Edition No.183

December 2024

Since the 1960s, Yamaha has been working for the Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects and other international cooperation programs to introduce outboard motors and FRP fishing boats in emerging and developing markets, particularly in Africa. Yamaha has also worked to modernize the fishing industry by sharing knowledge of fishing methods and ways of preserving catches. The Overseas Projects Division was established in January 1977 to provide ongoing cooperation for the development and improvement of the welfare of these countries through our businesses. In October 1991, the Overseas Market Development Operation Business Unit (OMDO) was established as a business unit to develop new business opportunities. OMDO is working all over the world, with its mission "Challenge & Dedication for Prosperity to bring people a bright future and joy worldwide."

The OMDO International Cooperation Group aims to achieve this mission by implementing the following three policies.
1. "Enriching the people of the world."
　・CSR awareness activities
　・Representing Yamaha and disseminating information internally and externally
　・By transferring Yamaha's proprietary technologies, the value of Yamaha's international contribution increases.
2. Passing on the OMDO pioneering spirit
　・Acquire new customers and markets through utilizing public funds, including ODA, and transferring technology to these countries while maintaining the current customer base.
3. Contribution to businesses in OMDO area
　・Introduce products for ODA projects, etc., to expand future distributors' business.
　・Build and maintain relationships with ministries, UN agencies, and international cooperation organizations.

The OMDO International Cooperation Group is involved in over 20 ODA projects per year. In each project, we deliver products and provide training on how to use and maintain them. We aim to continue working on solving social issues through our products and services. The following examples are projects by the OMDO International Cooperation Group.

We are delivering high-speed patrol boats mainly to island countries to contribute to the "promotion and establishment of the rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, etc." which is one of the pillars of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative. As of October 2024, a total of 25 boats have been delivered to Malaysia, the Philippines, Palau, Suriname, St. Kitts, Kenya, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
The high-speed patrol boats' maximum speed is approximately 50 knots, and they are very seaworthy with great maneuverability. They are expected to contribute to the Coast Guard operations against suspicious vessels, poaching, and smuggling, as well as assist in rescue operations. The high-speed patrol boats are equipped with three 300-horsepower 4-stroke outboard motors and other riggings such as GPS, fishfinder, and radio. Some distributors in the countries where we deliver the boats do not have large horsepower outboard motors. For such distributors, the delivery of high-speed patrol boats will be a good opportunity to expand sales of higher horsepower products and improve their aftersales service.

Throughout the Caribbean region, there has been a massive outbreak of seaweed called Sargassum, which harms the ecosystem. OMDO International Cooperation Group has delivered the W-38CF, a Japanese ship to Grenada, to assist in the Japanese government's ODA project. This Japanese ship is expected to play an active role in solving the Sargassum seaweed problem.

OMDO International Cooperation Group delivered three "YFR-27" coastal patrol vessels to two government departments in the Maldives, the Customs and Immigration Bureau, through the Japanese government's ODA. Each official made the following comments.
The Maldives Immigration Authority Deputy Chief Officer stated, "This patrol boat enables us to conduct rapid security operations in coastal areas and enhances immigration enforcement. Using this boat, we can train boat operators within the Bureau."
Customs staff commented, "It was very beneficial to learn about outboard motor maintenance and docking/undocking maneuvers."

In 2022, OMDO International Cooperation Group delivered a Japanese ship, W-23PH, to the remote island of Atauro in East Timor at the request of the international cooperation NGO SHARE (Services for Health in Asian and African Regions). The boat is currently in use to provide vaccines and medicines to villages difficult to access by land and transport medical personnel for medical care.

Various public organizations are involved in the ODA and other projects. For example, we sold a Japanese ship to Grenada's Solid Waste Management Administration for Sargassum seaweed control. Patrol boats were delivered to the Customs and Immigration Bureau of Maldives. We also sold a Japanese ship to an NGO in Japan for an outreach mission in East Timor. As these examples show, introducing products through ODA, etc., contributes to increasing contact with customers who are not usually involved in the regular commercial business and to the expansion of the distributors' business. We believe our products will continue benefiting the international community.

Al Hala Island Test Ride Event

On the weekend of 21st June, the test ride for the 2024 SuperJet model was held on Al Hala Island in Kuwait, which is very popular with the youth and families because of the great location and clear water. We made an announcement about a SuperJet test ride event on social media. As a result, enthusiastic fans who wanted to ride the SuperJet participated in the event.

