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“K” Line Agreement for Research and Development of the “Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System”

January 5, 2023 by

～To improve safe ship operation and realize autonomous ships in the future～　

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen, Ltd. (“K” LINE KINKAI), and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (KHI) have agreed to carry out the research and development of the “Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System” to enhance safety and efficiency of vessel maneuvering, berthing/unberthing, and mooring operations in ports.

The research and development aim to advance and improve safety and efficiency in berthing,

Unberthing,　including mooring by combining expertise from “K” LINE and “K” LINE KINKAI with advanced technologies from KHI.

Currently, safe berthing/unberthing operations in ports are ensured by well experienced and knowledgeable shipboard crew about characteristics of ship specific maneuvering and mooring equipment features. For further improvement of safety, this system incorporates the latest technologies, including AI, to assist in safe berthing/unberthing operations. It will be the first system in the world that provides integrated support for all necessary operations from maneuvering in port, berthing/unberthing, mooring including mooring line monitoring. We will install the system on domestic vessels operated by “K” LINE KINKAI as a testing ground for this research and development　and establish this system by spring 2025.

“K” LINE group is currently working on the “K”-Assist Project (“K” LINE Autonomous Ship with Safe and Intelligent Supporting Technology), which aims to further enhance safe ship operations through the integration of expertise in safe operations and advanced technologies. “Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System” is one of the components of the project.

“K” LINE will continue research and development to improve safety even further by providing more sophisticated support for shipboard crew and reducing their workload, as well as to realize autonomous ships in the future.

Overview of “Safe Berthing/Unberthing Assist System”

*1 KICS® (Kawasaki Integrated Control System) is a system that can comprehensively control multiple steering elements such as controllable pitch propeller, swivel thruster, side thruster, and rudder.

*2 DPS (Dynamic Positioning System) is a system that maintains the vessel’s planned position and heading by automatically controlling the vessel’s propulsion system and rudder. It features real-time monitoring of the vessel’s position through GPS or other position-measuring devices. 

For reference: https://www.khi.co.jp/mobility/marine/machinery/kics.html）

Filed Under: "K" Line

“K” Line – Yokohama Daikoku C-4 Terminal Launch Operation of the Yard Management System

December 29, 2022 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and Daito Corporation (Daito) have started operating the “Yard Management System” (the system) at the Port of Yokohama Daikoku C-4 Terminal, the first dedicated finished-vehicle terminal in Japan for “K” LINE Group November 2022.

The System manages the status of loading/unloading, vehicle information, and storage locations in the terminal, and its mapping function enables automatic creation of storage maps, making it possible to visualize the status of vehicles more accurately and clearly at a glance. In addition, we aim for efficient yard operations by utilizing the system, such as forecasting the number of vehicles to be stored by accumulating and analyzing past data.

We manage export used vehicles by using QR codes. Also, we can improve the accuracy and efficiency of operations by using handheld equipment, which make us possible to see the status of vehicles quickly and accurately ascertained from anywhere and the latest information can be shared by all parties concerned through the system.

Since the start of operations in April 2022, the terminal has been working to become more environmentally friendly by converting operational vehicles used on the premises to EVs, installing solar carports, and using electricity with virtually zero CO2 emissions from renewable energy sources.

With the introduction of digital technology, the terminal will be able to respond flexibly and proactively to customer needs as a terminal with even higher added value and will strive to always be the preferred choice of customers.

Related Release

May 19th, 2022:“K” LINE Group’s Yokohama Daikoku C-4 Terminal Starts Operation Utilizing Renewable Energy

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/terminal/terminal-8056059373266974615/main/0/link/220519EN.pdf

Handheld terminal of Yard management system
The handheld terminal reads the QR code affixed to the loading table to grasp and register vehicle information.
Vehicle information can be color-coded according to status.
All parties involved can share the latest information for more efficient fleet management.
Filed Under: "K" Line

GEODIS Opens Center of Excellence in Bangalore, India

December 22, 2022 by

GEODIS, leading global logistics provider, has established in Bangalore its sixth strategic control tower for its Supply Chain Optimization Line of Business which specializes in supply chain management and advisory. Bangalore Center of Excellence (CoE) will provide customers with end-to-end visibility, performance monitoring and continuous improvement to supply chain processes on a 365/7/24 multilingual basis.

Officially opened during a formal ceremony on the 21st December, the Bangalore Center of Excellence (CoE) operates with 60 supply chain experts and complements the existing centers in Mexico, USA, France, Serbia and China. Centralizing the technology, processes, and people needed to collect supply chain data, GEODIS CoEs provide customers with the visibility required to inform the necessary ‘live’ decision-making.

