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1 Promotion of Ocean-going Shipping Policy
In 1991 Japan saw for the fifth year consecutive rise in the amount of sea
trade, and the volume of sea trade by nation's merchant fleet including by charterd
foreign vessels has seen a 7.9% rise over the previous year. The sea transport
industry in fiscal 1991 while showing increased income and profits at the sales
level, ordinary profit and after tax profit for the period is more or less unchanged
from the year before. To protect and maintain our sea transport industry that
boasts a healthy merchant fleet, the stabilization of sea-route order, and the
development and strengthening of the business base is necessary. And in order
to increase the international competitiveness of our ships, there is a need
for actively promoting the review by the concerned parties as to the distributive
manning structure of mixed-manning ships, and the utilization of the Modernized
Ship System within the situation of mixed-manning is being promted.
Also, the necessary development of Japanese LNG ships, the research and
examination of the scrapping of tankers etc. should be carried out.
Regarding the ocean-going passenger ship industry, continued expansion is
planned, with the addition of new ships such the "Soshu" to the Japan-Shanghai
regular liner service in October 92 etc.
And with the increase in passengers, a higher standard of navigation safety
and user protection policies, and policies for wide-ranging demand stimulation
such as increasing user convenience by Fly and Cruising are being devised.
2 Sea Transport of Passengers
Passenger liner services to isolated islands which are essential for the
residents are to be supported and developed with the aid of central and local
goverments. The long-distance ferry boat which bears one side of trunk-line
transportation has seen its transportation volume increasing, and based on the
changes in the direction of demand, there is a need to expand the routes further.
In response to diversifying needs, new types of passenger ships such as restaurant
ships are being operated.
3 Structural Reform of Coastal Shipping and Harbor Transportation Business
Small and medium size operations make up the larger part of the coastal
shipping industry, which is prone to over-competition.
Based on the reoprt of the Council for Rationalization of Shipping and Shipbuilding
Industries, various policies of structural reform such as promotion of mergers,
etc are underway.
As for harbor transportation industries, in response to the sophistication
of the needs for physical distribution, containerization and various policies
such as the development of general import terminals etc. are being developed.
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