Posted:
July 29, 2008
Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton led a delegation of U.S. maritime officials at meetings in Tokyo with Japanese counterparts July 24 and 25 to discuss issues of mutual interest and challenges facing the maritime industry, the Maritime Administration reported.
The talks reflected the concern of both countries about the impact on the shipping sector of the rapidly expanding consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) around the world. With the surge of new specialized vessels to carry LNG entering service, the demand for qualified seafarers is becoming urgent. In meetings with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism, the two sides discussed the U.S. LNG Deepwater Ports Initiative aimed at meeting U.S. demand, using the latest technologies for LNG transportation and promotion of employment for trained U.S. seafarers on LNG ships, MARAD reported.
“There is a robust market for skilled seafarers and an opportunity for maritime training institutions worldwide to help meet this demand,” Connaughton said.
Other topics of discussion included Japanese strategy for increasing that nation's seafaring workforce and international fleet, port development, environmental protection, trends in the bilateral shipping trade and maritime security, MARAD reported.
Connaughton also met with the general manager of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, a non-governmental organization engaged in studies concerning a wide range of marine issues, as well as the secretary of the International Association of Maritime Universities and the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest charitable foundation and supporter of a number of maritime programs, MARAD reported.
Maritime Administrator leads U.S. maritime delegation in Tokyo meetings
Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton led a delegation of U.S. maritime officials at meetings in Tokyo with Japanese counterparts July 24 and 25 to discuss issues of mutual interest and challenges facing the maritime industry, the Maritime Administration reported.
The talks reflected the concern of both countries about the impact on the shipping sector of the rapidly expanding consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) around the world. With the surge of new specialized vessels to carry LNG entering service, the demand for qualified seafarers is becoming urgent. In meetings with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism, the two sides discussed the U.S. LNG Deepwater Ports Initiative aimed at meeting U.S. demand, using the latest technologies for LNG transportation and promotion of employment for trained U.S. seafarers on LNG ships, MARAD reported.
“There is a robust market for skilled seafarers and an opportunity for maritime training institutions worldwide to help meet this demand,” Connaughton said.
Other topics of discussion included Japanese strategy for increasing that nation's seafaring workforce and international fleet, port development, environmental protection, trends in the bilateral shipping trade and maritime security, MARAD reported.
Connaughton also met with the general manager of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, a non-governmental organization engaged in studies concerning a wide range of marine issues, as well as the secretary of the International Association of Maritime Universities and the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest charitable foundation and supporter of a number of maritime programs, MARAD reported.