On one rainy and cloudy day surrounding Tokyo port, students of WMU, the members of the Sasakawa fellowship boarded on the TS Nippon Maru. It was Wednesday, September 13^th, 2006. Capt. Yosiharu Takei, the master of the ship welcoming us warmly. He was accompanied by his staffs, including Mr. Naoki Saito, one graduate of WMU.

　

 On the beginning, we received a brief presentation and welcome speeches from the Chief Officer, Chief Engineer and the Master of TS Nippon Maru. It was not a long welcoming session after followed by Engine room and accommodation spaces visit. The students were divided into two groups and guided separately to visit two different parts.

　

 In particular, TS Nippon Maru is a tall training ship which was built in 1984 to replace the old Nippon Maru. This ship has 110,09 m of Length Over All, 13,8 m width, and 2570 Gross Ton. Under sail, she has average speed of 6.0 knots whereas under engine propulsion she can steam with 12.0 knots.

　

 Something interesting for the author is the sails. TS Nippon Maru has 18 square sails and 18 fore and aft sails, 36 sails in total. Sailing under the wind power is a dream for the author; although seven years spent at sea, none of them were a sailing ship.

　

 Ts Nippon Maru was not the only training ship visited, the students also visited onboard TS Seiun Maru where one of WMU graduates work for, he is Mr. Tomonori Okamura, as well known as Mr. Big Tom (imagine how big is big) welcomed the students in the main class onboard TS Seiun Maru, a diesel powered ship, launched in March 1994 and being the no.1 training ship owned by the National Institute for Sea Training (NIST).

　

 Both of TS Nippon Maru and TS Seiun Maru are owned by NIST Japan. This institute also operates other three training ships; they are TS Kaiwo Maru, TS Ginga Maru, and TS Taisei Maru. TS Taisei Maru is a turbine powered ship, and the only turbine training ship operated in Japan, whether TS Kaiwo Maru is a tall ship and TS Ginga Maru is a diesel ship. All in all, NIST operates five training ships.

　

 According to Mr. Big Tom presentation about NIST and website research from http://www.kohkun.go.jp/ known that the National Institute for Sea Training is designed to cultivate in the students from the Universities of Mercantile Marine or College of Maritime Technology in adaptability, discipline, a sense of responsibility, determination, endurance, spirit of cooperation and international mindedness that are indispensable elements for ship's officers. This Institute serves Onboard education and training to the students from the University of Mercantile Marine, College of Maritime Technology, Maritime Technical College, and School for Seafarers Training, both from Japan and foreign countries.

　

 NIST accommodates on average 1600 students every year approximately, with total recorded since 1943 until 2001 amount of 123.300 students have been trained onboard NIST's ships. The foreign students were lodged up under ODA (Official Development Assistance) seafarer training scheme with average of three months onboard since 1997.

　

 This is a well organised training system that has been achieved by a developed country which is able to be learned by visiting students come from many different developing countries and to apply them in their home countries.

　

 In contrast with my seafarers education and training system which does not provide students with institution operated training ship, it really gives a new look of how another system may works. Obviously, combination of onboard training ship practice and apprenticeship system will give better result for the students to be qualified seafarers supporting the industry.

　

 Looking to the future, according to the BIMCO survey that OECD countries will suffer from shortage of seafarers, it will be a mutual benefit between OECD countries such as Japan to build cooperation in providing education and training support facilities with seafarers supplying countries like Indonesia, Philippine, Bangladesh and so on.

　

 Finally, this year visit to two training ships has broaden everybody's view to see, analyse and plan for the future when they return back to their home country, in enhancing the seafarers education and training system to support world maritime industry with qualified seafarers and keep vulnerability of the industry itself. Thanks to the OPRF which has enabled this field study and open all possibilities to widen the network among the students' country for a better future cooperation.

　

 1. On Wednesday, September 13^th, 2006, it was planned to visit the training ships of NIST during the Japan visit. It was very nice weather and very warm welcome by the Capt. Yoshiharu Takei, the master of the ship along with his staff officers, like Naoki Saito, one graduate of WMU.

　

 2. The ship was birthed in a beautiful and clean port. Ship was also very neat and tidy. The visit started with welcome address from the Chief Officer, Chief Engineer and the Master of TS Nippon Maru followed by a brief presentation. We all were divided into two groups to visit the ship. One group was taken to the engine room and the other on to the deck area and vice versa.

