A MANX registered ship was the first ship to sail into a devastated Japanese port following an earthquake and tsunami in March.
The MV Emily Manx, which is owned by local ship-owner Lars Ugland, sailed into the Ishinomaki port, which lies on the north eastern shores of Honshu, on September 10.
The occasion was heralded by the port and the story made two Japanese newspapers – the Kahoku Shinbun and the Hibi Shinbun.
The MV Emily Manx, which was carrying coal, set sail from Indonesia on August 30. Its first port of call was Sendai where it dropped off 20,000mt of cargo for the factory of the Nippon Paper Group Inc. The vessel then sailed to Ishinomaki and dropped around 24,000mt of coal.
The fuel was intended to be used for the boilers to generate power for the main paper machine to re-produce paper for books for the Nippon Paper Group.
10 executive officers from Nippon Paper Group, inclding the factory director Mr Kurata, welcomed the MV Emily Manx when she berthed at Ishinomaki.
Mr Kurata said "We are gradually progressing and we will continue to work towards recovery from the earthquake."
He thanked the Master of the MV Emily Manx and presented him with Japanese Sake made in Ishinomaki to commemorate the occasion.
Lars Ugland, chief executive officer of Lars T Ugland Shipping (Isle of Man) Ltd and the owner of the ship, said: "We are delighted that our ship, the Emily Manx, has been able to carry coal to this port which was devastated by the events in March to help towards its recovery.
"We are proud to have been involved and to have the opportunity to fly the Manx ensign in Japan."
Dick Welsh, director of the Isle of Man Ship Registry, said: "This is a good news story for the Isle of Man. It shows the strength and depth of our registered merchant fleet and what they can achieve around the world."
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:
