V. The Forum Overview
The Forum took place in downtown Tokyo during the period Monday to Wednesday, July 23-25, 2001. The venue for the first two days' programs was Akasaka Prince Hotel, whilst the closing session on the third day was held at the Nippon Zaidan Building. Working language was English.
1. The Opening Session (13:30-17:00 / Monday, July 23)
The Opening Session was started by Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of "Friends of WMU, JAPAN", who stressed that the Forum was organized to embody the philosophy he had inherited from his father, the late Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa, and which had guided the work of the Nippon Foundation since its inception: the World is one family, and all human beings are brothers and sisters.
Mr. Sasakawa's speech was followed by two guest's addresses by Mr. Kenji Tokudome Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and Mr. David Edwards (IMO). Both of them expressed profound appreciation for the Nippon Foundation's unflagging support to WMU. Representing the Fellows, Ms. Sandra Rita Allnutt (Brazil) delivered a speech appreciating support of the Nippon Foundation and other Japanese donors.
Then followed three Keynote Speeches by Dr. Karl Laubstein (WMU), Mr. Hiroshi Terashima (Nippon Foundation), and Dr. Chua Thia-Eng (PEMSEA). Dr. Laubstein's lecture entitled "WMU: Serving the International Maritime Community" reviewed the evolution and progress of WMU, culminating in an exposition of the future direction of WMU and the contributions of the global network of WMU graduates to the international maritime community. Mr. Terashima, in his lecture "Our Ocean Initiatives and the Importance of Ocean Issues," introduced manifold contributions the Nippon Foundation made to address a variety of ocean related issues. He concluded his presentation by expressing high hopes for the Fellows. With a lecture entitled "Regional Cooperation Maritime Affairs in the East Asian Seas Region: Challenge and Opportunities," Dr. Chua took over discussion from Mr. Terashima, and directed attention of the audience to the importance of networking efforts by the Fellows to realize regional cooperation for solving many cross-country maritime issues.
2. The Parallel Sessions (09:30-12:00 / Tuesday, July 24)
The Parallel Sessions were held on the morning of Tuesday, July 24, 2001, and the Network Workshop on the afternoon of the same day. At the Parallel Sessions the participants discussed freely many topics with friends and colleagues from around the world, gave presentations on their own work at home, and asked for peers' advice on issues facing them.
Chairpersons and vice-chairpersons selected from among the Fellows presided over the Sessions. They received from speakers their presentation papers in advance, exploring topics of interest and chaired the Sessions successfully in a limited space of time. Three Parallel Sessions were held topicwise:
Session 1 : Port and Shipping Management
| Participants : |
48 Fellows |
| Chairperson : |
LI Lianjun (China) |
| Vice-Chairpersons : |
Anantha PRASAD N.S. (India) |
| |
Andi ISNOVANDIONO (Indonesia) |
| |
Abu Hena M.MAMUN (Bangladesh) |
| Advisers : |
Toshio Matsuda (NYK Line) |
| |
MA Shou (WMU) |
| Assistants : |
Bulmaro X. RODRIGUEZ R. (Ecuador) |
| |
LIU Jie (China) |
There are 16 papers submitted to this Session. 14 speakers presented their papers. One paper is for distribution only and one intended speaker was unfortunately absent.
Most of the participants shared the view that in the limited space of time, they had a fruitful discussion among the speakers and the participants. They touched upon issues from local to regional concerns and other general issues relating to port and shipping.
Summary of concerns identified during presentations and floor discussions are as follows:
a. It is desirable for the developing countries to participate in shipping activities in the sprit of regional cooperation. For example, intra-regional traffic within Asia has grown to be the biggest market in the world. Such regional trade could be an entry point for the developing countries. Participation in the regional trade is a reality.
b. The issues of interest should be maximum efficiency on transportation including shipping in the overall competitiveness of products marketed internationally. The above efficiency also encompasses domestic shipping or cabotage.
c. The deficiencies or malfunctioning of the various systems and unethical practices should be the areas for immediate improvement towards reducing the costs of inefficiency.
d. Safety and environmental issues should be seriously pursued along the line determined by international maritime community.
e. Development of a port should be driven by the availability of self-supporting domestic cargo.
Session 2 : Maritime Safety and Marine Environment Protection
| Participants : |
62 Fellows |
| Chairperson : |
Romeo R. GAGUI (Philppines) |
| Vice-Chairpersons : |
GAO Deyi (China) |
| |
Robertinas TARASEVICIUS (Lithuania) |
| Advisers : |
Hiroyuki Yamada (MLIT) |
| |
Moira McCONNELL (WMU) |
| |
PK MUKHERJEE (WMU) |
| Assistants : |
XIE Hui (China) |
| |
Azfar B. MOHAMAD M. (Malaysia) |
There were 14 papers submitted but only 5 were presented because of time constraints. After the presentation of each paper, a reaction was given by a member of the Chairing Group, following which several interventions were made; many of them by the Fellows who had submitted papers on related subjects.