In performing the formalities at the opening ceremony, Eric Gerbi, Executive Vice President, for GEODIS Supply Chain Optimization line of business said: “GEODIS Centers of Excellence are aimed to help build a culture of excellence in our customers’ supply chain management. We strive to achieve this through managing their business from one place and improve the required overall visibility. Working closely with customers, our teams of experts optimize operational processes. By exerting total control of the supply chain, they improve resiliency as well as accelerate decision-making.  These are crucial outcomes, particularly in today’s complex and global supply chain ecosystem.”

Acting as an extension of customers’ supply chain organization (international and domestic flows, warehousing, last mile delivery, reverse logistics), Bangalore CoE will render services from order management to pick-up and delivery management, exception management, and freight bill audit. GEODIS’ web-based innovative visibility platform forms the backbone of the center of excellence while ensuring end-to-end visibility, performance monitoring and enhancement, continuous improvement and network optimization.

The new CoE’s location in Bangalore was chosen primarily for the availability of a critical mass of talented supply chain specialists. The investment was also attracted by the fact that India has the world’s fifth largest economy with a high growth rate and the biggest population of graduates.

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, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 44,000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 7 in its sector across the world. In 2021, GEODIS generated €10.9 billion in revenue.

Filed Under: GEODIS

Declining trade is testing shippers’ patience, pockets and commitment

December 20, 2022 by

As global trade declined during the second half of 2022, in response to severe economic headwinds in many countries and the continued effects of the Covid-129 pandemic, the GSF/MDS Transmodal Container Shipping Market Review reflected the impacts on the activity and fortunes of shippers of unitised goods in international trade.

The latest edition of the Container Shipping Market Quarterly Review published today, reports data from the third quarter of year – a time of marked increases in consumer and producer price inflation, historically large increases in interest rates by central banks and high levels of stock inventories in many importing countries. Global energy prices edged higher amid disruptions to supplies arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

However, the impacts of widespread ‘lock-downs’ and stay-at-home orders in China to contain the spread of Covid-19 do not appear to have significantly affected export volumes according to its national trade statistics.

Key highlights of the Review include:

  • Trade volumes of goods capable of being transported in containers continued the decline observed at the end of Quarter 2, but the drop in overall volumes was much less than that reported by the container shipping sector. This is attributed to commodities, such as coffee, scrap metal and plywood, that can also be carried in bulk or semi-bulk form, switching away from containerised movements where shipping rates remain relatively high.
  • Despite falling for a second quarter, carriers’ unit revenues (earnings per container moved) were still 2.8 times higher than pre-Covid rates whereas unit operating costs have only risen by a factor of 1.5 over the same period. Cost pressures have largely been higher charter rates and a slow rise in fuel costs that has since receded. Container shipping lines remain highly profitable despite a falling market.
Figure 4.1
  • Spot rates fell by a fifth during the period, leaving many shippers ‘burnt’ by their decisions to commit to long-term contacts earlier in the year and questioning the many sources in the industry who confidently predicted that disruptive congestion and capacity shortages would continue through 2022 and beyond.
Figure 3.1
  • Adding to shippers’ frustrations, service levels remained at historic lows, with the predictability of arrivals still at only 85 per cent, meaning 1 in 6 sailings arrived later than normally expected.
Chart, line chart Description automatically generated
 Figure 7.1 
  • The modest improvements recorded in the number of scheduled port calls made, at 90 per cent, is a welcome positive that can be partly attributed to the rising number of sailings that were ‘blanked’ during the period and didn’t sail at all, so easing the pressure on intermediate ports. Many of these saw an improvement in the proportion of expected capacity actually calling at the port s monitored but the proportion of lost capacity is still at historically high levels.
Chart, line chart Description automatically generated
Figure 7.2

Mike Garratt, Chair of MDS Transmodal said:

“In quarter 3 2022 we saw the mean rates charged by the major lines continuing to suppress the proportion of container traffic they carried while the role played by new entrants was small. During quarter 3 we have seen several of these recent entrants leave the market as spot rates have fallen sharply, while leaving mean rates paid much higher. With a combination of stagnant demand and few ships now being delayed by port congestion, one would expect competition for shippers’ business to lead to a recovery of the share of the overall cargo market carried by container.”

James Hookham, Director of Global Shippers Council, commented:

“The quarter saw the downturn in volumes recorded at the end of Quarter 2 turn into a sustained decline – conditions that have not been seen in the container shipping market for over ten years. Many shippers are experiencing the behaviour of the market under such conditions for the first time.

