Kawasaki Kisen Group (“K” LINE Group) is pleased to announce that the vessel OCEANIC BREEZE, managed by K MARINE SHIP MANAGEMENT PTE. LTD., our in-house ship management company, received the Director-General Award from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) at “K” LINE’s Tokyo head office on June 3. The award recognizes the vessel’s longstanding contributions to maritime weather observation and reporting, which have greatly advanced the country’s meteorological services.
The JMA presents the Director-General of the Japan Meteorological Agency Award to vessels engaged in maritime weather observation and reporting every June 1,*1 which is Meteorological Memorial Day.
Maritime weather observation is considered significantly more challenging than land-based observation due to geographical and technical constraints, with a particularly evident lack of observational data in the vast open ocean. In these circumstances, weather reports from vessels are a valuable source of data for meteorological agencies around the world. These reports are not only utilized in the development of weather forecasting models and weather charts in various countries but also contribute to ensuring the safety of maritime traffic, the early detection of extreme weather, and the research and monitoring of global climate change. As mobile observation platforms, ships are indispensable components of the modern meteorological observation network. The continuation of these reporting activities significantly contributes to future weather disaster prevention and environmental conservation efforts.
The “K” LINE Group will continue to contribute to the development of meteorological services in Japan by providing maritime observation data to the JMA.
*1 Meteorological Memorial Day:
The Tokyo Meteorological Observatory, the JMA’s predecessor, began Japan’s first meteorological and seismological observations on June 1, 1875. To commemorate this event, the Central Meteorological Observatory declared June 1 to be Meteorological Memorial Day in 1942. The annual Meteorological Memorial Day ceremony honors individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to meteorological services. This year marks 150 years since the Tokyo Meteorological Observatory began its observations.
Japan Meteorological Agency, Shu Saito
“K” Line, Akihiro Fujimaru (Senior Managing Corporate Officer)
“K” Line, Hideaki Endo (Corporate Officer)