A number of common elements emerged from the papers as well as the interventions. These may be summarized as follows:
a. A part of the problem of implementing maritime safety and environmental protection requirements is the lack of resources including financial as well as required expertise. A unified approach to dealing with problems, particularly on a regional basis, is desirable.
b. It is urged that Japan and WMU as two main pillars in this endeavor also contribute in every possible way, particularly in raising public awareness and improving the standards and accessibility to education.
c. It is also desirable that governments pave a way for a more concrete and meaningful involvement of the private sector.
d. It is essential that the links in the maritime safety chain, i.e., flag states, port states, shipowners, classification societies, ships' personnel, maritime institutions, etc. commit themselves to fulfilling their respective responsibilities.
e. In this regard, exchange and sharing of information, cooperation and collaboration among States is needed. The role of the Fellows is crucial to this subject. One of the ways to achieve it is regular and meaningful communication through networking and consultation.
Session 3: Education and Training for Maritime Affairs (MET)
| Participants : |
34 Fellows |
| Chairperson : |
Mohammad A. ZAFAR (Pakistan) |
| Vice-Chairpersons : |
Rusman HOESIEN (Indonesia) |
| |
Hannah A. AGGREY (Ghana) |
| Advisers : |
Keiji ISHIDA (Kobe University of Mercantile Marine) |
| |
Toshio HIKIMA (WMU) |
| |
Peter MUIRHEAD (WMU) |
| Assistants : |
Kennedy KISHAWI (Kenya) |
| |
Viktoriya RADCHENKO (Ukraine) |
The following four relevant topics were considered:
a. Implementation of amended STCW Convention.
b. Impact of technology and communication systems on MET and the future role of distance learning and education methodologies in MET.
c. Improvement and upgrading of MET Institutions, as well as recruitment and retention of maritime instructors.
d. WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Network for exchange of information.
After introducing the agenda the floor was open for every participant to air their views. Participants were of the view that most MET institutions (METIs) have problems as follows:
a. Lack of teaching and training aids such as laboratories, workshops and modern simulators.
b. Lack of qualified and experienced maritime instructors in most developing countries because masters and chief engineers are either reluctant to join METIs due to relatively poor pay packages. However, there is a general trend that they prefer shore jobs in national maritime administrations or multinational private organizations, where they get better salary packages and other fringe benefits.
c. It is a common problem that trainees after graduating from METIs cannot find jobs on ships. This is due to the fact that most of the developing countries do not have sufficient shipping fleet to absorb the graduates passing out every year.
Recommendations arising from the Session are as follows:
a. Most METIs' modern training aids and equipment have either outlived their life or importance due to advancement in technology. New equipment, laboratories, simulators, etc. are required.
b. Maritime instructor's salaries have to be raised and some sort of incentives has to be provided, whereby instructors can be motivated.
c. New technology, communications, IT and its potential use for outreach to mariners by distance learning are important. Shortage of officers in the world's fleets placed the onus on METIs in Asia and Africa to train officers to meet the technology demands and skills on modern ships as well as low technology fleets.
d. Sea time requirement should be reduced and compensated with shore based simulator training.
e. Shipping companies of developed countries should finance training programs in developing countries and absorb trainees.
f. Ships should not be built with full automations and less manning requirements. This trend is dangerous for safety reasons because a skeleton crew may not address emergency due to shortage of manpower.
g. STCW provides minimum standards, whereas national standards could be set higher than STCW provisions. Shipping companies could also be more stringent in training of the seafarers. Thus METIs must produce marketable quality seafarers.
h. METIs should focus on marketing and try to meet customers' requirements.
3. The Network Workshop (14:00-17:30 / Tuesday, July 24)
The Japanese-funded Fellows who graduated from or are studying at WMU total over 200 from 36 countries around the world. The Fellows' Network linking together the Fellows working in various maritime sectors would turn out helpful, whenever they seek assistance to address problems they may encounter at work. The Network would enable them to get useful information from their old friends of WMU or suggestions from experts introduced through their good offices, for example. The Workshop provided an opportunity to deepen intra-alumni communications among the Fellows who endorse the Network construction, and to discuss possible steps to realize a dense alumni network.
3.1 Plenary Meeting (14:00-16:15 / Tuesday, July 24)
At the Plenary Meeting accounting for the first half of the Workshop, there took place reports on the activities of local alumni bodies and the Secretariat's presentation on the basic concept of the Network. Several Fellows were chosen by SOF's advisory group on the WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Program to be chairperson and vice-chairpersons.
| Chairperson : |
Kyaw ZEYA (Myanmar) |
| Vice-Chairpersons : |
ZHANG Renping (China) |
| |
Sonia B. MALALUAN (Phlippines) |
| |
TRAN Minh Duc (Vietnam) |
| |
Leong Peng LOO (Malaysia) |
| |
Musa Hassan MUSA (Kenya) |
| Advisers : |
Masato MORI (SOF) |
| |
Toshio HIKIMA (WMU) |
| |
Bruce BROWNE (WMU) |
| |
Sue JACKSON (WMU) |
| Assistants : |
DOTHY (Indonesia) |
| |
Okechukwu OBARA (Nigeria) |
(1) Presentation by SOF
SOF presented a starting-point for discussion. Mr. Masato Mori of SOF gave a presentation of their proposal on the formation of the Fellows' Network. His presentation included:
a. The major activities of SOF
b. The relation between the Nippon Foundation and SOF
c. SOF's supporting system for the Fellows
d. The purpose and importance of the Network formation
- The Fellows Network will consist of the Fellows who will support the Network construction. SOF will act as headquarters for the Network. The Fellows will forge local networks on country basis. Each Fellow is to belong to the local network in his/her own country.
