NYK launches tsunami alert system to provide tsunami warnings to vessels
Japanese shipping group NYK will issue tsunami warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency and other weather service providers by e-mail to vessels through the company's "NYK e-missions" system.
The warnings "should allow affected vessels to determine the best course of action" through correspondence with on-shore contacts and use of the Tsunami-Response Guidelines developed and released by NYK last year.
When a tsunami warning is issued, a tsunami alert will be sent to NYK vessel operators and the up to 800 vessels that will make use of the NYK e-missions system. The alert will be in English. 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 the affected vessels, share information with the ships, 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 company said in a statement.
"The NYK Group 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."
