THE PRESENT SITUATION AND THE ISSUES ON TUGBOAT BUSINESS IN JAPAN
Takayuki MORI
University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences
ABSTRACT
In a port, tugboats play a vital role for the safety of vessels. Tugboats, however, are rarely present in any study. Tugboat business in Japan is regulated only by the Harbor Act, but by the Marine Transportation Law. And tugboats services are mainly provided by local governments. This is because the tugboats are considered as one of port infrastructure.
These situations have compelled tugboat business to hold back competition and to act in union. That implies tugboat business would run counter to current society that steadily promotes regulatory reform and competition in business. Tugboat business should be managed to supply public functions, though.
This paper has a final aim that clarifies the desirable tugboat business from the perspective of both competition and public. Thus, the current situations and issues on the tugboat business are firstly identified. Some measurements for the activation of tugboat business are also examined.
