On 19 January, the Danish Maritime Authority hosted a Japanese delegation from the Ministry for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, as well as from Japanese port bureaus and ports.
Japanese ports are facing increasing competition from other container ports in Asia. The purpose of the visit was to present the plans of the Japanese government to develop strategically important ports in Japan through 2015. The plans consist of the establishment of two major ports and the creation of integrated terminals, gathering of containers in the two ports, and common port management companies. Higher efficiency and improved port duties among other things will attract more traffic to the ports.
The Danish Maritime Authority expressed interest in the project. Danish shipping companies and Danish ships often call at Japanese ports.
Japan is a prominent seafaring nation, and in the maritime field Japanese and Danish interests in, inter alia, global regulation and quality shipping often coincide. The Japanese visit once again underlined the exemplary relations between Japan and Denmark on maritime issues.
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Dredging Today Staff, January 23, 2012; Image: DMA