On November 17 took place our last big event for 2011. It was the delivery of S-500, a 6,600tdw type RORO cargo ship ordered by Europe-based Shiplux VII S.A..

Now that more than 40 years have passed since Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation moved from Shimonoseki's Hikoshima island to Chofu area - its current place, we have decided to demolish and rebuild our main office building.

Hello, golf lovers! Yes, it's the season of "Kyokuyo Open", the most prestigious golf event in Japan's shipping industries, if you believe its organizer. Like last year, the event was held at the famous Shimonoseki Golf Club, on October 7.

On September 14 took place the naming and delivery ceremonies for S-504, 7,200m3 type liquefied gas carrier. She is the youngest and last of 3 ship series ordered by Japan's Toda Ship, with her elder sisters having made their debut as reported in news 121 and 123.

Eight years passed since we established with other shipbuilding-related companies a cooperative which, besides operating group purchasing, runs an international training program.

There is a Shintô shrine called "Iminomiya Jinja" in Chôfu quarter of Shimonoseki City, where Kyokuyo Shipyard is located. You may have seen its guardian before, as we ask him to attend our keel-laying and other ceremonies, if they are held with Shintô rites.

On July 6 2011 was launched S500, the first vessel in 4 sisters of 6,600tdw RORO carrier ordered by a European owner. The ship marks Kyokuyo's return to the sector after its m.v. Yuzui Maru left the dock in 1995.

Kyokuyo Shipyard is glad to announce that its "eco-friendly" Roll-on Roll-off car carrier, City of St. Petersburg, has now won Grand Prix Award in Japan's "Ship of the Year 2010."

Hello, everybody, it's Mami! Do you still remember me ? In News 130 and 131, I introduced my colleagues in Kyokuyo's Design Division to you. Here goes the last part that I wrote with help from Mayumi.

Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation's "eco-friendly" Roll-on Roll-off car carrier, City of St. Petersburg, has won "The ShipPax Award 2010 for Outstanding RoRo Exterior."

Kyokuyo Shipyard held its annual company entrance ceremony on April 1, the first day in the fiscal year. For 2011 we have 7 new employees, comprised of 2 college graduates in administration and 5 high school graduates in production.

On March 29, 2011, 2,000unit type pure car carrier S495 was named and delivered. She is the second and the last of 2-ship series of Kyokuyo's self-developed eco-friendly ship with a semi-spherically shaped bow (SSS-bow) that reduces the wind resistance. Featured in TV and newspapers, the sisters are perhaps the most famous of the vessels we have ever built.

On March 8, 2011, container carrier S-498 was launched as scheduled. S-498 can carry as much as 1,022 units of 20 feet standard containers - the biggest number ever for a ship built by Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation. She will be delivered in the month of June, after outfitting process.

Let us introduce Teruki Tanaka, a new face who joined our business department this December. The rookie has just completed 8 months of on-the-job training in the company's every other department after he got onboard m.v. Kyokuyo this April.

Hello again, this is Mami. I am introducing every staff in Kyokuyo's design division - so, this article is continued from the previous issue.

Hello again, this is Mami. I am introducing every staff in Kyokuyo's design division - so, this article is continued from the previous issue.

Our third news for 2011 is about Japan's "coming-of-age day", a national holiday we have on the second Monday in January every year. And every year, Kyokuyo celebrates its young employees who reach the age of 20 by offering small gift.

At the end of 2010, on December 22, we had a very busy and exciting day. It was the day of naming and delivery of S-493, Kyokuyo's "Semi-Spherical Shaped bow"ed eco-ship.

Dear customers and readers, I wish a happy new year to all of you!