ABSTRACT : The Great East Japan Earthquake gave the serious damage to the production facilities of many companies over a wide area. In addition, the ports, which play a crucial part in import of raw/intermediate materials and export of products, were also seriously damaged, and the companies were obliged to use the alternative port in part. Based on this background, and in order to prepare for the emergent large-scale disasters, BCP for port management is now developed.

This study tried to quantify the demand for foreign container cargo volume after large-scale disasters using the data of port statistics, PIERS and results of questionnaires to manufacturing plants.

ABSTRACT : Various countermeasures against global warming are being taken. Among these countermeasures, it is expected that carbon taxation decreases CO₂ emission and develops energy-saving technologies. In order to evaluate the influence of carbon taxation on transport sector, we have to evaluate not only improvement of energy efficiency in each mode but also change of the mode choice to low carbon transportation (modal shift).

Based on the above mentioned background, this study developed the mode choice model that includes the feature of each ship type for long-range domestic unit load cargo transport. In addition, using developed model, this study estimated the impact of carbon taxation on mode choice and the effect of decreasing CO₂ emission.

ABSTRACT : To enhance a port’s utility, it must be developed, for example by providing access for larger ships, but there are not enough disposal sites or land reclamation sites available to accept dredged soil generated in connection with deepening and maintaining channels and anchorages. Moreover, difficulties in local coordination, for example involving environmental problems, are slowing the progress of new land reclamation projects. In this context, measures such as using dredged soil to construct tidal flats and shoals in order to reduce the amount of dredged soil for disposal have become desirable.　In this paper, the authors analyze technical developments in the development of tidal flats and shoals with dredged soil that have been carried out so far, and clarify the direction of technical development that will be needed to develop and maintain large-scale, environmentally superior tidal flats and shoals in future. It also proposes a method for developing large-scale muddy tidal flats using cohesive soil, which accounts for most of the soil dredged from ports.

ABSTRACT: It is essential for port management to clarify the trends and future outlook of capital costs and maintenance costs, which are important indicators of business management. As a result of having analyzed factors which constitute these costs, these costs in Japan are tending upward sequentially by the factors which are upsizing of port facilities, offshore development, natural conditions (earthquake, tsunami) and the evasion of new risks (such as the phenomenon of class level two, the lateral flow by the large-scale liquefaction with the earthquake, etc.) In addition, as a result of having analyzed the disparity of construction costs between Japan and foreign countries, capital costs in Japan are high from the need of earthquake resistance and the ground improvement in comparison with foreign countries. The remarkable rise of these costs becomes the factor to worsen finance of the port management.

ABSTRACT: The significance of “Fish Café” or a science café with fishery as theme is discussed as part of capacity building of integrated coastal zone management. Based on qualitative data acquired in a practice, it is concluded that; 1. People are attracted to stories of local fishery knowledge which only fishermen can talk; 2. Researchers’ talk includes not only scientific knowledge but also stories which were generated from their research experiences; 3. Fish Café can be a place of dialogue where all the participants learn with each other based on shared scientific and experiential knowledge. In order to start a dialogue for sustainable use of coastal resources and environment, it may be necessary to have such a place continuously.

ABSTRACT : The purpose of this study is to make a contribution to the development of the evaluation techniques for environmental impacts of underwater noise from offshore wind turbines. In this study, the authors measured the underwater noise from a fixed offshore wind turbine during construction (installation of monopile foundation). By analyzing the data, the time series and frequency characteristics of underwater noise and the effect of piling on sound levels were clarified. Besides, in order to get the properties of sound propagation in the construction area, the authors measured the regular waves of some frequencies from an underwater speaker while the piling was stopped. From the measured data, the transmission loss was estimated and the attenuation curve was made. With this curve, the sound source pressures were estimated from the measured sound levels and the distances between the piling point and the measuring points. Moreover, it was revealed that there was a correlation between the estimated sound source pressures and the energy of hammering.