Maritime Technology Research and International Exchange

Research for Reduction of Greenhouse Gases from the International Maritime Sector

Regarding greenhouse gases (GHG) from the international maritime transport sector, while discussion at IMO is currently being taken on individual ships' management, we believe that much larger scaled efforts will be needed to make a significant reduction. These measures should include the continuous monitoring and reporting of total GHG emissions through IMO to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as the monitoring of individual and averaged efficiency improvements.
To achieve this, OPRF is proposing to international society a program that would include a framework for the accurate and reliable reporting of the total GHG emissions by the international maritime sector. We are also studying ways to promote market based instruments for GHG reduction, especially to establish a new framework to create emission credit from international ship operations.
We are taking every opportunity to explain these proposals to experts from the IMO, EU, OECD and other interested organizations, in the hopes of contributing to the most appropriate promotion of measures for the reduction of GHG emissions from the international maritime sector.

Establishing a Future Framework for Minimizing Risks from Bio-fouling

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has recognized the importance of controlling the invasion of aquatic organisms to other ocean areas due to ship activities and has started to establish a new international framework to reduce bio-invasion risks through hull-fouling organisms. This framework will have a significant influence not only on anti-fouling paint technology but also on other ship operations, such as the dry docking cycle and in-water cleaning.
This project aims to establish a future framework for minimizing total risks from bio-fouling and to make proposals to the international community. The framework is not simply a combination of traditional technology, but a comprehensive package of anti-fouling systems and cleaning systems, including debris recovery and total risk assessment.
OPRF has already taken actions to promote the framework, having made presentations and proposals to relevant international meetings and conferences, including discussions at the IMO and the International Paint and Printing Ink Council (IPPIC).

Long-term Vision for Maritime Industries

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the world has faced the challenges of globalization, an increasingly multi-polar world economy, diversifying values, and serious problems with the global environment. To address these major challenges, the maritime societies of Japan and the world must give serious thought to what actions should be taken toward the middle of the 21st century.
Beginning with awareness of these problems, we have conducted studies from a long-term perspective, with our sights set on the year 2050. These have culminated in two proposals for the world and five proposals for Japan. Our proposals for the world call for safety and environmental countermeasures (including global warming measures) and can be found in our publication "Maritime Society in the Era of Global Warming – A Message from the Year 2050." The five proposals for Japan, including global warming countermeasures and greater international competitiveness on the Asian stage, are published as "Maritime Industries Alive in Asia – A Message from Japan in the Year 2050."

• Should enter maritime transportation market in Asia
• Should develop and promote the use of ultra-low-emission vessels and zeroemission vessels
• Should create a new ship building industry that is attractive to the young
  generation
• Should address the use of ocean resources and ocean space from a new viewpoint
  
• Should become the integrated maritime center of Asia

International Cooperation and Exchanges in Ocean Related Fields

World Maritime University Graduation Ceremony

In order to effectively strengthen and expand international exchanges and harmony in ocean related fields, it is essential to promote personal exchange among professionals abroad involved with transport and vessels, and build people-to-people networks. Therefore, in order to promote the international development of human resources and build networks, OPRF sponsors various international conferences in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and its institutes, especially taking into account the close relationships with countries in the Asian-Pacific area. Among these projects is one that provides scholarships to study at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden. This project aims at cooperation for developing human resources and concurrently supports realization of an alumni network. As of March 2010, the number of scholarship recipients had reached 413. After graduating from WMU, the recipients hold responsible posts in their own governments and educational institutions, where they play leading roles in their respective country's maritime affairs.
OPRF's contributions to these maritime-related fields were recognized by the United Nations in July 2008 when it was granted Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council. OPRF appreciates the expectations thus generated for further contributions to the creation of a new order on the oceans, and hopes to meet these by expanding its efforts as an international oceans think tank.