NYK Line Launches Tsunami Ship Alert System

Tsunami warnings issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and other weather service providers will be sent to vessels via NYK's 'e-missions' system.

The warnings are intended to allow affected vessels to determine the best course of action through contact with those on shore and use of the Tsunami-Response Guidelines NYK developed and released last year.

When a tsunami warning is issued, a tsunami alert will be sent (in English) to NYK vessel operators and about 800 vessels that make use of NYK 'e-missions'. The vessel will then have a limited amount of time to correspond with those necessary and use the guidelines to determine the best action to take.

The vessels that could be affected by the possible tsunami are automatically displayed on NYK 'e-missions', and vessel operators and NYK's Marine Group can immediately contact them, share information and provide any needed support.

This system will provide tsunami warnings issued for the Japanese coast in addition to warnings released by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, which will cover the entire sailing area of all vessels operated by the NYK Group.

The NYK Group said it will continue to make efforts to further deepen mutual understanding between those on shore and the ships and promote the establishment of safer ship-operation systems within the group by learning from the Great East Japan Earthquake.