Mr. Yohei Sasakawa,

Mr. Masahiro Akiyama of the Ship & Ocean Foundation, Officials of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport of Japan, Graduates and Students of the World Maritime University, Ladies and Gentlemen,

　

　On behalf of the Secretary- General of IMO, it is a pleasure and an honor for me to address the opening of the WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows Forum. Owing to previous world commitments, the Secretary General is unable to attend, but he wishes me to convey to you his very best wishes for a successful forum. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Japan for its substantial contribution to the regulatory work of the International Maritime Organization.

　

　The success of IMO in developing and maintaining an effective framework of international rules and standards, covering every aspect of maritime environmental protection, is due to leading countries such as Japan. I should also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation and thanks for the generous support rendered to the World Maritime University by the Ship and ocean Foundation. This is of course an occasion of great significance for the WMU graduates present here and the Foundation. It is also an important event or IMO. Our relationship with the World Maritime University goes back a long way.

　

　Every achievement, be it architectural or institutional, begins with an idea and so it was with WMU that IMO began the process which led to the University opening its doors in 1983 . At the time it was such a novel idea that everyone involved with it felt as if they were participating in an experiment. Nothing like it was ever attempted before and no one really knew how it would develop or indeed how long it would last. Eighteen years later, it is not only flourishing but now has a total graduate population worldwide of 1775 men and women from 141 countries and territories.

　

　The reasons for its success are many: the quality and dedication of the students, the teaching skills and knowledge of the professors and lecturers, the leadership of the Reactor, Dr. Karl Laubstein, and the enduring interest of the Board of Governors can be cited. However the sustainability of the University rests on the financial support, which it has received from IMO Member States and the maritime industry.

　

　Over the years individual governments, shipping-related companies, trade unions and other organizations, have all contributed with generosity to the University, enabling it to continue to train an unprecedented number of students annually and improve its facilities and training programme. But, specifically, it was thanks to the ongoing and generous financial support from the host state Sweden and a core group of countries and organizations that the University was able to develop and progress.

　

　The Ship and Ocean Foundation of Japan, through the Sasakawa World Maritime University Fellowship Programme, was chief amongst this small but committed group of WMU contributors. After Sweden, the Foundation is the University's largest and staunchest donor. Since 1983, the Foundation and its predecessor Foundations have consistently sponsored annual fellowship at the University.

　

　To date, it has helped a total of 154 WMU graduates from countries in Asia & the Pacific, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean. Another 48 students financed by the foundation are cuffently completing their studies at the University. The effect of this sustained from of assistance is tremendous. Over 80% of the 154 Foundation-sponsored WMU graduates have since returned to assume decision-making positions in their respective government administrations while the rest hold senior positions within the maritime industry. Each graduates is a catalyst for change in his or her respective country.

　

　The enduring measure of the effectiveness of the University's training and education objectives lies in the extent these contribute to the implementation of the highest standard of maritime safety, environmental protection and efficiency in maritime transportation in the recipient countries.

　

　The caliber of the Foundation-sponsored WMU graduates is apparent from the high-ranking positions they subsequently occupy. These range from senior assistant secretary of shipping, assistants to cabinet ministers, executive directors, departmental heads and chief, university vice-presidents and rectors, professors, examiners, lecturers, economists, policy advisors, surveyors, managers and engineers. Collectively they form a unique network of highly trained maritime experts who play a very crucial part nationally, regionally and internationally in the global maritime community.

　

　This bring us to the purpose of our gathering today - to witness the launching of the WMU Japan Sasakawa Fellows Forum.

　

　The Forum would facilitate the exchange of ideas and discussions amongst Foundation-sponsored WMU fellows. I understand that the Forum would be activated regionally and internationally through the establishment of a 'Japan Fellows' roster and newsletter, a special fellows website, the setting up of an information service and the conduct of visits to fellows' countries. Its establishment would certainly be the first step towards the global networking of AMU fellows, and the Ship and Ocean Foundation, I proposing and resourcing this bold and innovative, must be congratulated for its great foresight.

　

　As Director of IMO's Technical Co-operation Division, I have seen at first hand the effectiveness of what I like to call the 'WMU mafia' acting together to achieve IMO's goals at the national, regional and indeed, international level. IMO's network of Regional Technical Co-operation Co-ordinators in Africa are WMU graduates, as well as the Head of Africa Section in my division, all of whom are able to liaise with their fellow graduates who are well placed in the recipient countries.
It should come as no surprise therefore that IMO fully endorses the goals of the Forum and will be willing to assist in any way that it can.

　

　The success of the World Maritime University over the years has brought global recognition of its excellent training programme. The high regard and esteem it enjoys is obvious in the increasing number of new students of the highest calibre who apply annually to join its ranks - the University is presently grossly over- subscribed, with three times more annual applications than its yearly intake.

