Japanese Government Weighs Creation of National Shipyard with 1 Trillion Yen 日本政府「国立造船所」設立検討　官民で１兆円

Japanese Government Weighs Creation of “National Shipyard” with 1 Trillion Yen Public-Private Fund; Maritime and Shipbuilding Stakeholders Call for Utilisation of Existing Facilities

日本政府、「国立造船所」の設立検討。官民で１兆円基金。海運・造船関係者「既存設備の活用も検討すべき」

It was revealed by the 21st that the Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are considering establishing a new “National Shipyard” to support Japan’s shipbuilding industry. During the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations at the G7 summit held in Canada through to June 17, Japan’s shipbuilding sector was reportedly positioned as a “trump card” in the talks.

According to a proposal submitted by the LDP to the government, a fund amounting to approximately 1 trillion yen is being envisioned through joint contributions from the public and private sectors.

On the other hand, maritime, shipbuilding, and trading company officials interviewed by Maritime Bridge Japan expressed differing views, stating: “If the plan is premised on building a new dockyard, the cost and time involved would be enormous. It would be more realistic to focus on making effective use of existing facilities.”

In the past, in April 2012, the government and private sector jointly established the Japan Ship Investment Facilitation Co., Ltd. (hereinafter JSIF). Shipbuilders, trading companies, and financial institutions invested in the initiative, which aimed to support newbuilding orders worth a total of 100 billion yen over three years. However, project formation did not progress, and the initiative came to an end just two and a half years after its inception.

Key Points of This Article
→ The background behind the move to establish a National Shipyard.
→ The historical context of why the previous public-private fund “Japan Ship Investment Facilitation (JSIF)” was dissolved.
→ How specific support measures will be formulated for the revival of LNG carrier construction in Japan.

Photo courtesy, iStock, Prime Minister’s Office

The full article explores how private-sector players in shipping and other industries, as the end-users of shipyards, are reacting to the National Shipyard initiative. It also examines why the Japan Ship Investment Facilitation Co., Ltd. (JSIF), established in April 2012 under the leadership of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, ultimately failed to function effectively. Please read the full article for details.

日本政府、「国立造船所」の設立検討。官民で１兆円基金。海運・造船関係者「既存設備の活用も検討すべき」

　政府・自民党が日本の造船業を支援するために「国立造船所」の新設を検討していることが２１日までに明らかになった。現在、カナダで６月１７まで実施されたG７での日米の関税交渉でも日本の造船業は交渉の「切り札」として位置づけられていた。

　自民党の政府への提出案では政府と民間で１兆円規模の資金拠出を想定している模様。

　一方、Maritime Bridge Japanが取材した海運、造船、商社関係者は「国立造船所の『新設ありき』、ではドック新設に膨大な費用と時間がかかる。既存設備の有効活用を進めた方が現実的だ」という意見もあった。

過去には、2012年4月に政府と民間が「日本船舶投資促進株式会社（以下、JSIF）」を設立した。造船会社や商社、金融機関が出資し、3年間で総額1000億円規模の新造船受注支援を目指したが、案件組成は進まず、構想からわずか2年半でその役目を終えた経緯がある。

この記事のポイント

→国立造船所の設立を目指す背景について。

→過去、官民ファンド「日本船舶投資促進（JSIF）」が解散に至った経緯について。

→日本でLNG船の建造復活に向け具体的な支援策を策定はどうなるのか。

　本文では国立造船所に対するユーザー側である海運など民間企業の反応のほか、国土交通省主導で2012年４月に造船支援のために設立された「日本船舶投資促進株式会社（JSIF）」がなぜ、有効な機能を果たせなかったのか、などについて解説します。ぜひ、本文をお読みください。