c. Concrete steps for the Network formation
- With a coordinator and correspondents chosen from among the members, each local network will be run of the members' own accord. The coordinator and correspondents will provide SOF with periodical information on the members' recent activities as well as maritime information in and around their country. Such information will be included in SOF's homepage or published as newsletter articles for wider review by the Fellows.
e. The relation between "Friends of WMU, Japan" and the Fellows' Network
f. Expansion of support from the Japanese side, etc.
(2) Presentations by the Fellows
a. Presentation of three papers by the Fellows from China, Bangladesh and the Philippines
b. Introduction of alumni associations in several countries
- Fellows from Vietnam, India, China and the Philippines gave presentations.
c. Reports from a current student on the necessity of strengthening alliance by creating Malmo chapter operated by current students
(3) Free discussion with participation from the floor
Free discussion took place around the following topics:
a. The immediate future action plans of the Fellows' Network with SOF functioning as a hub
- Roles of coordinators
- Installation of a special homepage
- Publication of newsletters either in hard copy or electronically
- Updating / maintaining of data base including roster
- Local seminars and conferences
- Assistance from WMU
- Experience from existing WMU alumni associations or some challenges to be faced --- communication problems, lack of time and ensuring of commitment
b. The future action plans in longer perspective
- How to utilize the Fellows' Network
- Fellows' contributions
- What to expect of SOF
- Extension of roles and activities of networks (national/ regional)
3.2 Country-wise Group Discussion (16:30-17:30 / Tuesday, July 24)
At Country-wise Group Discussion that followed the Plenary Meeting, the participants discussed practical aspects of the Network construction and future activities in groups according to region or country.
The Network Workshop Chairperson induced the participants to discuss the following topics:
a. Local networks or alumni bodies
- The formation of local networks should be agreed upon among the Fellows from the same country.
b. The future action plans of individual local networks
- The immediate future action plans to be worked out.
c. Communications between the Fellows working in their own countries and those who currently reside outside their countries, and communications among the Fellows in the same country, yet living far away from each other
- Creation of branch offices and contact/communication measures to be discussed.
d. Decision-making of activities and notification to the member Fellows
e. The updating of rosters
f. Election of coordinator(s) and correspondent(s) --- roles and functions.
g. Maintenance of communication with SOF, etc.
The Fellows --- graduates and current students --- from the same country held discussion. The leader of each country was responsible for working out a few pages long summary report of discussion and submitting it to the Network Workshop Chairperson. The participants from such countries located in the same or neighboring geographical region that have so far produced just a few members joined to hold Regional Discussion.
4. Closing Session (09:30-12:00 / Wednesday, July 25)
The Closing Session was held in the Nippon Foundation Building and attended by all the participants plus Japanese observers.
| Chairpersons : |
LI Lianjun (China) |
| |
Romeo R. GAGUI (Philppines) |
| |
Mohammad A. ZAFAR (Pakistan) |
| |
Kyaw ZEYA (Myanmar) |
| Coordinator : |
Eisuke Kudo (SOF) |
The meeting agenda contained:
a. Reports of Parallel Sessions by the Session Chairpersons
b. Report of the Network Workshop by the Workshop Chairperson
c. 18 presentations from 18 representatives of national/regional networks
- Reports of Country-wise / Regional Discussions --- Representatives of East Africa, West Africa, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Pacific nations, Europe, and Latin America / Caribbean nations
d. Adoption of "WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows' Resolution" on the formation of the Fellows' Network
e. Closing Remarks by Mr. Eisuke Kudo
Chairpersons of the Parallel Sessions and the Network Workshop presented a summary report of discussions and presentations under coordination of Mr. Eisuke Kudo, Managing Director of SOF. Mr. Zeya proposed "WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows' Resolution", which received ardent support from the floor and was adopted unanimously.
WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows' Resolution
We, the WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows, during our first forum held in Tokyo from 23 to 25 July 2001:
ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING the vision, initiatives and deep concern with the welfare of mankind of the distinguished philanthropist, Ryoichi Sasakawa, founder of the Nippon Foundation;
APPRECIATING the efforts and contributions of the Ship & Ocean Foundation (SOF), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Maritime University (WMU) in the promotion of global sea safety and the preservation of the maritime environment protection;
RECOGNIZING the need for a global network to maximize individual potential in promoting maritime safety and marine environment protection;
Do hereby RESOLVE to join forces to create a WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows' Network for the purpose of information exchange, collaborative activities and mutual cooperation to further the development of the international maritime community, and
RESOLVE to cooperate in the organization and operation of the central network in Tokyo in order to maintain effective communication among the network members and the Friends of WMU, Japan, and to promote unity, peace and global harmony.
