On August 23, NYK held its annual roundtable discussion at its Tokyo head office to discuss current conditions and issues on board vessels.

This meeting was chaired by NYK president Takaya Soga, who oversees NYK’s Safety and Environmental Management Committee, and attended by more than 200 participants, including two ship captains and three chief engineers who had disembarked, the captains and chief engineers on board the car carrier Daisy Leader and bulk carrier Shoyo, and 25 executive officers.

Part of NYK’s Remember Naka-no-Se safety campaign,* the gathering allows top management to exchange opinions directly with captains and chief engineers to further develop practical measures with respect to the safe operation of vessels.

In particular, chief engineers proposed reforming seafarer working styles and fostering young maritime engineers, including the use of DX and IT to reduce working hours and workload, which can directly lead to physical and mental health and safety measures. Giving young maritime engineers opportunities to think for themselves and grow through discussions with outside experts was also encouraged. Soga summed up the meeting by saying, "We hope to create a comfortable and attractive work environment on board vessels by actively promoting the streamlining of operations through the use of DX.”

* Remember Naka-no-Se Safety Campaign
To ensure that the lessons learned from the Diamond Grace oil spill in July 1997 remain fresh, NYK conducts a two-month safety campaign every year from July 1. During this period, top management at NYK reconfirms the importance of safe operations with all NYK employees.