　

　The entire global maritime community has already profited, and will continue to further benefit, from the achievements of the University. The challenges of the future center on how effectively the University can continue to meet the constantly growing demand for highly skilled maritime personnel. To enable the University to carry on fulfilling the ideal for which it was established, it is imperative that partnership linking all the stakeholders of the maritime community with the WMU be reinforced.

　

　The recent 50th session of the IMO Technical Co-operation Committee in London agreed on a draft resolution on sustainable financial support for the University, which will be considered by the IMO Assembly in November of this year.

　

　This draft resolution acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by WMU graduates to the achievements of a safe, efficient and environmentally sound maritime industry and recognize that the University, which has provided specialist maritime education and training continuously to almost 90% of IMO's 158 Member States, now needs a more broadly based and sustainable financial support from the member States and industry if it is to continue to discharge its mandate effectively and to serve the global maritime community.

　

　The draft resolution urges all IMO Member States to:

　

　On an individual level, it urges you, the WMU graduates, as direct beneficiaries of the education and training provided by the University, to act as catalysts within your own countries to achieve the objectives of the resolution, i.e., a more broadly based and sustainable financial support. It is understood that many of the graduates are from countries which do not have the means to participate directly in the financing of WMU: however, in these times of static or decreasing development aid, it is essential that the beneficiary countries participate in the resource mobilization process. Indeed, national and multilateral donors require feedback and commitment.

　It is in this area that you can assist by working to ensure that the development of a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly maritime transport infrastructure, as well as the supportive role of WMU, is included in the economic development priorities of your country.

　

　The resolution also invites all sectors of the maritime industry to support the University through core operation funding and the provision of fellowship.

　

　Shipping plays a pivotal role in world trade and development and, despite the march of modern technology, some 95% of the total volume of world cargo continues to be transported be sea. According to the latest statistics released by the organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, global sea-borne trade is set to rise even further than its existing record high of 5.23 billion tons. Preliminary OECD data indicates that the annual growth rate of global maritime trade in 2000 and beyond is expected to be 2 percent per annum.

　

　Technological developments in shipping are not new. Super tankers, gas carriers, container ships and super-sized cruise ships are commonplace on the maritime scene.

　

　What is relatively new is the increasingly public and political lack of tolerance of substandard ships and substandard management. With each new accident, especially those resulting in highly visible environmental damage, calls for stricter controls emerge, more recently at the regional and national level. IMO has responded in a measured and balanced way with necessary charges to international regulations. But the implementation of these regulations is in the hands of those responsible for the management, operation and control of ships and, ultimately, they are the ones to bear the responsibility and must meet the challenge.

　

　This is where the World Maritime University is uniquely placed to play a key role in fostering quality shipping by ensuring a steady flow of high calibre individuals into industry and government.

　

　In closing, I would simply like to congratulate the Ship and Ocean foundation for bringing us all together here in Tokyo to launch this important initiative. I would particularly like to thank Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman, Friends of WMU, Japan for this kind of invitation, and the Secretariat for taking such personal care in organizing successfully the whole event. I wish this noble endeavor every success.

　

　Thank you.

　

　

　

　

　Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Minasama konnichiwa.

　

　First of all, on behalf of the representatives here, I need to say that it is a great pleasure to be in Japan. Those, who like me have been here before, can appreciate the company of the kind and friendly Japanese people, the wonderful and rich Japanese culture and the delicious food, which we for sure miss a lot. Those who are here for the first time will never forget these days and will understand perfectly what I mean.

　

　This quite unique opportunity, is thanks to the ideas and efforts of many people from Ship & Ocean Foundation, the Tokyo Foundation and mainly from Mr. Sasakawa, who founded the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, which we can call "The Father's Foundation" of Tokyo Foundation and SOF. Through them many of our dreams became true. We acquired so much knowledge and experience during the time we were studying at WMU, that we are forever grateful to Mr. Sasakawa, the foundations which sponsored us all and our families who supported and encouraged us throughout our lives.

　

　I also have some words, few words to the people who are still studying at WMU. You should try to use this time as best as you can because you are receiving such a high level of education. Not many people in the world can receive what you are receiving now. After so much we have received, it is time to reciprocate now. It is time to join our knowledge and experience to create a network aiming to develop the International Maritime Community - our own community.

　

　It is wonderful to see here so many people from many different countries together working with the same ideal - a better future. This forum is just the beginning.

　

　Thank you very much for all your attention and a special thank you to Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, all the people from Ship & Ocean Foundation, the Tokyo Foundation and the WMU staff here present.

Minasama domo arigato gozaimashita.