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A Look at the profit-loss situations of the 37 ocean-going shipping firms
receiving government subsidies in 1989 shows that they recorded a highly favorable
balance in both operating and recurring accounts and that dividend-paying firms
increased from two in the previous fiscal year to seven. From this, Japan's
ocean-going shipping companies, which recovered from the protracted depression,
obviously continued to maintain a comparatively favorable business performance
in FY1989, too.
In recent year, there have been moves among Japanese ocean-going shipping
firms to regain the international competitiveness of the nation's merchant fleets
and to strengthen their management foundations. It is epochal in particular
that the expansion of a mixed manning system into Japanese ships was realized
in March 1990 on the basis of a labor-management consent, and the Ministry of
Transport, for its part, will make efforts to pave the way for the smooth enforcement
of the mixed manning system. Meanwhile, there are moves under way on the part
of shipping firms to revitalize their business operations under global management
strategies or to diversify into new business areas to improve their earning
situations and reinforce their management foundations.
As regards container transport on the regular North American liner route,
the profit-loss situation of Japanese shipping firms has improved, but they
have yet to overcome their deficit-ridden corporate structure, hence there is
a need for them to continue management improvement efforts. It is hoped that
efforts will be made to stabilize the regular European route because a disruption
of order in services is feared as a result of the operations of large-sized
merchant fleets by shipping firms. Meanwhile, an "international container transport
working group" has been newly established within the International Physical
Distribution Subcommittee of the International Committee of the Council for
Transport Policy, the Ministry of Transport, and the group is currently deliberating
what the international container transport network should be in the 1990s, points
at issue that should be settled, and what to do to provide solutions.
With regard to travel aboard ocean liners, Japan is standing on the threshold
of a fullfledged cruising era with the opening of regular passenger service
routes with neighboring countries and the commission of a succession of ocean-going
cruisers into service. In view of this, a "subcommittee on ocean-going passenger
boats" has been established within the General Affairs Committee of the Council
for Transport Policy, the Ministry of Transport, to proceed with discussions
on countermeasures for safety measures on passenger liners, steps to protect
users from possible accidents and other measures to promote the development
of ocean-going passenger liner services.
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