“Blanked sailings, slow steaming and other capacity management measures will add to the catalogue of frustrations accumulated over the previous 30 months of record high rates and poor levels of service”.

“The widening gap between spot rates and contact prices agreed six months prior to these data will anger shippers further and demands a flexible and immediate response by carriers if their dream of securing a majority of their business on contract ted terms is to be achieved.”

“The big question going into 2023 will be how much of their diminished volumes will shippers commit to renegotiated contracts and how much will they reserve for the spot market, which is expected to fall to below pre-Covid levels in the next few weeks?”

“Countering this trend will be efforts to manage capacity through ‘blanked sailings’ However, the extent to which spot rates are being supported by this permitted co-ordination between consortia partners is playing out just as competition authorities in Europe and North America are evaluating existing anti-trust measures and considering possible options for the future”.

Notes to Editors

  • Mike Garratt, Chairman of MDS Transmodal, is available for interview. Please contact +44 (0) 1244 348301
  • Media Contact:  The Container Shipping Market Quarterly Review for Quarter 2 2022 is available in PDF format on request from Maria Udy, Portcare International. maria@portcare.com +44 (0) 7979 868539.
  • The Container Shipping Market Quarterly Review is produced every three months and reports, interprets and comments on trends and developments in the container shipping market as experienced and understood by shippers – the importers and exporting businesses that own the cargo carried on container ships. Shippers are the customers of the container shipping industry.
  • The Quarterly Review collates and reports outputs from MDS Transmodal’s established and respected Container Business Model and other tools that are relied upon by governments and international agencies around the world. Working with GSF, MDST has generated eight new indicators showing how the market is performing in terms that are relevant and applicable to shippers as users and customers of these services.
  • MDS Transmodal (MDST, www.mdst.co.uk) is a UK firm of transport economists which specialises in maritime and all other modes of freight transport. MDST works with senior management in the public and private sectors to provide strategic advice based on quantitative analysis, modelling and sectoral expertise.
  • Global Shippers Forum (www.globalshippersforum.com) is the global business organisation speaking up for exporters and importers as cargo owners in international supply chains and trade procedures. Its members are national and regional shippers’ associations representing hundreds of manufacturing, wholesaling, and retailing businesses in over 20 countries across five continents. GSF works for safe, competitively efficient, and environmentally sustainable global trade and logistics.
Filed Under: Cargo Integrity Group, ICHCA, TT Club

Customs4trade receive ISO 21001:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 certification

December 20, 2022 by

In a bid to continuously monitor and maximise security for customers and employees, C4T are pleased to announce that they have received their ISO 27001:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 certification, the internationally recognised standard for security and compliance, specifying

requirements for an organisation’s quality management system (QMS) and information security management system (ISMS). Receiving the ISO certifications demonstrates that C4T has invested in its people, processes, technology, and quality.

“We are extremely proud of this achievement and committed to maintaining the highest available security standards to protect our customers and employees. Being accredited with the ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification is a vital step in this process and further validates our commitment to good governance and information security and quality, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients and employees with the highest security and quality standards” Rupert Spiegelberg, CEO.

ISO 9001 is a national standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS) to help businesses become more efficient to improve customer satisfaction.

ISO 27001 certification for information security and privacy best practices. 

For more information on the ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification, please visit https://brandcompliance.com/diensten/iso-27001-certificering/

About Customs4trade (C4T)

C4T has an unique team of customs experts and best-of-breed technology engineers and has developed CAS, a one-of-a-kind software solution for customs and trade compliance. Managed Customs Services have been added to this product offering, helping companies make the most of their software investment.

CAS is a collaborative hub, built on the Microsoft Azure platform and delivered as a service (SaaS). It is designed to manage regional and worldwide customs and trade compliance quickly and accurately, within one single platform. CAS provides customers with continual updates and feature enhancements, including the incorporation of any changes to legislation and compliance regulation—along with Azure’s signature accessibility, scalability, and security.

Forward-thinking companies are turning to C4T to help them navigate customs and trade with native-cloud software and managed services for their organisation’s highest strategic benefit.  

For more information or to contact the company, please visit www.customs4trade.com.    

