Latest news with #JMU
Korea Herald
01-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Japan shipyard merger challenges Korea's role in US naval projects
The recently announced merger of Japan's two largest shipbuilders, Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corporation, is expected to have a limited impact on their Korean rivals but signals growing competition for contracts with the US Navy. Experts say the widening gap stems from Japan's long-standing decline in shipbuilding, which cannot be fixed by size alone. Still, Japan's renewed push is raising concerns that Korea's bargaining power may weaken, given Tokyo's established ties in servicing US Navy vessels. Gap far from closed Imabari, Japan's largest shipbuilder, announced on Thursday that it will increase its stake in JMU from 30 percent to 60 percent, turning the country's second-largest shipbuilder into a subsidiary. 'Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU will leverage each other's strengths to compete with China and Korea, and will also make efforts to develop the Japanese shipbuilding industry by making quicker and more comprehensive judgments in terms of management,' the company said in a press release. If completed, the merger would create a company responsible for roughly half of Japan's shipbuilding output, which totaled 4.8 million compensated gross tons in 2024, bringing it close to Hanwha Ocean's output of 2.8 million CGT. However, experts say Japan's shipbuilding struggles stem not from the industry's size but from a long-term lack of investment dating back to its 1988 restructuring. 'Japan has strong basic technology, but shipbuilders have lagged in facility investment and faced workforce shortages,' said Yang Jong-seo, a researcher at the Overseas Economic Research Institute under the Export-Import Bank of Korea. 'The country lost many skilled technology personnel in the late 1980s and closed numerous naval engineering departments in universities, leaving little momentum to restore its industrial competitiveness.' Industry sources also cite Japanese shipbuilders' limited recent experience with high-value vessels, such as liquefied natural gas carriers — an area where Korean shipbuilders have established expertise. According to SK Securities, Imabari last delivered LNG carriers in 2018, and JMU in 2019, while Korean shipbuilders secured 68 orders in 2024 alone. This gap, driven partly by a shortage of skilled personnel, would make clients hesitant to place orders with Japanese firms lacking proven expertise in complex ship types, sources say. A challenge to Korea's efforts toward US Navy collaboration Japan's renewed push in shipbuilding, however, is raising concerns that Korea's position may weaken in bidding for US Navy projects, given Japan's long-standing involvement in US Navy maintenance and repair work. This comes as the US seeks greater collaboration with South Korea and Japan — its top shipbuilding partners outside China — to strengthen its naval capabilities in response to growing maritime challenges from China. 'The rapid progress of the merger between Japan's two leading shipbuilders shows that Japan is putting everything on the line to collaborate with the US on maintenance, repair and overhaul,' said Choi Ki-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University. 'It seems Japan is hoping for a revival of its shipbuilding industry by anticipating demand for new US warships and MRO.' Korean shipbuilders have been actively seeking to participate in the US' efforts to strengthen its maritime presence. Korea's largest shipmaker, HD Hyundai, is expanding its network to US-based shipyards and academic institutions, while Hanwha is acquiring US shipyards experienced in US Navy vessel construction. However, Korea needs to build trust with the US through simpler maintenance work, a factor crucial in projects involving US national security, said the Federation of Korean Industries, Korea's main business lobby. Last year, Hanwha secured Korea's first US Navy maintenance contracts for the Wally Schirra, a logistics vessel, and the Yukon, a replenishment oiler. In contrast, Japanese companies and personnel have been involved in MRO projects for the US Navy for over 70 years, primarily supporting the US Seventh Fleet. Experts say Japan will push ahead with shipbuilding restructuring to leverage its expertise as a strategic asset, especially in tariff negotiations with the US. Additionally, JMU's specialization in warships is expected to strengthen Japan's position, raising concerns about Korea's role in the US Navy's expansion efforts. 'I expect strong competition to emerge between Korea and Japan in the future military ship MRO market,' said Choi. 'It will be difficult for individual companies to deal with it alone. The government and shipbuilders must work together to develop a multifaceted strategy.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Largest Shipbuilders to Come Together as Parent, Subsidiary Amid Tariff Talks
Japan's largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding Co., announced Thursday that it will turn the country's second-largest shipbuilder, Japan Marine United Corp. (JMU), into a subsidiary. Imabari will acquire a 60% stake in the company. The move will create a giant corporate group that will control half the domestic market by shipbuilding tonnage. The two companies are looking to compete with Chinese and Korean shipbuilders by scaling up and reducing costs. Cooperation in the shipbuilding sector is also a major theme for Japan's tariff negotiations with the United States. Moves by Japanese companies to improve their competitiveness could help Japan in the negotiations. Imabari Shipbuilding, based in Ehime Prefecture, currently holds a 30% stake in JMU, which is based in Yokohama. The other 30% of JMU shares will be purchased from JFE Holdings, Inc. and IHI Corp., which have funded the company together with Imabari. The acquisition will go through as soon as Imabari receives approval from regulatory authorities in Japan and abroad. JFE and IHI will both see their stake in JMU fall from 35% to 20%. The value of the deal has not been disclosed. Acquiring JMU as a subsidiary 'will create synergy through the merging of our construction capabilities with JMU's technical capabilities in ship design,' said a spokesperson for Imabari. The companies aim to improve production efficiency through economies of scale that will make it cheaper to procure parts. They also hope to boost their development capabilities by combining their technological fortes. Imabari was founded in 1901 and has 10 shipyards, mainly in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. The company builds various types of ships, including tankers, container ships and large bulk carriers that ferry ore and grain. JMU was formed in 2013 through the merger of JFE's and IHI's shipbuilding subsidiaries. It is known for building vessels, such as destroyers, and has shipyards in Yokohama and Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture. Imabari Shipbuilding and JMU entered into a capital and business alliance in 2020. They established a joint venture in 2021 for ship design and sales and have been working to improve manufacturing efficiency by standardizing parts. Japan was the global leader in shipbuilding in the 1990s, accounting for 40%-50% of the world market by tonnage. However, with the rise of Chinese and Korean builders backed by government support, Japan's share has fallen below 20%. Surrounded by the sea, Japan relies on ships to transport many of its resources and foodstuffs, making shipbuilding key to the country's economic security. The government has decided to help revitalize the shipbuilding industry. In tariff talks with Washington, Japan has proposed cooperation in the field, given that the United States is also seeking to revive its shipbuilding industry.
