Asia/Pacific News
Japanese Yard Claims Fuel-Monitoring First
Oshima Shipbuilding (Oshima) President Hiroshi Minami claims the Japanese shipyard is the first in the world to install fuel-monitoring systems on bulkers that record energy consumption, industry news site Tradewinds reports.
"Fuel cost matters a lot these days," he said.
"It is reflected in the charter rates."
Minami said using the systems helps the shipbuilder develop better eco-ships.
With many ship owners looking to China and South Korea for less expensive vessels in the face of high labour costs and unfavourable exchange rates in Japan, Minami said Oshima is competing by producing high-quality vessels that promise high resale values.
The company had planned to establish a new, $180 million yard in Vietnam, but it dropped that idea earlier this year to focus on its Japan operations.
Oshima is expanding its operations with a new 1,200 tonne crane at its drydock, reducing construction time for newbuildngs and allowing it to increase its annual output by 20 percent or more.
Minami said the yard continues to focus on bulkers, a strategy that allows it to optimse production systems and develop a loyal customer base.
"Some leading Western and local shipping companies that operate their own vessels would only order Oshima-built ships," he said.
"We are proud to have customers that are nicknamed 'Oshima-collectors'."
An analysis of the Japanese shipbuilding industry by Torgeir Willumsen of law firm Wikborg Rein and Johan-Petter Tutturen of class society DNV GL published earlier this year in industry news site Seatrade Global argued that Japanese yards can compete by producing high-value tonnage that can meet environmental and fuel-efficiency requirements.
