According to foreign media reports, on July 21 local time, Japan’s three major shipping companies Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), NYK Line (NYK), and K Line issued a joint statement announcing plans to build a large-scale seafarer training vessel and donate it to the Japan Maritime Education and Training System (JMETS).
JMETS is a backbone seafarer training institution in Japan with 8 schools and 5 large training vessels, having produced over 10,000 outstanding seafarers to date. This donation aims to address a series of severe challenges JMETS has faced in recent years, including aging infrastructure and training vessels, declining enrollment applications, reduced training budgets, and shortages of qualified instructors and crew. The donation, supported by the Japanese Shipowners’ Association, will help ensure the long-term development of Japan’s skilled seafarers and maintain the continuity of maritime education.
The joint statement mentioned that specific specifications for the training vessel are currently being finalized in collaboration with JMETS, and discussions with shipyards will take place in the coming months, aiming for completion around 2030.