Regarding Safety Precautions:

We also informed customers to wear life jackets and safety gear, such as gloves and shoes. In addition, they must have a valid boat license. We only allowed participants who are 18 and above to try the SuperJet. We took extra measures, such as getting permission from the Kuwiat Coast Guard and inviting them to safeguard the participants in the sea and maintain decorum.

Test Ride:

Firstly, we explain the product to customers and how to do a safe test ride. After these explanations, we started the test ride. Everyone had a positive response. Most of them tried for the first time and were amazed by the performance, stability, and handling of the SuperJet. Even some of the competitor's customers tried the SuperJet and made comparisons between them. The following are some of the reviews from customers.

• Comfortable steering position compared to competitors.
• Speed is amazing and acceleration is better.
• Beginners like the option for low and high mode settings.
• Various accessories were installed for the SuperJet (pre-installed) and got much attention.

Result：

The number of test rides increased to 42, exceeding the initial plan of 30, and was well reviewed by customers. Although no sales were made at this event, customers were able to experience the excitement of the SuperJet through the test rides. We will continue to follow up with customers who participated in the event. We hope to hold more wonderful events like this in the future, so we look forward to more participation.

A Thai distributor, Thai Yamaha Motor (TYM), holds a SuperJet Academy monthly at various locations around Thailand to attract new customers to the SuperJet, the country's main model of the WaveRunner.

Participants are mostly women and young customers, and the event is very effective for bringing in future Yamaha users. TYM started this event in September 2023 by mainly advertising on social media such as Facebook. The event is continually held while being updated and improved.

Alongside the wonderful SuperJet test-ride experience, they have also taken great care and planning in creating a venue for the event. Ambulances and rescue boats were prepared, and photographers took pictures so participants could have fun safely. This is an excellent activity to expand the SuperJet market and increase the number of Yamaha fans.

This activity was for end-users, but test-ride events are also being held for TYM employees. In addition to obtaining feedback on the Academy, this is a perfect opportunity for employees to increase their loyalty to Yamaha and experience the value of the product by test-riding it themselves.

Please consider this idea when conducting marketing activities in your areas!

On July 21, 2024, a presentation ceremony was held at the Ishinomori Manga Museum in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Yamaha donated a new Isurustor, which is a PWC operated by Sea Jetter Kaito. Sea Jetter Kaito is a superhero created at the Manga Museum. After the ceremony, a water show was held using the new Isurustor on the Old Kitakami River, which is next to the Manga Museum.

Sea Jetter Kaito is a mythical hero created by the late Mr. Shotaro Ishinomori, who has made many famous heroes. He is a hero who has returned to the present day to protect the beautiful sea and abundant nature and bring people peace.

This donation was made to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sea Jetter Kaito. The relationship between Yamaha and Sea Jetter Kaito started in 2013, 11 years ago. After hearing that the first Isurustor was lost in the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yamaha decided to donate a second-generation Isurustor in the hopes of helping the recovery effort.

Hitoshi Kimura, president of Machizukuri Mambo Co., the management company for Ishinomori Manga Museum, expressed, "During that time, people feared the water and wanted distance from it, but Ishinomaki was a town that prospered from the Old Kitakami River and the sea. We have continued to put on water shows, which are rare in Japan, to inspire people to keep living by the water and attract as many residents as possible to the waterfront. The water shows bring more attention and have contributed greatly to revitalizing the town."

Tatsuya Yoshida, Senior General Manager of Marine Business Operations, Japan Business Section, commented, "Though the market for PWC is tough these days, we hope this show will encourage children to become more interested in PWCs."

At the presentation ceremony, Senior General Manager Yoshida stated, " We are experts in PWCs and have worked very hard to create the new Isurustor. It took 11 years, but we have finally completed it and brought it here. Today will be the first fight on the new Isurustor. During the battles against the Uminari (monsters hostile to Kaito), Kaito has to gain more power. I believe that everyone's support will make Kaito even stronger."

His generation was captivated by Kamen Rider and Kikaider, created by Shotaro Ishinomori. He sincerely hopes the third-generation Isurustor will be popular.
The donated PWC was based on the GP SVHO, which has a reputation as the fastest high-performing machine in the series. The speedy water show on the Old Kitakami River received cheers from the audience.

The WGP#1 ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2024, a PWC (Personal Watercraft) race, was held from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9, at Nishikinohama Beach Park in Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture. This was the first international race held in Japan as the opening round of the 2024 series, where the world's top PWC racers gathered. Racers from more than 15 countries, including Thailand, UAE, Kuwait, South Korea, and Malaysia, participated in an intense competition.

