Kobe University, Faculty of Maritime Sciences (KU-FMS)

Dean: Prof. Dr. Masayoshi Kubo

Address: 5-1-1, Fukaeminami-Machi, Higashinada, Kobe 658-0022 Japan

Phone/fax numbers: Tel: +81-78-431-6200 Fax: +81-78-431-6355

URL: http://www.maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/

Overview:

Faculty of Maritime Sciences was established on October 1, 2003. It originates, however, from Kawasaki Merchant Marine School (private), which was founded in September 1917, by Shozo Kawasaki, the pioneer in the fields of shipbuilding in Japan. In August, 1920, this school was nationalized and became Kobe Nautical Collage, which was placed under the direct supervision of the Education Ministry. Since then, it has contributed to the development of marine industry. Later in April 1945, as one of the wartime measures of the government, Kobe Nautical Collage and the other two nautical colleges in Tokyo and Shimizu, were united into one college in Shimizu under the name of Nautical College, while the campus, buildings and facilities of Kobe Nautical College were taken over by Marine Technical College.

After the war, however, the economic independence of our country necessitated the rapid advancement and expansion of the sea transportation industry, and, as one of the steps for the purpose, the formation of Kobe University of Mercantile Marine was decided upon in the 13th session of the National Diet, 1952. It then started its glorious career as a university under the Education Ministry through the new System, inheriting the old tradition of Kobe Nautical College, at the historic site of Fukae, Kobe.

From the perspective of promotion of interdisciplinary studies, Kobe University of Mercantile Marine and Kobe University are integrated on October 1, 2003. Kobe University of Mercantile Marine has taken next step as Faculty of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University. The purpose of the faculty is to provide students with a good knowledge of theories and technology required especially in the field of marine science and engineering, and to instill high intelligence and rich culture into the students so as to enable them to contribute to the development of sea transportation and other marine industries.

Facing Osaka Bay, our school also has the Rokko Range as its hinterland and is situated at the eastern part of Kobe Port, one of the largest ports in Japan.

Updates:

July 19, 2004

International Maritime Forum.

July 20 is "Marine Day" (national holiday) in Japan. To celebrate this day, this event was held in the Conference Hall in the Academic Exchange Center. The hall was filled to the rafters with audiences at the start. Lectures on maritime society from domestic and overseas guest speakers who are maritime administrators and reserchers. Elementary, secondary, and high school students talked about their experience in cruising and sailing boat at the end of the event.