Archives for June 2023

“K” Line : Notice of occurrence of Non-Operating Income by dividends income

June 12, 2023 by Julia Hiles

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (hereafter, “the Company”) will account following dividends income on Non-Operating Income of non-consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

Outline of dividends

Based on today’s resolution at the general meeting of the shareholders of OCEAN NETWORK EXPRESS PTE. LTD., the affiliate company accounted with the equity method, the Company will receive dividends of 616 million U.S. Dollars (Approx. 86.1 billion Japanese Yen) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. The dividend is scheduled to be received on June 15, 2023.

Impact on The Company’s business performance

The Company will account aforementioned dividends income on Non-Operating Income of non-consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

There will not be impact on consolidated financial results at the period, as it is dividends from the affiliate company accounted with the equity method.

“K” LINE’s website URL: https://www.kline.co.jp/en/index.html

Filed Under: "K" Line

GEODIS obtains CEIV Pharma certification for its Paris-Charles de Gaulle airside hub

June 6, 2023 by Julia Hiles

A year after it opened, the GEODIS site connected to the runways at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport has been awarded CEIV Pharma certification, testifying to its excellence in the handling and air transport of pharmaceutical products.

Conferred by IATA, the International Air Transport Association, the CEIV Pharma (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics) certification attests to GEODIS’s capabilities in transport and handling services for the pharmaceutical industry. The certification confirms the company’s excellence in safety, security and compliance.

The GEODIS site has already attracted a number of major names in the sector. With this certification, it intends to establish itself as a top-ranking player in the pharmaceutical sector. Located in cargo zone 4 of Europe’s second-largest airport, the state-of-the-art facility extends over 6,000 m² and includes two cold rooms (2/8° and 15/25°) for handling temperature-controlled products. With direct access to the runways and close to major highways, its prime location ensures that goods are transported smoothly.

Massimo Norcaro, CEO of GEODIS’s Freight Forwarding Line of Business in France, said: “CEIV certification is a guarantee of quality, confirming our expertise and our ability to handle the air transport of pharmaceutical products to their final destination, whether in France or round the world. It is proof of our complete mastery of the logistics chain, through the conformity of our facilities, equipment, operations and staff training, and it guarantees total product integrity.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com   

GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 49,400 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 6 in its sector across the world. In 2022, GEODIS generated €13.7 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group.

Filed Under: GEODIS

GEODIS acquires ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd., strengthening its freight forwarding offer in Switzerland

June 2, 2023 by Julia Hiles

GEODIS, a world leader in transport and logistics, announced today that it has acquired the Swiss freight forwarder, ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd.

Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS, commented: “Switzerland is home to a wide number of multinational companies that are key GEODIS customers, among them several dynamic members of the pharmaceutical industry. Having acquired ITS, GEODIS is one step closer to its aim of completing a global end-to-end network to serve its customers.

Under the leadership of Massimo Bianco and Javier Sanchez, ITS has successfully developed into a trusted partner and special services expert for its customers. We look forward to welcoming ITS talented management and staff into GEODIS.”

Left :Massimo Bianco, CEO of ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd *and*
right : Eric Martin Neuville, Executive Vice President, Global Freight Forwarding GEODIS

ITS is an independent Swiss freight forwarder, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Reinach, in the canton of Basel-Country. ITS main offering is high-tech “special services”, organizing transport and logistics for dedicated projects and outsized equipment for the industrial, automotive and defense sectors. The company also provides standard ocean freight and general cargo services, as well as other ancillary services (oil and food, event logistics, artwork transportation, customs brokerage, etc.). ITS employs 26 people and reported revenues of CHF 58 million in 2022.

Massimo Bianco, Chief Executive Officer of ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd., said, “Our aim is to provide an even broader range of services to our customers across an extended geographical market. This move, which combines our existing capabilities with GEODIS’ wealth of expertise and global footprint will help achieve that goal and assist all customers in navigating the complexities of an ever-changing supply chain environment. We are therefore delighted to be joining GEODIS, with whom we share an ambition to constantly grow our business and that of our customers.”

ITS will join the GEODIS Global Freight Forwarding line of business and will report into the Region EUROPE.

GEODIS übernimmt ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd. und baut sein Speditionsangebot in der Schweiz aus

GEODIS, einer der weltweit führenden Unternehmen im Transport- und Logistikbereich, gab heute die Übernahme des Schweizer Spediteurs ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd. bekannt.

Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO von GEODIS, erklärte dazu: „Zahlreiche multinationale Unternehmen, die wichtige GEODIS-Kunden sind, haben ihren Sitz in der Schweiz. Unter ihnen sind auch einige bedeutende Akteure aus der Pharmaindustrie. Mit der Übernahme von ITS ist GEODIS seinem Ziel, seinen Kunden ein weltweit lückenloses Netzwerk anzubieten, einen Schritt näher gekommen. Unter der Führung von Massimo Bianco und Javier Sanchez hat sich ITS erfolgreich zu einem bewährten Partner und spezialisierten Experten für seine Kunden entwickelt. Wir freuen uns darauf, das erfahrene Management-Team und die talentierten Mitarbeitenden von ITS bei GEODIS willkommen zu heißen.“

ITS ist ein unabhängiger, 1992 gegründeter, Schweizer Spediteur mit Hauptsitz in Reinach im Kanton Basel-Landschaft. Das Unternehmen bietet hauptsächlich spezialisierte Dienste für den High-Tech-Bereich an. Dabei geht es insbesondere um die Organisation von Transport und Logistik für dedizierte Projekte und überdimensionale Ausrüstung für die Industrie, den Automobilsektor und die Verteidigungsbranche. Das Unternehmen bietet auch standardmäßige Seefracht- und allgemeine Frachtdienstleistungen sowie sonstige Zusatzleistungen (Öl und Lebensmittel, Veranstaltungslogistik, Kunsttransporte, Zollabfertigung usw.) an. Insgesamt beschäftigt ITS 26 Mitarbeitende und meldete für das Jahr 2022 einen Umsatz in Höhe von 58 Millionen CHF.

