Incoming KLSM President’s Message: “Your problems are our problems”

“Slow and steady wins the race”, said the outgoing President of ‘K’ Line Ship Management, Mr. Shuichiro Maeda, thereby laying strong emphasis on “…providing a gradual and appropriate way to securing seamen from today’s young generation, educating them, and training them for taking higher licenses in line with “K” Line’s corporate philosophy and culture.”

Thinking long-term, he also added, “For that purpose, we need to make certain that our company will forever be attractive to younger generations. In this connection I understand that KLSM is going to open branch offices at Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi in order to take the company’s presence to an increasingly higher level.”

Mr. Maeda who has spent over 3 years as KLSM President was speaking at the 2-day seminar being held on the 29th & 30th March at the Best Western Country Club, located just outside New Delhi at Gurgaon.

Drawing attention to the fact that KLSM was at this event also welcoming the new President of the company, Mr. Satoru Kuboshima, Mr. Maeda outlined some of the more important challenges ahead for his team. “How to secure seafarers; how to educate and train them; how to convince them to remain with KLSM for a longer time: these are the most important issues for Mr. Kuboshima and his management team so that the ‘K’ Line group can enjoy everlasting and sustainable prosperity in the worldwide shipping field.”

Mr. Kuboshima, who took over his post as President just days prior to the seminar, was in his turn equally forthcoming on the company stratagem of this 3rd largest of Japanese shipping giants. He said to the gathering of over 100 delegates, “Your problems are our problems. We at KLSM would like to share your happiness and your pains; all of them together.”

Having taken over the helm of KLSM Tokyo Office on the 26th of March this year, Mr. Kuboshima was keen to quickly establish bonds with the seagoing staff. He said, “My message to Indian seafarers is to think long term and give your 100% to the company you work for, and you can then expect 100% returns from the company.”

“I would also like to add: continue the great work Indian officers are doing and they will always be most preferred officers in the merchant navy.”

It is important to mention here that ‘K’ Line has already exhibited their immense commitment to India by commencing the employment of Indian Ratings on container ships, w.e.f. October 2007. ‘K’ Line Ship Management (India) Pvt. Ltd. is now a part of this development and increased employment opportunities for Indian seafarers.

Expectations from Indian staff

But what does KLSM and the mother company ‘K’ Line expect from their Indian seagoing staff? Mr. Kuboshima was quick to point out, “I want seafarers to support fellow seafarers in crisis situations. For example, an officer had just been relieved when the replacement had to undergo medical treatment as soon as he joined. Having canceled his own holiday, the recently relieved officer immediately came back. This obviously helped the smooth operation of the vessel.”

“This level of helpfulness is only possible with Indian officers who are working with us as a family member, and I am very glad that such a worthy example has been set by them.”

Training has also been identified as an important area for ensuring KLSM’s future development. Mr. Kuboshima remarked, “I am very impressed with the quality of training here. But I still want to make better training arrangements for upgrading officers to keep up to the already fantastic standards of training they get in India. I also want to continue the seminars for KLSM officers which help in the smooth working aboard.”

In this regard he expressed his belief that the welfare of the families of seagoing staff was also paramount. “Like at this 7th KLSM seminar, we have been inviting the families to all our seminars. This is because we would like them to get to know each other. In this way when the husband is onboard the wives can communicate freely with each other from having met previously during the seminars.”

In concluding his message Mr. Kuboshima beseeched the gathered seafarers to think long-term. “Commit yourselves to enduring career goals,” he said, “Give your 100% to the company you work for and you can expect 100% returns from the company.”

He also appealed, “Continue the great work Indian officers have been doing and they will always be the most preferred officers in the merchant navy.”

Earlier Capt. Takehiko Ibusuki, ‘K’ Line Representative for India, had explained the purpose of the seminar. “As you are well aware, this is to provide recent updates of ‘K’Line /KLSM activities, to conduct training for Risk Management and Root Cause Analysis, and more importantly to share various information, as well as build bonds through face-to-face communication during the breaks.”

The large number of overseas visitors included from KLSM TOKYO Mr. Hirofumi Sakurai, Technical Superintendent (TSG Group Leader), Capt. Toru Homma, Quality, Safety, Health Environment Group Leader, Capt Joven Rinon, Marine Superintendent, Capt Kazuhiro Miyamoto, Marine Superintendent, Mr. Koji Watanabe, Cost Administration Group, and Mr. Ryu Ito Executive MHRG.

From KLSM SINGAPORE there was Capt. Saito Toshikazu, Managing Director, and from VENTIS, MANILA, Capt Michinari Shimizu, Technical Supervisor for Manila.

No amount of hard work could have achieved success of the seminar without the minute by minute planning and overseeing of every minute detail by Capt. Sudhir Goyal, GM, and his capable team at KLSM India Pvt. Ltd. Capt. Goyal said, “I am so glad everything has gone like clockwork, and all the participants have absorbed the huge amount of knowledge and information.”

He also revealed, “It is indeed a touching moment for all of us to see Mr. Maeda leaving us. This is his last of 11 trips to this region. However we welcome Mr. Kuboshima as our new President, and hope he finds us to be worthy team-workers.”

A grand dinner marked the conclusion of a well-conducted as well as well-attended seminar.

Marex Media