The event also featured a junior category, the first in Japan to require a PWC license. In Japan, a PWC license can be obtained from the age of 16. In addition to the ski-class closed race for 13 to 15 year olds, the slalom race was held for junior racers aged 8 to 13 years old, in which a single PWC completes the course to aim for the best time in a single lap. Unlike a closed course, a single boat runs in the race, so it is safer with less risk of accidents.

The Junior 8 to 13 years old 1-Lap Slalom Ski 1100 class is a category that uses only Yamaha 4-stroke SuperJets. Seven junior racers from Thailand and Belgium competed in this class. Despite the racers being shorter than adults, they skillfully maneuvered the SuperJets to attack the buoys and circumnavigate the course, at times rivaling adults. The athletes enjoyed participating in the international competition despite the difficult wave conditions, commenting that they had a lot of fun.

Yamaha Motor also sponsored the event and had a booth display. At the Yamaha booth, Yamaha collaborated with Nishinihon Mitsubishi Motor Sales Co. to display the Mitsubishi pickup TRITON and the 2024 FX Limited SVHO.

In the previous issue, we introduced the BPS scan. With the recent increase in the complexity of electric riggings on outboard motors and Helm Master™ EX, the BPS scan is vital to ensure its operation. Please refer to the June issue of Chantey No. 182 for specific procedures.

This time, we will introduce and focus on the Easy scan. Easy scan has useful features that allow the operator to simultaneously perform BPS scanning, save data, diagnose malfunctions, and check malfunction history. However, an internet connection is required. When working in an offline environment, please perform a BPS scan instead of an Easy scan and "report" when an internet connection is available.

First, let us introduce the equipment required for Easy scan.
1. Laptop
2. YDIS 2 hardware kit III
3. YDIS software (latest version)
Easy scan can be started by having all of these with an internet connection.

Next, the Easy scan procedure will be explained.
1. Connect the adapter to (1) a multihub or (2) a remote control using the Can-Line harness. Easy scan cannot be performed with a K-Line connection.

Finally, here's one advantage of Easy scan.
In Easy scan, by clicking on details from the scan results screen, you can view each component and diagnosis of engine malfunction, malfunction history, and ECM software details. If the software is not up-to-date, click on the software update.

The Easy scan procedure is simple compared to the BPS scan. Checking and updating the status are available on the same scan screen. We encourage you to use Easy scan when you have access to the internet.

ALS Marine Center Corporation, Yamaha Marine’s exclusive distributor in the Philippines, celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Boating Industry on September 14, 2024. The event took place at the historic The Manila Hotel in Manila, Philippines with over 300 attendees, including business partners, family, and friends, gathering to commemorate the company’s half-century of success.

Founded in 1974, ALS Marine Center Corporation has grown its business primarily through outboard motors distribution, boat manufacturing, and marine accessories sales. Over the past 50 years, the company has played a crucial role in the Philippine marine industry, earning the trust of numerous customers.

During the celebration, the company’s history was revisited, and future prospects were discussed. A highlight of the event was a special segment dedicated to expressing gratitude to the dealers, where commemorative plaques were presented to all dealers. This gesture was met with enthusiastic applause from the attendees, recognizing the dealers’ significant contributions to the company’s success. Additionally, dealers who have been collaborating with ALS Marine Center Corporation since the 1980s expressed their gratitude and trust through a video presentation. These heartfelt messages not only reflected the long-standing partnership but also emphasized the company’s excellent reputation and strong relationships within the industry.
This special event not only honored the company’s past accomplishments but also marked a new step towards a promising future.

The Shizuoka Blue Revs* is a professional rugby team whose main sponsor is Yamaha Motor. A versatile athlete from Australia named Sam Greene plays in many positions because he possesses great passing, running, and kicking skills, enabling him to play an effective game.

Sam has been in Japan for 9 years. As a child, he played rugby and fished in his country, Australia. In the off-season, Sam goes back to Australia to enjoy fishing. He has also purchased a boat with a Yamaha outboard motor to explore a new marine life. My name is Ryosuke Funahashi, from Business Marketing Group. I interviewed Sam about his marine life and his thoughts on Yamaha outboard motors.

Q: Where do you fish, and what kind of fishing do you do?