　

 3. TS Nippon Maru was built in 1984 to replace the old Nippon Maru. She is 110,09 m in length and 13,8 m in breadth. She is of 2570 Gross Tonnage. Under sail, she has average speed of 6.0 knots whereas under engine propulsion she can steam with 12.0 knots.

　

 4. The interesting for me was the high sails of this ship. And training cruises around the world. TS Nippon Maru has 18 square sails and 18 fore and aft sails, 36 sails in total. As my son sails on very small boat but watching this big ship on sail is really a wonderful experience.

　

 5. Simulators are also another type of interesting thing on board ship which gives lot of experience to the students and also save lot of fuel and other efforts. We also visited TS Seiun Maru, another training ship. We met Mr. Tomonori Okamura who is also WMU graduate. He presented us about the ship as he was taught in the WMU I mean the art of presentations. She is a diesel powered ship, launched in March 1994. It is the real asset of the National Institute for Sea Training (NIST).

　

 6. Both of TS Nippon Maru and TS Seiun Maru are owned by NIST Japan. This institute also operates other three training ships; they are TS Kaiwo Maru, TS Ginga Maru, and TS Taisei Maru. TS Taisei Maru is a turbine powered ship, and the only turbine training ship operated in Japan. In total, NIST operates five training ships which shows the interest and importance of sea training as for as Japan is concerned. Another interesting thing is the foreign crew onboard ships, specially the cadets from Philippine. Mostly students are from Philippine because of an obvious reason that japans flag ships have almost 90% of its crew from Philippine.

　

 7. Very unique and interesting thing was to know that the National Institute for Sea Training's intake is students from the Universities of Mercantile Marine or College of Maritime Technology. This Institute serves On-board education and training to the students from the University of Mercantile Marine, College of Maritime Technology, Maritime Technical College, and School for Seafarers Training, both from Japan and foreign countries.

　

 8. NIST accommodates on average 1600 students every year approximately, with total recorded since 1943 until 2001 amount of 123.300 students have been trained onboard NIST's ships.

　

 9. To me it is well organised training system and I wish to have the same system in my country. However I also dream to have some students from Pakistan onboard ship for training. For that matter I had given one proposal to Mr Kudo to introduce "Mr Sasakawa Medal" in Pakistan Marine Academy. The best nautical and the best engineering cadets may be given this medal and the two cadets can be given the opportunity to have onboard training for about on year. This will definitely enhance cordial relationship between Pakistan and Japan.

　

 10. These training ships have brought lot of professionalism to the students and the product of NIST for sure is the best amongst the world and will continue to improve upon.

　

　

 The visit to Namura Shipbuilding was on the 14^th of September 2006 from 14:30 to 16:30. Upon arrival at the yard, we were immediately directed to the waiting room where we watched a movie about Namura. After that, we had the opportunity to go on board a newly constructed ship and had a tour on bus round the whole shipyard.

　

 In fact, the Namura Shipbuilding yard which was founded in 1911 is one of Japan's leading shipbuilders who specialize in the building of large scale tankers, cargo ships, methanol carriers and LPG carriers of semi refrigerated type with the world's largest single bi-lobe tank. They produce outstanding ships ranging from 70.000 to 300.000 tons.

　

 Namura Shipbuilding also builds steel structures, undertaking all stages of the process including design, manufacturing and construction. They also produce environmental equipment and systems that contribute to environmental protection on a global scale.

　

 To make employees work enthusiastically, the company provides well equipped houses to its workers thus creating a pleasant and satisfying work environment.

　

 In our Japan field study trip, I was really expected to visit the Namura Shipbuilding in Imari because it was my first time to visit the shipbuilding company, especially, the most efficient and high productive company in Japan. Moreover, I heard that Namura Shipbuilding was the most attached company to WMU in Japan because there were Namura fellows few years ago and the president of the company gave a lecture in WMU at that time.

　

 First, I was really impressed by company's policy of Namura Shipbuilding. Although the Japanese companies usually aim the continuous improvement known as KAIZEN, Namura shipbuilding has different point of view. Their theme is "Evolution" to keep No.1 quality and productivity in Japan and to defeat other company's improvement. This is why they are always advancing.

　

 At the technical point of view, they have the dry dock which adopted "Semi-tandem system" to construct and launch ships alternately at both end. I have not seen such kind of dock before, and I was surprised that it was quite effective and efficient. Also, NCF (Namura Flow Control Fin) for improving propulsive performance of the ships is really interesting for me. I think that we, the Japan Coast Guard can introduce this system to increase the speed and reduce the fuel cost at the same time.

　

 Thank you very much for giving us such a precious opportunity.