n August 24, NYK president Tadaaki Naito, NYK executive officers, and a group of six vessel captains and chief engineers held a meeting at NYK headquarters in Tokyo to openly exchange opinions about the safe operation of vessels that NYK is managing and operating.
This meeting is part of NYK’s two-month Remember Naka-no-Se safety campaign,* which is implemented annually from July 1 of each year. The meeting is chaired by President Naito, who oversees NYK’s Safety and Environmental Management Committee,** so that top management can exchange direct opinions with captains and chief engineers to develop further practical measures with respect to safe operation of our vessels.
At the meeting, President Naito commented, “Currently, the business environment is severe, and that is why I want every member to take an aggressive — not a defensive — stance to ensure safe vessel management and operations by instilling the spirit of ‘creative solutions’*** among all who are involved in on-site operations. Communication is definitely important not only aboard a vessel, but also between onshore and offshore staff. To promote safety, I want all to be proactive in reporting anything that may need attention and actively proposing optimal solutions.”
In addition to this safety meeting, NYK holds a regular meeting of executives-in-charge together with vessel captains and chief engineers, in accordance with vessel types, and develops seamless safety approaches with management and on-site staff as an integrated group.
NYK positions comprehensive safety operations as the most critical issue for all stakeholders. Moreover, NYK continues to fortify its safety management system, aiming to be a leading company in the safety and environment fields based on the company’s medium-term management plan, “More Than Shipping 2018.”
* 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.
** Safety and Environmental Management Committee
NYK’s highest decision-making body related to safety measures and environmental issues. The committee was established in April 2004 and is chaired by the president.
*** Creative Solutions
Activities that differentiate NYK from other companies, as emphasized in the NYK Group’s medium-term management plan, “More Than Shipping 2018.” Creative solutions are sought for a wide range of issues, from business reform to the provision of high-quality, value-added services.