26-06-2025
- Business
Japan's Imabari Shipbuilding to Make Industry Peer Subsidiary
News from Japan Economy Jun 26, 2025 22:56 (JST) Tokyo, June 26 (Jiji Press)--Top Japanese shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding Co. said Thursday that it will acquire second-biggest Japan Marine United Corp. by raising its equity stake to 60 pct. Currently, Imabari Shipbuilding holds 30 pct of JMU, while steelmaker JFE Holdings Inc. and heavy machinery maker IHI Corp. own 35 pct each. While Imabari Shipbuilding will double its stake, the remaining two shareholders will see their ownership ratio to drop to 20 pct. The share acquisition price was not disclosed. The deal will be completed upon regulatory approval in and outside Japan. JMU was established in 2013 through the integration of shipbuilding operations from JFE Holdings, IHI, Kanadevia Corp., formerly called Hitachi Zosen Corp., and Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. Imabari Shipbuilding invested in JMU in 2021. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Study finds 65% decline in urban bee population, heat and land use are main culprits
Across the globe, the diversity of insect species and their populations are falling rapidly. A few research studies have gone as far as to estimate insect biomass has nearly halved since the 1970s. Bees are particularly hard-hit, suffering from habitat loss driven by agriculture and urban development, compounded by the growing effects of climate change. A latest study conducted by a team of scientists from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) in Germany analyzed the combined effects of land use and rising temperatures on insects at 179 sites across Bavaria. Their research, part of the LandKlif project within the Bavarian Climate Research Network (bayklif), was led by Professor Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, with the findings published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The findings indicated that insects inhabiting different trophic levels react differently to the combination of increased temperatures and extensive land use. While bee populations in forests are able to withstand the heat, those in urban areas saw a staggering 65% decline. Similar to humans, bees are impacted not just by high daytime temperatures but also by warmer-than-average nights. According to biologist Dr. Cristina Ganuza, from the Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology at JMU, the impact of night-time temperatures on diurnal insects is particularly significant. This is due to the fact that average night-time temperatures are rising faster than daytime temperatures, further stressing insect populations. Although insects higher up the food chain managed better with the heat, populations faced challenges in open agricultural habitats. "This can have a negative impact on agricultural production because insects that contribute to natural pest control should be similarly affected," said Dr. Sarah Redlich, research fellow at JMU's Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology. The study also showed that the situation for these insects improved in areas where agricultural land was interspersed with natural habitats. This mixed landscape provides more diverse environments, allowing bees and other insects to thrive by offering both the resources they need and natural corridors for movement. The research team focused on understanding how climate change and land use were specifically affecting bee populations. Summarizing their findings into three key insights, the scientists observed that warmer daytime temperatures can boost the number and diversity of bees, but only in natural habitats like forests and grasslands. This underscores the critical need to preserve and create interconnected natural areas within agricultural and urban spaces. However, the story takes a troubling turn when it comes to warmer nights. As part of their second takeaway, the researchers found that higher night temperatures significantly reduce bee richness across all habitat types. This previously unknown impact reveals a new threat to insects, highlighting the urgency for further research to understand the physiological effects behind it. Finally, the study revealed that climate change and land use don't affect all insects equally. Insects higher and lower in the food chain respond differently, which could disrupt food webs and important ecosystem services like pest control and pollination.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Yahoo
Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office seeks help to find 14-year-old boy
IBERIA PARISH, La. – Sheriff Tommy Romero and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office are requesting assistance from the public in locating Montae Barthelemy, a 14-year-old boy who has been reported missing. Officials said Montae was last seen on March 29, around 11 a.m. at his family's residence in the 1800 block of Pembroke Street, in Iberia Parish. He is described as having brown hair and brown eyes and standing approximately 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 120 lbs. He was last seen wearing a white or black Nike hoodie and black shorts Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Kite reportedly made contact with United flight near Reagan National Airport: airline Louisiana holds off JMU in wild Saturday night affair, 8-7 Tollett's Complete-Game Shutout Helps Louisiana Complete Sweep of JMU, 3-0 Comedian Paul Rodriguez arrested on drug charge in California, police say Houston's defense carries Cougars into 7th Final Four with win over Tennessee Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
