Chronology of Significant Events

• Dec. 18, 1975
  Founded as the Japan Foundation for Shipbuilding Advancement
• Apr. 1, 1976
  Commenced management and technology analysis activities and management seminars for small and medium-sized shipbuilding and related industries
• Apr. 15, 1977
  Began financing activities for non-profit organizations
• Jul. 1, 1980
  Began R&D into ocean oil pollution prevention measures and marine environment technology
• Apr. 1, 1981
  Began R&D into shipbuilding and related technologies
• Apr. 1, 1983
  Began activities to promote international exchanges and cooperation in the area of shipbuilding and transport
• Apr. 1, 1989
  Began activities related to development of CIM for the shipbuilding industry
• Sep. 10, 1990
  Changed its name from Japan Foundation for Shipbuilding Advancement to the Ship & Ocean Foundation (SOF)
• Apr. 1, 1991
  Began information gathering activities on overseas shipbuilding and started overseas cooperative operations
• Jun. 16, 1992
  Completed development of the world's first super-conducting MHD-propulsion ship, YAMATO-1, and made a successful test voyage at Kobe Port
• Apr. 1, 1993
  Began joint research into the development of the Northern Sea Route (INSROP)
• Apr. 1, 2000
  Began a Think Tank Project for ocean affairs
  • Activities related to forming researcher networks
  • Activities related to the preparation of policy proposals
  • Activities related to international cooperation
• Jul. 20, 2000
  Launched the "Ship and Ocean Newsletter"
• Apr. 1, 2001
  Took over administration of the WMU Sasakawa Fellowship Program from the Tokyo Foundation
• Apr. 1, 2002
  Founded the Institute for Ocean Policy within SOF
  • Research on the monitoring of semi-enclosed seas and bays
    (Ocean Diagnosis Project)
  • Research on ocean and coastal debris problems
  • Research on securing the oceans
• Nov. 1, 2002
  Held 1st Ocean Forum
• Feb. 2004
  Publication of the first Ocean White Paper
• Apr. 1, 2005
  Renamed as the Ocean Policy Research Foundation, to carry out research in the fields of ocean policy, maritime transport, security studies, coastal management, marine environment, marine education, and maritime technology
• Nov. 2005
  Compiled "The Proposal for the 21st Century Ocean Policy"
• Apr. 2006
  Began to serve as secretariat of the Basic Ocean Law Forum
• Dec. 2006
  Compiled "The Ocean Policy Outline" and "Basic Ocean Law Outline" at the Basic Ocean Law Forum
• Jul. 2008
  Officially granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council