Filed Under: Customs4trade (C4T)

GEODIS announces plans to acquire trans-o-flex to further develop its integrated freight network in Germany / GEODIS gibt Pläne zur Übernahme von trans-o-flexbekannt, um sein integriertes Frachtnetz in Deutschland weiter auszubauen

December 20, 2022 by

GEODIS has signed an agreement to acquire trans-o-flex, a leading company in the premium express sector in Germany specialized in temperature controlled transport for pharmaceutical products as well as in time definite delivery of products for cosmetics, automotive and high-tech industries. Since 2016 the company is owned by the families Schoeller and Amberger who have invested to scale it up to a leading specialized distribution player.

Marie-Christine Lombard, Chief Executive Officer of GEODIS, said: “The acquisition of trans-o-flex is a key step forward enabling us to increase our footprint in Germany. It is consistent with our ambition to strengthen our global end-to-end logistics solutions to support our customers’ growth and geographic development. This acquisition will position GEODIS as a leading player in the healthcare market and will significantly enhance our delivery capabilities in Germany, a country at the heart of global trade. We have been impressed by the expertise and the commitment to the highest quality of service of trans-o-flex’s management team. We welcome the trans-o-flex team to GEODIS and together we believe we can further support our customers on both sides by combining our respective and complementary strengths in Germany, in Europe and globally. In order to achieve this, we have agreed with Christoph Schoeller, who is currently trans-o-flex’s Chairman of the Advisory Board, Vice-Chairman of the supervisory board and shareholder with Peter Amberger, that he will remain as Vice-Chairman of the new supervisory board presided by myself.”

Founded in 1971, trans-o-flex operates Germany’s largest temperature-controlled distribution network specializing in healthcare, handling both parcels and pallets. Trans-o-flex is headquartered in Germany and has recently expanded its activity in Austria, which offers opportunities for further developments. Trans-o-flex employs around 2,000 people across 77 hubs and local agencies which enable the company to offer Express logistics solutions throughout Germany.

Christoph Schoeller and Peter Amberger, representatives of the shareholders said:” Since we acquired trans-o-flex in 2016, the company has further established its leadership in the temperature-control healthcare and premium Express delivery through its widely-recognized quality network and its high reliability of service throughout Germany and Austria. This has been achieved under the leadership of Wolfgang P. Albeck, trans-o-flex’s CEO who has built an expert team of people around him with a unique “can do” attitude and commitment to highest customer satisfaction. We would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest appreciation to Wolfgang Albeck and his team. We have no doubt they will continue to be engaged in delivering highest performances when joining GEODIS.”

Christoph Schoeller adds: “I am glad to be part of the continuation of the success story of trans-o-flex as vice-chairman of the supervisory board. Together with GEODIS, we will scale the trans-o-flex model internationally and thus further increase the benefits for our customers.”

The closing of this deal will be effective after completion of the usual regulatory approvals.

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, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 44,000 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 7 in its sector across the world. In 2021, GEODIS generated €10.9 billion in revenue.

GEODIS gibt Pläne zur Übernahme von trans-o-flexbekannt, um sein integriertes Frachtnetz in Deutschland weiter auszubauen

GEODIS hat eine Vereinbarung zur Übernahme von trans-o-flex unterzeichnet, einem führenden Unternehmen im Bereich des Premium-Expresstransports in Deutschland, das auf den temperaturgeführten Transport pharmazeutischer Produkte sowie die zeitgenaue Lieferung von Produkten für die Kosmetik- und Hightechindustrie spezialisiert ist. Seit 2016 gehört das Unternehmen den Familien Schoeller und Amberger, die in den Ausbau der Firma zu einem führenden spezialisierten Logistikunternehmen investiert haben.

Marie-Christine Lombard, Vorstandsvorsitzende von GEODIS, erklärte in diesem Zusammenhang: „Die Übernahme von trans-o-flex ist ein wichtiger Schritt nach vorn, der es uns ermöglicht, unsere Präsenz in Deutschland auszuweiten. Sie steht im Einklang mit unserem Bestreben, unsere globalen End-to-End-Logistiklösungen zu stärken, um das Wachstum und die geografische Entwicklung unserer Kunden zu unterstützen. Dank der Übernahme wird GEODIS sich als führender Akteur im Gesundheitsmarkt positionieren, während sich unsere Lieferkapazitäten in Deutschland, einem Land im Zentrum des weltweiten Handels, deutlich verbessern. Wir sind von der Kompetenz und dem Engagement des Managementteams von trans-o-flex für Spitzenleistungen in der Servicequalität beeindruckt. Wir heißen das Team von trans-o-flex bei GEODIS herzlich willkommen und sind der Überzeugung, dass wir unsere Kunden gemeinsam noch besser unterstützen können, indem wir unsere sich ergänzenden Stärken, in Deutschland, Europa und weltweit miteinander kombinieren. In diesem Bestreben haben wir mit Christoph Schoeller, dem derzeitigen Beiratsvorsitzenden und stellvertretenden Aufsichtsratsvorsitzenden von trans-o-flex, gemeinsam mit Peter Amberger, Aktionär der Gesellschaft, vereinbart, Herrn Schoeller zum stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden des neuen, unter meinem Vorsitz geführten Aufsichtsrats zu ernennen.“