Sam： I fish both the estuary system and the blue water (ocean). Generally, when I get a chance to fish in Australia, it is in wintertime. I normally fish for mulloway in the river, hopping 4-5 inches of soft plastic prawns. It's a super fun way to fish for them; however, it can be very difficult to avoid the sharks and get the fish to bite. I also fish for river GTs in winter. They are generally pretty easy to target, especially with big tides. They love to feed in big currents and round up herring in the river. I catch them with soft plastics or surface lures early in the morning or sunset. In the blue water, I do a lot of jigging and soft plastic fishing for snappers. It's super fun. They pull very hard and taste very good.

Q: What were the deciding factors for choosing a Yamaha outboard motor?

Sam： I chose a Yamaha outboard as they are regarded as the most reliable outboard on the market. My Yamaha 150 is very economical on petrol getting 2.2km per litre as well as being very quiet in idle. I recently had it serviced before I came back to Japan and was a very easy process.

Q: What are your impressions of using Yamaha outboard motors?

Sam： It‘s very nice to have the peace of mind that you are safe and have a reliable outboard especially when you are 40-50km offshore. The engine is also very powerful and pushes me along at 45knots (max speed). I am so fortunate to have such a premium outboard motor and wouldn’t consider any other options.

Eduardono is in the process of relocating its headquarters, including offices, a boat factory, and the new marina where the ceremony was held. The move will be from the current inland city of Medellín to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast in order to be closer to the customers and conduct business more efficiently.

Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Bordered by the Amazon rainforest, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, Colombia is rich in water resources such as rivers and the sea. In areas where roads are poorly maintained, river transportation is vital, and many wooden canoes with outboard motors can be seen along the riverbanks.

Eduardono is situated in an advantageous location, becoming a pivotal place to actively promote Yamaha's key strength, 3S. In July 2024, Yamaha held an area meeting at Eduardono for service leaders from Latin American countries.

In the future, these new facilities will play a great role in expanding Yamaha's marine business in Colombia.

July 10, 2024-- Yamaha Rightwaters renews partnership with Ducks Unlimited through the Southeast Wetlands (SEWI) and Great Lakes initiatives (GLI), two multi-year conservation projects dedicated to water conservation and improving and rebuilding wetlands lost to erosion. This latest commitment, which includes a contribution of $250,000 over a three-year period, will advance critical conservation projects and steward natural resources in Wisconsin and Florida.

The continued partnership between Yamaha Rightwaters and Ducks Unlimited will also help improve fisheries and wildlife habitats, mitigate invasive species, enhance water quality and storage, support outdoor recreation activities and address climate threats in these areas.

“By supporting Ducks Unlimited through these initiatives, we can affect real change within these marine environments through science as well as habitat restoration. These projects will ultimately enhance the overall quality and sustainability of the Southeast Wetlands and the Great Lakes,” said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “We look forward to the progress we will make together in Wisconsin and Florida.”

Work completed in the Wisconsin area of the GLI will help improve wetlands for wading birds and spawning habitat for Northern Pike. In Florida, the SEWI collaborative efforts will help safeguard South Florida from hurricanes and prevent coastal erosion. Many threatened species will also benefit, including the Everglades snail kite, green sea turtle, West Indian manatee, black skimmer and smalltooth sawfish.

Yamaha Rightwaters previously sponsored the Ducks Unlimited Gulf Coast Initiative, a multi-year conservation initiative dedicated to rebuilding wetlands lost to erosion, subsidence and sea level rise in Louisiana and Texas. The Meraux Foundation Terracing Project in Louisiana and the Sargent Marsh Shoreline Protection Project in coastal Texas restored designated seagrass and wetland habitats, and also contributed to climate mitigation through a combination of protecting buried carbon and sequestering atmospheric carbon at rates.

As of 2023, the Gulf Coast Initiative provided an estimated 817 acre-feet of water storage, sequestered 77 metric tons of carbon, reduced 272,304 pounds of nitrogen, reduced 24,323 pounds of phosphorus and provided 189 metric tons of sediment reduction. The Gulf Coast Initiative wetland conservation program provided many societal benefits beyond waterfowl — most notably through improving water quality and quantity, providing flood water storage, reducing impacts of climate change, and providing local and regional economic lift.

“During the last four years, Yamaha Rightwaters has supported Ducks Unlimited’s wetland habitat restoration, enhancement and protection efforts throughout the country,” said Will Johnson, Managing Director of Development, Ducks Unlimited. “From our initial collaborations in Texas and Louisiana to our partnership efforts in Wisconsin and Florida, we look forward to continuing our relationship to benefit wildlife, the environment and the general public.”

For more information, visit www.ducks.org, and be sure to follow DU’s X feed – @DucksUnlimited and @DUConserve – to get the most up-to-date news from Ducks Unlimited.