On October 21, NYK, the Chubu Maritime Public Relations Association, and the Chubu Transportation Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism sponsored a general overview of the shipping industry for 117 sixth grade students at Nagoya Municipal Kanare Elementary School.

A Captain and a young maritime officer, both from NYK, gave lectures on the shipping industry and the jobs of oceangoing seafarers. During the lectures, they explained about marine transportation, the work of maritime officers and engineers, and life on board. The NYK seafarers also used photographs to provide a virtual tour of a ship. One student commented, "I want to join oceangoing vessels in the future" and another student said, "The life on board seems hard, but it looks fun."

In recent years, despite increasing demand for seafarers in the world's ocean shipping industry, Japan’s younger generation hasn’t had much awareness of the jobs of seafarers. In fact, the country currently has only 2,200 active oceangoing seafarers.

In response, NYK implemented the NYK Mirai Project* a number of years ago to help the younger generation gain a closer affinity to ships and possibly consider a seafaring life as a potential future career option. Cooperation with junior high schools is part of this initiative.

In February 2021, NYK released the “NYK Group ESG Story,” which aims to further integrate ESG into the company’s management strategy and promotes activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through business activities. In March this year, NYK released the updated “NYK Group ESG Story 2022,” which introduces initiatives for integrating ESG into the Group’s management strategies set forth in the "NYK Group ESG Story" and provides a partial explanation of the Group’s sustainable growth strategy from a long-term perspective. To strongly promote ESG management, NYK will continue to create new value as a sustainable solution provider.

* NYK Mirai Project
An activity to convey the close connection between the maritime industry and society to the generation that will be responsible for the future, as well as to promote understanding of oceangoing shipping and the work of seafarers involved in it, not only among children but also among stakeholders and the general public. Main activities include presentations by seafarers, participation in work-experience events, terminal tours, and public viewings of ships.

<The NYK Group ESG Story>
A guideline detailing concrete efforts to integrate ESG into management strategies of the NYK Group. Details: https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2021/esg-story_01.html

<The NYK Group ESG Story 2022>
Details: https://www.nyk.com/english/news/2022/20220324_01.html