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On April 4, 1997, the Cabinet formally approved the Comprehensive Program of Logistics Policies, in which the government put priority on measures such as (i) improvement of the social infrastructure, (ii) further promotion of deregulation, and (iii) development of a more sophisticated logistics system (Table 13).
The government will promote the redevelopment of international hub ports
and airports that have become outdated by international standards. Linkage will
be established between roads, railways, ports and harbors, airports and logistics
centers to eliminate any logistical bottleneck.
(1) Port Facilities That Meet the Needs of the New Age
In the major international ports and harbors including Tokyo, Ise, Osaka
and Kitakyushu Ports, high-standard international marine container terminals
with a depth of more than 15 meters will be urgently constructed as an urgent
task. Construction of international marine container terminals will also be
conducted at other local international ports and harbors so that they can supplement
the role of major international ports. At the same time, simplification of various
procedures and the introduction of electronic data interchange systems is underway.
For facilitating domestic intermodal transport, the construction of coastal
shipping terminals will be promoted.
(2) Responding to the Rapid Increase of Air Cargo
The construction of hub airports in major urban areas is one of the highest
priority policies. In order to respond to the rapidly increasing demands for
air cargo transport, the construction of cargo handling facilities at the New
Tokyo International Airport and Kansai International Airport will be steadily
promoted.
(3) Reviewing the Environmentally Friendly Railroad Freight System
In order to promote railway cargo transportation, it is necessary to improve
the basic railway infrastructure so that the trains can run on schedules that
are more convenient for the cargo owner. To this end, the government is currently
supporting efforts to increase the freight transport capacity of the Tokaido
line.
(4) Promoting Physical Distribution Centers
The government is now promoting the construction of warehouses, truck terminals
and the government designated facilities for logistics sophistication as well
as the construction of physical distribution centers in urban areas. However,
the number of physical distribution bases in Japan is insufficient due to the
difficulty of acquiring land. Physical distribution businesses are increasingly
expected to utilize their physical distribution bases more efficiently and thus
reduce the impact on the environment. For that purpose, based on the Comprehensive
Program of Logistics Policies, the Ministry of Transport plans to issue a guideline
for the construction of physical distribution bases by the end of FY 1997 for
the benefit of the private physical distribution businesses.
(5) Responding to the Need to Promote Imports in an Era of Mega-exchange
In addition to the construction of a deep container terminal at the major
international ports, and the construction of hub airports in major metropolitan
areas, the Ministry is supporting projects in the Foreign Access Zones (FAZ)
that will promote imports (Fig 14).
The construction of comprehensive import terminals in the vicinity of international
airports and international hub ports and at the FAZ, as well the construction
of coastal warehouses within the port areas for accommodating increased imports
will be promoted.
With the objective of expanding business opportunities and promoting healthy
competition among private companies, initiatives for deregulating the physical
distribution sector are being implemented such as simplification of the requirements
imposed on new entrants to the sector, and introduction of a more flexible rate
and charges system.
In the trucking businesses, the geographical business area will be expanded
based on units of economic blocks by FY 2000, and the minimum number of vehicles
per company will be lowered progressively to five trucks for all regions throughout
Japan.
With respect to the railway freight business, the supply demand adjustment
regulations will be abolished, in accordance with the current JNR reforms, as
soon as the full fledged privatization of JR Freight has been achieved and its
management improved. Then, the current approval system will be changed to a
report system.
Over the next four years, the Ministry will implement measures to reduce
dependence on the tonnage adjustments program of domestic coastal shipping,
with the cooperation and understanding of cargo owners, while giving due consideration
to small and medium-sized companies, with the exception of container vessels
and Roll-on Roll-over vessels which are the core for promoting modal shift by
the end of FY 1998.
With regards to the ports and harbors transport business, the appropriate
measures will be implemented based on the Administrative Reform Committee's
monitoring activities and conclusions in FY 1997, including the possibility
of abolishing the demand supply adjustment regulations.
(1) Appropriate Allocation of Physical Distribution Transport Operations--Promoting
Modal Shift
In response to concerns about global warming caused by C02 emissions, the
modal shift of the long-distance trunk transport should be made to increase
the use of coastal shipping and railway transport which offer excellent efficiency.
For that purpose, necessary measures will be implemented.
(2) Intermodal Transport
The smooth linkage between various modes of transport will be promoted
to establish a more appropriate cargo transport system that draws upon the benefits
of each type of transport mode. To this end, roads will be constructed to improve
accessibility to ports and harbors and railway freight stations. We will also
implement measures for promoting coherent palletization.
(3) Improving Inter-Regional Physical Distribution Efficiency --- Promoting
Shared Trunk Transport
As part of the initiative to improve the efficiency of inter-regional physical
distribution, shared trunk transport was launched from November 1994 and proved
to be a very efficient method of truck transportation (Table
15). The regions where shared trunk transport are being implemented will
be expanded, and transport companies will be encouraged to participate.
(4) Establishing an Efficient Urban Physical Distribution System
The shift from trucks for private use, which are an inefficient transport
mode, to trucks for business use will be promoted (Table
16). In order to improve the loading efficiency per truck, we are promoting
the shared collection and distribution of goods. Joint collection and distribution
of goods are being promoted in many regions including the Fukuoka Tenjin area.
(5) Advent of the Advanced Info-communications Society and Initiatives in the
Logistics Arena
(i) The establishment of a smooth information exchange system -- promoting logistics
EDI
With the goal of promoting electronic data interchange(EDI) in the logistics
arena, the Logistics EDI Promotion Organization has been established as a joint
effort of the public and private sector in a bid to improve the business environment.
(ii) The truck transport system for the new age
In order to improve truck transport efficiency, the Ministry is strongly
promoting various measures to establish a new efficient information communications
system, which includes the development of a truck/cargo seeking information
system, and which is expected to improve transport efficiency. Also the Ministry
is investigating and researching utilization of the Intelligent Transport System
(ITS) to truck transport in collaboration with other government agencies and
ministries (Fig. 17).
(iii) Initiatives to introduce information technology in port distribution
By FY 1999, the government intends to introduce an EDI system for processing
export and import permit applications under the Foreign Exchange Control Law
and the Foreign Trade Control Law. EDI processing of port arrival and departure
procedures, quarantine and other administrative procedures at the major ports
will also be promoted. Compatibility will be established between the new EDI
system and existing customs clearance information processing systems for export/import
applications under the Customs Law.
The Ministry of Transport is promoting initiatives to simplify application
procedures such as introducing facsimile application for procedures made under
port management bodies and port managers for some ports. Since FY 1996, the
Ministry has been engaged in a joint study with the harbor authorities of the
eight major harbors in Japan, for launching an EDI system that will process
various applications related to the responsibilities of the port management
bodies.
Since December 1996, the Maritime Safety Agency has allowed transport businesses
to use a standard form for anchorage application to port manager, and to make
application for two or more ships to use mooring facilities through a single
application. In preparation for the EDI processing of port entry and exit procedures,
the Ministry is currently implementing surveys and studies.
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