japan on September 10, 2006 and stayed in Hotel Villa Fontaine SHIODOME, Tokyo. After a good night sleep, I felt refresh from the long journey. On September 11, 2006 the Sasakawa, Class of 2007 had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), Government of Japan. We went to the Ministry by bus and arrived in the ministry before 10 a.m. In the ministry, we were welcomed by the ministry maritime bureau personal and brought to the conference room which was located at the 10^th floor of the MLIT. A brief presentation of MLIT by Ms. Fumi Yakabe from Maritime Bureau, Safety Standards Division was given. At 10.30 a.m., the Director-General of Maritime Bureau, Mr. Koichi Fujiwara went to the conference room to give the opening speech. After that, the Academic Registrar of WMU, Mr. Bruce P. Browne gave a speech on behalf WMU and followed by speech of the student representative, Mr. Mugen from Indonesia. At 11.00 a.m., we were divided into three groups, based on our specialization. Our Group, which were consist of Maritime Law and Policy (MLP) students and Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration (MSEA) students were brought to hear the presentation by respective personal from the International Shipping Division, Safety Standards Division and Inspection and Measurement Division, Maritime Bureau.

　

 The presentation of Safety Standards Division, Maritime Bureau focused on the organizational of the ministry and the policy, and current subjects of safety standards division. The policy of the division is "To make efforts through our activities aiming at improving ship's safety, security, and preserving marine environment" by taking into account of the need of the Japanese in term of economic and society, and to implement firmly international commitments and to make efforts to contribute to ship's safety and preservation of marine environment. The goals of the safety standards division are ensuring ship's safety, preserving marine environment, ensuring maritime security, rationalization of regulations for domestic vessels and improving of seafarers' working conditions. Besides that, the presentation of the division also touched on safety of super high speed craft in Japan, air pollution prevention from ships, promotion of electricity supply from land at quay, coping with recent amendments to SOLAS and MARPOL, and continued wearing of life jackets onboard. As overall, the presentation from the Maritime Bureau, were very useful to the students especially the MSEA specialization, to learn more on ship's safety in Japan prospective.

　

 License division which is one of the divisions under the Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Japan. From where we were given a lecture by the related personal about the licensing and certification for ships' officers and boats' operators in Japan.

　

 According to the lecture, the applicants for the certification must pass the state examination and receive relevant lectures designated by minister. It includes for example, regarding to maritime officer, there are 6 grades for navigation, and engineering, 3 grades for radio, 4 grades (for GMDSS) for radio electronics and 2 grades (and specific boat pilot license) for boat.

　

 Regarding to limitation, they have limitation by experience, on ship officer's duty, of kind of engine, and on equipment for his/her physical impediment. Students under the age of 18 years and person who was revoked under Marine Accident Inquiry Law are noted as disqualification. The validity of certificate of competency shall be five years and requirements for renewal to meet physical condition are to have at least 1 year sea-going service experience last 5 years or to complete specific lecture. And if the holders misconduct or act in contravention in law, mental or physical disorder revocation and suspension will be applied.

　

 With regarding to examination, they have physical, written, oral, and practical exams. But graduates from designated course in maritime training institute are exempted from written examination.

　

 As for ship owner, they shall have his/her ship manned with appropriate number of officers having certificate of competency. Master and deck officers must have the radio certificate issued under Radio Law. It is dispensation during voyages where any dispensation of ship officers occurs in a ship during a voyage due to the death of a ship officer serving on the ship or other unavoidable reasons to the extent involved, except after the voyage was over.

　

 Concerning to the recognition system for foreign officers having STCW certificate, those officer can be on board Japanese flag ships after recognition by the minister even though he hasn't been granted the Japanese certificate. Also after examined by minister if applicants have a certain period of sea-going service, knowledge for Japanese coastal area, physical fitness, and then oral examination is carryout.

　

 In controlling of foreign ships, the minister can order his staff to make access to the ship enter in Japanese port or let inspectors examine if each officer have appropriate certificate of competency or any dispensations issued by flag state.

　

 Finally regarding to penal provision, they do, for example, if owner did not observe manning standard, he shall be charged with penal servitude not exceeding 6 months or fine under 1 million yen.

　

 In conclusion, we can say that after the lectures, this is only one parts of the whole, we learnt quite a lot regarding to, for example, seafarers administration, maritime education and training for seafarers mariners law and related training and licensing and certification for seafarers and foreign ship owners. Therefore, as for me, as a assistant lecturer, the Japan field study trip is very valuable and useful because, it helps me a lot in theoretical and practical experience with regarding to maritime affairs and that made me appreciate and proud of to be a Sasakawa fellowship.

　

 Today is our very first official day of our Japan Field Trip for 2006. Last night is such an experience when I found out myself this morning that I slept soundly. It is the first time that I am detached from the hectic student life in Malmö, Sweden. Although I missed my breakfast this morning, still I looked forward with eagerness to the first official day of our Japan Field Trip 2006.

　

 I am in a group where the presentations will come from the Port State Control Affairs Office of the Maritime Bureau, the Ports and Harbours Bureau and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). All these agencies are under the umbrella of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT). From among these agencies, I am assigned to concentrate particularly on the Japan Coast Guard.

　

 I have a close feeling of identification to the Japan Coast Guard. Why? Simply for the reason that I am also a Coast Guard officer from the Philippines. The presentation given to our group is not the usual power point presentation, but, a video or film showing. The film is entitled "Japan Coast Guard: 365 Days a Year".

　

 If I have to make an outline of the video presentation, these are the topics covered in it, which are also the JCG's missions:

　

　

 Japan has a coastline of approximately 34,000 kilometres, territorial waters of 430,000 square kilometres and an enormous EEZ of approximately 4,050,000 square kilometres. Considering these area of jurisdiction, I found myself admiring in the video the various images of JCG's operational capability monitoring and working effectively around their maritime zones. In one instance, it was portrayed in the video how they managed to monitor and eventually apprehend a foreign spy boat coming from North Korea. The spy boat carries high-powered firearms and also managed to fire at a responding JCG patrol vessel. The JCG patrol vessel, with superior weaponry onboard, was able to sink the boat. Later, they re-float it for further investigation.

　

 It was remarkable also to see how JCG responds to people and ships in distress and at the same time managing to prevent oil pollution from the distressed ship. In the video, there was a situation where a vessel found herself in a stormy sea and eventually losing her power to manoeuvre to a place of refuge. JCG responded quickly by sending a special rescue team, flown from Haneda Airport, to the location of the distressed vessel. The rescue of the crewmembers was conducted smoothly. Subsequently, a JCG national strike team arrived to conduct the necessary damage control procedures in the engine room of the distressed vessel to prevent her fuel tanks from spilling its fuel load. The operations were very well carried out and no oil spill incident occurred after the stormy sea.

　

 Apart from responding to various maritime incidents, JCG also maintains a round-the-clock monitoring of their ports and coastal areas to ensure the safety of all vessels and people in the area. They also have a continuing marine scientific survey program to ensure that seabed movements are also detected. This is apart from their marine environment protection initiatives. To sum it all, all these activities are just part of their 24-hour work in a year.