Japanese Trio Signs Up For Another 10 Years

07/04/2010

MAN Diesel partners renew two-stroke licence agreements

At individual ceremonies in Japan, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. have signed contracts renewing their successful licence agreements for the production of MAN engines.

The licence renewals continue a long tradition of cooperation between MAN Diesel and these particular licensees with Kawasaki, Mitsui and Hitachi having signed their first agreements with MAN Diesel in 1911, 1926 and 1951 respectively.

MAN Diesel was represented at each ceremony by Dr. Stephan Timmermann, Executive Board Member, Thomas Knudsen, Senior Vice President Low-Speed, Klaus Engberg, Senior Vice President Two-Stroke Licensing, and Ko Sasaki, President of MAN Diesel Japan.

Dr. Timmermann said: “MAN Diesel and its licensees share the same corporate values, of which trustworthiness is the most important. The engines produced by Mitsui, Hitachi and Kawasaki all have an excellent reputation for being of the highest quality and have contributed to Japan’s prosperity and welfare in enabling it to reach every corner of the world through international trade. We are proud of the trust such esteemed companies have placed in our company over so many years.

Dr. Timmermann continued: “Each licensee is deeply involved in solving the challenges of the modern world, namely how to generate growth and welfare without harming the environment. Through these new license agreements, MAN Diesel and its licensees commit themselves to reducing shipping’s environmental footprint. These agreements give Mitsui, Hitachi and Kawasaki the right to promote, produce and service engines that comply with the imminent IMO (International Maritime Organization) environmental legislation.

The IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations whose primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping. It is due to issue further emission legislation in 2016, which will be the strictest ever within the shipping sector.

The signing ceremonies
The Hitachi ceremony took place on 23 March in Tokyo where K. Anzai, Senior Managing Director, signed on behalf of Hitachi in the presence of K. Sawada, Executive Officer, H. Oh-Oka, General Manager of Sales Dept., and S. Aoyama, Assistant Manager.

The same day, again in Tokyo, Mitsui renewed their agreement where Y. Katoh, President & Representative Director, signed on behalf of the company. His signature was witnessed by his colleagues, T. Tanaka, Managing Director, M. Ohtsu, Associate Director, and M. Masuda, General Manager Diesel Engine Sales Dept.

On the following day, 24 March, the Kawasaki ceremony took place in Kobe with Y. Asano, Managing Director signing for the company, and witnessed by J. Iki, Executive Officer, H. Sakurai, Senior Manager Diesel Engine Dept., and S. Nishi, Senior Staff Officer.

Upon concluding the third ceremony, Dr. Timmermann said: “MAN Diesel has had a long and fruitful relationship with these three prestigious companies that figure so prominently in Japan’s industrial sector. The licence business is a people-to-people business and our cooperation has moved beyond business as it has developed over the years, as many friendships have been forged between individuals in our companies. I am delighted to sign these contracts to ensure that these relationships continue, and look forward to further success in the future.

MAN Diesel SE, Press Release