The 22nd Reportage: Japanese Shipowners　第22回ルポルタージュ・日本船主

“Generational Change Among Japanese Shipowners: Internal Promotion or External Recruitment”

「日本船主の世代交代、内部昇格か外部登用か」

On May 1, in central Tokyo during the Golden Week holiday period, a Singapore-based representative of a European marine equipment manufacturer visited Japan and shared lunch in the capital.

As the meal ended and coffee was served, the Singapore-based executive let out a sigh.

“Our understanding is that in regions where influential shipowners are concentrated, such as Imabari and Kure, generational change is gradually progressing, albeit to varying degrees. The problem is that just as companies like ours have finally managed to build human relationships with the previous-generation presidents, we are then forced to rebuild those relationships from scratch with the next younger presidents following management succession,” said the Singapore-based representative of the marine equipment manufacturer.

■From Personal Connections to the Era of “Skills”

It is hardly surprising that the marine equipment representative voiced such frustration.

While chartering-related clients such as Japanese and European operators remain important customers, the number of European manufacturers promoting maritime DX solutions has increased markedly in recent years.

■The full article includes the following topics (approximately 3,000 words)

→ On-the-ground reporting into the “generational transition” unfolding among influential shipowners in Imabari and Kure

→ How younger shipowners perceive the “personal connections” built by their fathers

→ The real picture of next-generation executives training in Singapore and at overseas operators

→ How the relationship between Japanese shipowners and overseas operators is changing in the online era

→ How the increase in BBC (bareboat charter) arrangements is reshaping ship management and business strategies among Japanese shipowners

(The full text can be read in both English and Japanese. The Japanese article is published following the English version.)

第22回ルポルタージュ・日本船主

「日本船主の世代交代、内部昇格か外部登用か」

　5月1日、ゴールデンウィーク最中の東京都心。欧州拠点の舶用メーカーのシンガポール駐在員が来日し、東京都心で昼食を共にした。

　シンガポール駐在員が食後のコーヒーを飲みながら、ため息を漏らす。

　「我々の理解では今治や呉といった有力船主が集積する地域では、濃淡はあっても少しずつ世代交代が進んでいる。問題は、我々のような業者がようやく先代の社長と人間関係を構築してきた最中に、社長交代に伴う世代交代により、次の若手社長と関係を再構築しなければならない点にあるのだ」（舶用メーカーのシンガポール駐在員）

■人脈でなく「スキル」の時代

　舶用メーカーの駐在員が嘆くのも無理はない。

　日本や欧州のオペレーターなど用船関係で重要な顧客ならともかく、海運DXを標ぼうする欧州メーカーは最近、とみに増えている。

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約3,000文字）

→今治・呉の有力船主で進む「世代交代」の現場を取材

→若手船主たちは「父親の人脈」をどう受け止めているのか

→シンガポールや海外オペレーターで修行する次世代経営者の実像

→オンライン時代で変わる、日本船主と海外オペレーターの関係性

→BBC（裸用船契約）増加で揺れる日本船主の船舶管理と経営戦略

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）