Massimo Bianco, CEO von ITS – International Transport & Shipping Ltd., sagte: „Unser Ziel besteht darin, unseren Kunden in einem größeren geografischen Markt ein noch breiteres Spektrum an Dienstleistungen bereitzustellen. Mit der Übernahme werden unsere bestehenden Fähigkeiten durch die umfangreiche Kompetenz von GEODIS und dessen weltweite Präsenz ergänzt. Dieser Schritt wird dazu beitragen, unser Ziel zu erreichen und wird alle Kunden unterstützen, die komplexe Welt einer sich ständig ändernden Lieferkettenumgebung zu bewältigen. Wir sind daher sehr glücklich, nun ein Teil von GEODIS zu sein. Mit diesem Unternehmen teilen wir unser Bestreben, unser Geschäft wie auch das unserer Kunden kontinuierlich auszubauen.“

ITS wird sich dem Geschäftsbereich GEODIS Global Freight Forwarding anschließen und an die Region EUROPE berichten.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com   

Filed Under: GEODIS

Joint Research Agreement Signed for Next-Generation (Floating Axis) Small-scale Offshore Wind Turbine Demonstration Project

June 1, 2023 by Julia Hiles

Developing a Japanese-produced floating wind turbine to reduce the cost of offshore wind power

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (J-POWER),¹ Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO HD),² Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Chubu Electric),³ Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE),⁴ and Albatross Technology Inc. (Albatross),⁵ have entered into a joint research agreement for a next-generation (floating axis) offshore wind turbine demonstration project (the “project”).

Artist’s concept of a floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) wind farm
(Courtesy of Albatross Technology Inc.)

The Japanese government has announced the intention to maximize the adoption of renewable energy sources as part of the nation’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Offshore wind power, in particular, is considered a vital part of the initiative to make renewables a primary source of power due to the potential for large-scale installation, lower cost, and economic ripple effects. In Japan, with limited shallow sea areas, there is growing interest in floating offshore wind power because it can be deployed in deep water. To promote the widespread adoption, it is essential to significantly reduce costs through technological development. In addition, increasing the ratio of domestic production (in Japan) is expected to create a strong economic ripple effect.

Against this backdrop, the five partnering companies in this demonstration project will jointly develop a small-scale (20kW) next-generation experimental floating axis wind turbine that is expected to reduce costs and increase the domestic production ratio.

The floating axis wind turbine (FAWT) is a concept under which a vertical-axis wind turbine is supported by a “rotating” cylindrical floating foundation. Its main features are as follows:

Cost Reduction

The wind turbine can be tilted 20 degrees at maximum output, as it is designed to maintain effectiveness even when tilted. This allows for downsizing for the floating foundation and a significant reduction in equipment costs.
The wind turbine section can be manufactured at low cost through continuous pultrusion,⁶ a molding process used to form composite materials into long shapes, with carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP).
By taking advantage of the characteristics to install vertical axis wind turbines close to sea level due to their specific characteristics, operation and maintenance costs for the major apparatus are also anticipated to be substantially lower.

Increase in Domestic Production Ratio

The wind turbine blades can be manufactured in lengthwise sections with the same cross-sectional shape, eliminating the need for large-scale manufacturing facilities. Additionally, this design makes sections easier to transport, and is therefore suited for domestic production.
Japanese companies hold approximately 80% of the market share for carbon fiber, the raw material used in the carbon composite for the wind turbine.

J-POWER, Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering and Albatross are jointly conducting initial studies of the FAWT concept. Embarking on the tests signifies the next step under a new framework. For the project, small-scale experimental versions of the FAWT will be installed in Japanese waters. After confirming the validity of the analysis and design method, this will lead to an even larger scale (megawatt class) offshore demonstration project.

The five companies involved in the project will use their individual expertise to jointly develop the FAWT, which is anticipated to be a “game changer” in floating offshore wind power generation. Through this collaboration, we aim to make offshore wind power generation the primary source of electricity and contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.

Goals of participating companies:

J-POWER, TEPCO HD, Chubu Electric	To develop promising technologies for floating offshore wind power generation and increase the introduction of renewable energy, thereby contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
“K” LINE	As Japan’s Ship Safety Act applies to floating offshore wind turbines, “K” LINE will cooperate in the practical implementation of new floating offshore wind turbines by providing its expertise, and contribute to a decarbonized society by applying the knowledge gained from this research in activities for offshore wind support vessels in the future.
Albatross	To practically implement innovative floating offshore wind turbines and widely extend their use both in Japan and internationally.

Cooperating Organizations

The wind turbine section of the small-scale experimental units will be developed by Fukui Fibertech Co., Ltd. (Aichi Prefecture), and the floating section will be developed by Mirai Ships Inc. (Miyagi Prefecture). The carbon composite material molding technology will be developed in partnership with the Innovative Composite Center (ICC) at the Kanazawa Institute of Technology, and the motion analysis technology will be developed in partnership with Osaka University’s Graduate School of Engineering.

Notes:

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshifumi Watanabe)
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Tomoaki Kobayakawa)
Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi; President: Kingo Hayashi)
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yukikazu Myochin)
Albatross Technology Inc. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiromichi Akimoto)
A molding method for continuously manufacturing components with the same (fixed) cross-section by solidifying the resin and fibers as they are drawn through a mold

Artist’s concept of a floating axis wind turbine (5MW demonstrator) (Courtesy of Albatross Technology Inc.)