日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Aug 06, 2026 (Thu)

Columbia aims to become a business partner that works with shipowners to solve challenges

Chrysostomou (right) and Mitsutake Nakayama of the Japanese subsidiary

　Demetris Chrysostomou, deputy CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Columbia Group (headquartered in Cyp ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Demetris+Chrysostomou%2C+deputy+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29+of+Columbia+Group+%28headquartered+in+Cyprus%29%2C+which+has+under+its+umbrella+Columbia+Shipmanagement+%28CSM%29%2C+a+major+ship+management+company%2C+said+in+an+interview+with+this+newspaper+that%2C+amid+an+increasingly+complex+business+environment+in+the+shipping+industry%2C+the+group+aims+to+become+a+business+partner+that+works+with+shipowners+to+solve+challenges.+We+asked+him+about+the+roles+expected+of+modern+ship+management+companies+and+other+topics.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Could+you+tell+us+about+your+ship+management+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+manage+approximately+540+vessels+in+total.+Of+these%2C+approximately+360+are+fully+managed+vessels%2C+for+which+we+provide+both+technical+management+and+crew+management%2C+while+approximately+180+are+vessels+for+which+we+provide+crew+management+only.+We+assign+crews+to+our+managed+vessels+from+a+pool+of+approximately+20%2C000+seafarers%2C+mainly+Filipinos.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+majority+of+fully+managed+vessels+are+container+ships%2C+crude+oil+tankers%2C+chemical+and+product+tankers%2C+and+dry+bulk+carriers%2C+but+we+can+handle+all+types+of+vessels%2C+including+multipurpose+vessels%2C+passenger+ships%2C+gas+carriers%2C+and+offshore+support+vessels.+We+have+built+strong+business+relationships+over+many+years+with+major+Japanese+shipping+companies+and+some+of+the+world%E2%80%99s+leading+shipowners.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Second+party+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+kind+of+ship+management+company+do+shipowners+require%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+not+merely+a+third-party+contractor%2C+but+a+partner+that+serves+as+a+second+party%2C+working+with+shipowners+to+solve+their+various+challenges.+The+environment+surrounding+the+shipowning+business+has+become+more+complex%2C+with+rising+geopolitical+risks%2C+tightening+environmental+regulations%2C+and+advances+in+digital+technology.+Being+able+to+manage+crews+and+ensure+the+safe+operation+of+ships+is+merely+a+minimum+prerequisite.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+an+increasingly+complex+business+environment%2C+the+question+is+how+we+can+bring+commercial+value+to+our+customers%E2%80%99+businesses+and+work+with+them+to+solve+their+challenges.+We+also+need+to+provide+solutions+in+areas+that+were+originally+outside+the+scope+of+ship+management+companies%E2%80%99+work%2C+such+as+compliance+with+new+regulations+and+responding+to+geopolitical+events+at+ports+of+call.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+must+move+beyond+being+merely+a+service+provider+and+evolve+into+a+business+partner+that+shares+the+same+fate+as+shipowners%2C+enhances+competitiveness%2C+and+delivers+profits.+In+the+future%2C+frameworks+such+as+joint+ventures+%28JVs%29%2C+which+further+strengthen+these+relationships%2C+will+become+a+global+trend.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Toward+realizing+JVs+with+shipowners+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--In+October+last+year%2C+the+company+established+a+Japanese+subsidiary%2C+Columbia+Shipmanagement+Japan.+What+has+been+the+response+from+customers%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThey+understand+the+seriousness+of+our+commitment+to+the+Japanese+market+and+have+high+expectations+for+deeper+collaboration+and+the+development+of+joint+ventures.+It+was+an+extremely+important+step+in+demonstrating+that+we+are+not+merely+paying+lip+service%2C+but+are+taking+the+Japanese+market+and+partnerships+with+Japanese+shipowners+very+seriously.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+feel+that+Japanese+shipowners%2C+especially+small+and+medium-sized+ones%2C+are+seriously+concerned+about+how+to+sustain+their+businesses+amid+worsening+crew+shortages+and+uncertainty+about+the+future.+I+am+confident+that+closer+cooperation+with+Japanese+shipowners+and+the+establishment+of+joint+ventures+will+also+be+realized+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%A0+Quality%2C+human+resources%2C+and+technology+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--I+would+like+to+hear+about+your+new+initiatives+and+areas+of+focus.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+addition+to+the+three+pillars+of+%E2%80%99quality%2C%E2%80%99+%E2%80%99human+resources%2C%E2%80%99+and+%E2%80%99technology%2C%E2%80%99+new+developments+are+underway+in+the+areas+of+offshore+support+vessels%2C+cruise+ships%2C+and+back-office+operations.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+group+consists+of+a+diverse+range+of+companies%2C+but+our+core+business+is+ship+management.+We+have+renewed+our+focus+on+the+quality+of+ship+management%2C+our+core+business%2C+and+are+thoroughly+committed+to+high-quality+performance%2C+customers%2C+vessels%2C+and+partners.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+next+area+we+are+focusing+on+is+human+resource+development.+We+are+enhancing+training+programs+for+young+onshore+staff+and+seafarers.+It+is+also+strategically+very+important+to+ensure+a+continued+supply+of+excellent+seafarers.+We+are+developing+new+sources+of+seafarers+in+Vietnam%2C+India%2C+Indonesia%2C+and+elsewhere+while+maintaining+our+strength+in+the+Philippines%2C+which+accounts+for+approximately+60%25+of+our+seafarers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CI+believe+that+technology+is+the+next+most+important+factor+after+people%2C+not+only+in+the+shipping+industry+but+in+all+industries.+It+is+also+closely+related+to+both+quality+and+human+resources.+We+are+actively+investing+in+new+technologies%2C+including+AI+%28artificial+intelligence%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CCSM+Energy%2C+our+ship+management+company+specializing+in+offshore+support+vessels%2C+will+enter+the+ship+management+business+for+Commissioning+Service+Operation+Vessels+%28CSOVs%29.+It+will+manage+four+newbuilds+being+constructed+by+its+parent+company%2C+Schoeller+Holdings+%28headquartered+in+Cyprus%29%2C+two+of+which+are+to+be+jointly+owned+with+MOL.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+also+won+a+contract+from+Adora+Cruises%2C+a+leading+Chinese+cruise+operator%2C+to+provide+ship+management+services+for+its+third+large+cruise+ship+in+the+130%2C000-GT+class.+A+cruise+ship-specialized+management+team+has+been+established+at+its+base+in+Shanghai%2C+China.+We+aim+to+further+expand+our+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+building+a+global+back-office+operating+structure+to+strengthen+our+cost+competitiveness.+The+company+has+a+support+center+with+approximately+200+employees+in+the+Philippines+and+has+newly+opened+centers+with+approximately+100+employees+each+in+Mumbai+and+Kochi%2C+India.+We+will+support+management+bases+in+high-cost+locations+such+as+Singapore+and+Germany+and+provide+customers+with+more+competitive+services.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3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【Global Lens】【インタビュー　船舶管理会社の戦略】コロンビア・グループ副CEO　デメトリス・クリソストモウ氏、船主のパートナーに

2026/08/06(木)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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