The Bari-Ship exhibition and conference is held in Imabari, the heart of Japan’s maritime industry. The city is home to the country’s largest concentration of maritime related businesses including shipowners, shipbuilders, marine equipment manufacturers, marine finance firms, and support service providers. Imabari accounts for one-third of all commercial tonnage built in Japan and its shipowners control approximately 35% of the nation’s ocean-going fleet, making it a central hub of Japan’s maritime economy.
Held every two years, Bari-Ship brings together Japan’s maritime industry to explore the latest advancements in technology, foster collaboration, and create new business opportunities.
The Cook Islands Ship Registry was proud to participate as an exhibitor at Bari-Ship 2025, engaging with senior leaders and key decision-makers from some of Japan’s most prominent shipbuilders and shipowners. The event served as a valuable platform to promote the Cook Islands flag, strengthen international industry relationships, and highlight the Registry’s global services and expanding presence.
Maritime Cook Islands is proud to announce its strategic partnership with the Japanese agent representing the registry in this key region. This collaboration is led by Captain Masayuki Kawase, whose extensive experience and deep expertise in the maritime industry significantly enhance our operational capabilities. Captain Kawase brings a wealth of experience to this role. He has served at sea aboard the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha line’s (NYK) container ships, bulk carriers, pure car carriers (PCCs), and tankers. His shore-based career includes working as a systems engineer at an NYK Group IT company, where he was involved in the design and development of inventory management and accounting systems.
Following his return to sea duty, Captain Kawase joined a maritime consulting firm, where he contributed to policy development projects such as pilotage systems and port planning. He also played a key role in marine infrastructure initiatives, including safety measures for long-span bridge construction and site selection and safety planning for offshore airports. His consultancy work extended into training and development, supporting the growth of maritime professionals.
He now leads his own consulting company, offering training consultancy and advisory services to maritime organisations. His leadership and insight continue to drive innovation and excellence across the industry.
Captain Kawase’s profound knowledge of both international maritime standards and local market dynamics ensures that our services are delivered with the highest level of professionalism and accuracy.
This partnership enables Maritime Cook Islands to provide effective and culturally tailored technical assistance that is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of major stakeholders in the region. Furthermore, with dedicated language support provided by Captain Kawase, communication barriers are minimised, fostering stronger relationships and more efficient service delivery. Through this alliance, Maritime Cook Islands is committed to strengthening its presence in the Japanese market, ensuring that clients benefit from seamless registry services that align with global standards while respecting local customs and expectations.
Attendance Overview
Bari-Ship 2025 welcomed a strong turnout over the course of the three-day exhibition, with a total of 18,785 attendees, including exhibitors. Daily figures were:
- Thursday, 22 May: 7,383 attendees
- Friday, 23 May: 5,790 attendees
- Saturday, 24 May: 5,612 attendees (including 4,923 members of the public)
Key Highlights
Maritime Cook Islands’ participation at Bari-Ship 2025 proved to be both productive and insightful. The Registry engaged with global stakeholders and clients through strategic meetings with leading Japanese shipping companies such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and NYK. It reinforced key relationships and explored new avenues for growth in the Japanese market. Additionally, productive meetings were held with Imabari shipowners who attended the Cook Islands booth, further strengthening engagement with key industry participants in the region.
Bari-Ship 2025 was a valuable opportunity to connect with key players in Japan’s maritime sector and showcase the Cook Islands Ship Registry on a global stage. We thank the organisers for hosting such a well-attended and impactful event in Imabari, Japan’s maritime capital. We look forward to building on the connections made and returning for future editions of Bari-Ship.