With roots tracing back 150 years as shipyard, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has grown into a global powerhouse, offering over multiple hundreds of products. MHI’s journey in the Middle East from decades and establish different regional offices to be closer to customers and user. MHI Engine System Middle East (MHIES-ME) is one of MHI Group companies as Subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharges – Japan (MHIET) for Engine business.

Robban Assafina met Mr. Karim Khalil, General Manager, MHIES-ME’s UAE Office, Mr. Tatsuya Okubo, Sales Manager, Generator & Engine Sales Section as well as Mr. Kazuomi Ikeda Managing Director MHIES-ME’s during Dubai’s International Tug and Salvage Convention and came back with some insights into MHIES-ME's strategic plans and aims to shape the future of maritime technology in the Middle East and beyond.

We would like to know more about MHI's history and your branch in Sharjah-UAE.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is one of the biggest Japanese companies in the maritime industry, with many business units. MHI is first Japanese company to develop Diesel engine in 1917. The company started more than 150 years ago as a shipyard, with engineering and marine experiences in its DNA. Now, MHI supplies over 500 products from space to sky to Sea to land in different categories and Business Segments. Coming from the Far East to the Middle East region, MHI’s footprint is constantly growing.

MHIES-ME business office had been established 14 years ago in SAIF Zone – Sharjah. The main task to promote Mitsubishi Engine and Generators for different application, Segments in Middle East, North and East Africa countries, and today it is strengthening its networks in response to the changing market dynamics, and the growing trend of localization in the region in Engine Business.

How do you describe the experience of shifting from the shipyard business to cover various sectors?
I believe that MHI’s significance lies in the quality of its services. We are very keen to preserve that aspect with company main principles.

1. We deliver reliable and innovative solutions that make a lasting difference to customers and communities worldwide.

2. We act with integrity and fairness, always respecting others.

3. We constantly strive for excellence in our operations and technology, building on a wide global outlook and deep local insights.

Tell us about MHIES-ME’s journey to the Middle East and plans for this region.
Establishing Middle East office (in 2010) with an idea to get closer to our clients, taking into consideration that Japan is a distant country from some of the clients here in the region. This was the best way to understand the culture here and the customers’ requirements, so we can share it with our engineers and factories to develop our products and meet all needs and requirements. The mentality and the market are changing in the Middle East, Service or aftermarket is one of key factors to choose your products, it is not only Origin or brand. 

As many are also looking to localize and add local qualities and trademarks to their products. We see an active market in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt mainly in the shipbuilding sector, and those companies are trying to bring in the expertise of big companies. It is a great way to push the economy forward and create job opportunities, that’s why we are here to be part of this change.

What trends do you see in the marine engine industry, particularly regarding environmental regulations?
We are seeing Demand on DEP and Hybrid system Vessels is increasing in the Commercial Vessel such Ferry, finishing, OSVs and Cargo Vessel and we are monitoring how it will be extended to bigger size vessel, such solutions' main target to comply with environment regulation.

Currently we are leveraging solutions to improve the emission, so our wide range of engines which cover from 500 to 2100 KW in high speed and from 1000 to 3000KW in medium engines to company with emission requirement such as IMO II and IMO III.

What is your vision of the development plans taking place in ports?
This development is the result of economic initiatives and changes to be more diverse, as the economy in this part of the world is based on the oil income, but this has been changed in the last five years with many resources available, like tourism, trading, international expertise, opening factories and facilities. 

This will increase demand to have facilities to be able to receive big ships and be transfer point to other parts of the world.
From an engine manufacturer perspective, what about the fuel challenge, and the availability of other fuels?
Currently, our Engines can operate on other fuels such as HVO or Bio Diesel, Natural Gas, and working on development plans to serve other fuels, like methanol and hydrogen.

Sometimes it depends on the area, I mean Europe, USA and Japan are one step ahead of the Middle East region. We are keeping an eye on that and will see how the Middle East will follow in production and distribution infrastructure of these fuels. 

Since Egypt, UAE and KSA are investing in Hydrogen fuel plants now, I think the Middle East will play a leading role in hydrogen production in the next eight to ten years, and we have to be ready.

We have to be ready for what comes next to support our customers and users.

How was the feedback after the International Tug and Salvage Convention? What was MHIES-ME’s main focus this year?
This is our first participation; it is a great opportunity to see our partners and competitors in the shipbuilding industry. 

This event confirms the idea that the shipbuilding industry is growing and developing; clients want to build big tugboats and commercial vessels, and we have the required products for all of that. 

That’s why we are here to showcase our high-quality products and Japanese brand with a wide range of engines (500-3000KW) of high and medium speed. 

Our products have proved their quality in other areas, we are just seeking the opportunities in this precise market to have stronger ties.

What are MHIES-ME’s prospects for 2024? And what are the plans in the pipeline?
We believe that demand is growing. We have great prospects for our future here, we are working to strengthen our networks and channels in the Middle East; this market is growing, and we will grow along to fulfil the upcoming high demand. Our presence here will become clearer, being one of the leaders in this business.

Robban Assafina, Issue 92, July/ August 2024, Maritime Host, pg. 75

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	Issue 92 of Robban Assafina (July/Aug. 2024)