Topics 2016

Nobember

Participation in Green Award Program

The Nagoya Port Authority has officially announced that the port will join the Green Award Program and become a Green Award Incentive Provider from 1 February 2017. The program was instituted by the Green Award Foundation, which is a neutral, independent foundation established in 1994 on the initiative of the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management and the Dutch Ministry of Transport. The program is focused on environmental protection of the sea and the safe functioning of the maritime industry. On 21 November 2016, a welcome ceremony was held in Nagoya. A commemorative plaque was presented to Mr. Takayuki Kondo, Executive Vice President of the Nagoya Port Authority by Mr. Jan Fransen, Green Award’s Executive Director. The purpose of this program is to push toward the highest standards in environmental performance and safety in shipping through a joint approach by the Green Award Foundation, ship owners, ports and maritime related businesses. At 32 ports in 12 countries, including ports in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, and Canada, Green Award vessels receive a considerable reduction on port dues. The Port of Nagoya is the second port in Japan to support Green Award Program after the Port of Kitakyushu, which joined in 2014.

October

Photo:Export of the 10 millionth Japanese car to Belgium celebrated

On 13 October, a ceremony to mark “The export of the 10 millionth Japanese car to Belgium” was held by the Belgian government in the Aichi Prefectural government building in the presence of His Majesty the King of Belgium. In addition to the Flemish Prime minister and other Belgian officials, the Governor of Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Omura and representatives of groups deeply involved in the trade between the Chubu region surrounding the Port of Nagoya and Belgium attended the ceremony. While touching on the achievements from active public and private exchange between the two countries, prayers were offered for a permanent friendly relationship between Japan, Aichi and Belgium. Souvenirs that have been exchanged between Nagoya Port and three Belgian ports (Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge, Port of Ghent) were also displayed. Japan and Belgium are celebrating the anniversary of the 150-year-long diplomatic relationship between the two countries and their active mutual economic exchanges. Many Japanese automobile makers have their regional headquarters for Europe in Belgium, and large numbers of Japanese automobiles are exported to Belgium every year. These logistics networks are supported by the Port of Nagoya and three Flemish Ports: the Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge and Port of Ghent. In 2015, the number of automobiles exported from the Port of Nagoya to Belgium was about 13,000, accounting for 29% of Japan’s total vehicle exports to Belgium, which was approximately 45,000 vehicles.

September

Photo:Groundbreaking ceremony for Kinjo Pier reorganization and improvement project held

On 17 September, a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kinjo Pier reorganization and improvement project was held at Nagoya Harbor Hall. The project aims to achieve the following goals: “Develop the capacity to accommodate large Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTC),” “Improve inefficient cargo handling from through integration of dispersed storage yards for completed cars,” and “Maintain  / continue transportation functions for completed cars at the time of large-scale earthquakes.” To achieve these goals, the plan calls for construction of new berths, increasing the depth of an existing berth and expansion of the storage yards. This plan was adopted in FY2015 and is targeted for completion in 2021.

March

First call of the passenger cruise ship Mariner of the Seas at the Port of Nagoya

On March 27th, the cruise ship Mariner of the Seas called at the Port of Nagoya. Shortly after 10 a.m., the mammoth ship carrying about 3,000 passengers docked at Berths No. 80 and No. 81 at Kinjo Pier to the accompaniment of Japanese drums. The berths are usually used as an automobile exporting base. A lot normally used for completed automobiles was taken over as a temporary parking site for tour buses. Many of the passengers took the buses to go shopping or sightseeing.
At 5 p.m. the Mariner of the Seas left the Port of Nagoya bound for the Port of Kobe.

February

Groundbreaking ceremony held for Maker's Pier

On February 2, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Maker’s Pier commercial facility was held at Kinjo Pier. Maker’s Pier will be built on an adjacent site east of LEGOLAND Japan, whose construction began in April, 2015. Maker’s Pier will be a commercial complex on a site with a total area of approximately 24,000 square meters.
It will open in the spring of 2017, at the same time as LEGOLAND Japan.
The guests attending the ceremony included Mr. Takashi Kawamura, the mayor of Nagoya City, and people involved in the project.
Under clear skies, Mr. Frank Stanek, a senior advisor of GCDS JAPAN, greeted everyone on behalf of the people involved.
The ceremony was conducted in a friendly atmosphere, and concluded with a kagami-biraki, or traditional sake barrel opening, and a balloon event.

January

Dezomeshiki held at the Port of Nagoya

On January 10, Dezomeshiki, an annual event for the New Year, was held at Garden Pier.
About 1,900 people involved in firefighting in Nagoya City participated in the event along with 73 firetrucks, 3 fireboats, 2 helicopters and 16 transportable fire pumps. Drills simulating various disasters were carried out.
At the end of the event, spectators cheered at the powerful sight of the fire pumps, fire trucks and fireboats releasing massive sprays of water all at once.