Das 1971 gegründete Unternehmen trans-o-flex betreibt Deutschlands größtes temperaturgeführtes Distributionsnetz, das auf das Gesundheitswesen und den Transport von Paketen und ganzen Paletten spezialisiert ist. Trans-o-flex hat seinen Hauptsitz in Deutschland, und hat in Österreich weiter expandiert, um die dortigen Möglichkeiten für die Weiterentwicklung zu nutzen. Das Unternehmen beschäftigt rund 2.000 Mitarbeitende an 77 Hubs und lokalen Standorten, die es ermöglichen, für ganz Deutschland einen Express-Versand anzubieten.

Christoph Schoeller und Peter Amberger, Vertreter der Aktionäre, erklärten dazu: „Seit der Übernahme von trans-o-flex] im Jahr 2016 hat das Unternehmen seine Führungsposition in der temperaturgeführten Express-Lieferung für Arzneitmittel und Premiumprodukte dank seines anerkannten Qualitätsnetzes und seiner hohen Servicezuverlässigkeit in Deutschland und Österreich beständig ausgebaut. Dies wurde unter der Leitung von Wolfgang P. Albeck, CEO von trans-o-flex, erreicht, der um sich herum ein Expertenteam mit einer einzigartigen „Can-Do“-Einstellung und der Verpflichtung zu höchster Kundenzufriedenheit aufgebaut hat. Wir möchten die Gelegenheit nutzen, um Herrn Albeck und seinem Team unsere tiefste Anerkennung auszusprechen und haben keinen Zweifel daran, dass sie sich bei GEODIS auch weiterhin für Höchstleistungen einsetzen werden. Ich freue mich, als stellvertretender Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender an der Fortsetzung der Erfolgsgeschichte von trans-o-flex mitwirken zu dürfen. Gemeinsam mit GEODIS werden wir das Geschäft von trans-o-flex international skalieren und damit den Nutzen für unsere Kunden weiter maximieren.“, so Christoph Schoeller.

Der Abschluss der Transaktion wird nach Erteilung der üblichen behördlichen Genehmigungen wirksam.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS ist ein weltweit führender Transport- und Logistikdienstleister, bekannt für sein Engagement, die logistischen Herausforderungen seiner Kunden zu meistern. Mit seinem auf Wachstum ausgerichteten Serviceangebot (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express und Road Transport), in Verbindung mit einem globalen Netzwerk, welches weltweit fast 170 Länder umfasst, erreicht GEODIS Top-Platzierungen unter den Logistikdienstleistern: #1 in Frankreich, #7 weltweit. GEODIS beschäftigte mehr als 44.000 Mitarbeiter und erwirtschaftete einen Umsatz von 10,9 Milliarden Euro im Jahr 2021.

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” LINE enters into long-term contracts with Northern Lights for two liquefied CO2 vessels

December 19, 2022 by

~ World’s first full scale CCS project ~

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and Northern Lights JV DA have signed Bare Boat Charter and Time Charter contracts for two 7,500 m3 liquefied CO2 ships. The ships will be delivered in 2024 and will contribute to the world’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain.

The London-based subsidiary “K” LINE LNG Shipping (UK) Ltd. will undertake the management of two ships transporting liquefied CO2 from industrial emitters, including the Norcem Brevik and Hafslund Oslo Celsio carbon capture facilities, to the Northern Lights CO2 receiving terminal in Øygarden, Norway.

““K” LINE has deep experience in liquefied gas transport and a strong safety and environmental track record. We are pleased to partner with “K” LINE in operationalising this innovative value chain”, said Børre Jacobsen, Managing Director of Northern Lights.

CO2 transport is a key component to connect industrial emitters in Europe to suitable and safe CO2 storage sites such as the one operated by Northern Lights in the North Sea. Northern Lights offers a ship-based solution that provides flexibility to reach emitters across Europe.

Shipping is a scalable CO2 transport solution that is well-suited for sailing distances in Europe. Developing a flexible shipping solution as part of the world’s first cross-border CO2 transport and storage network, Northern Lights contributes to the development of a market for CO2 storage.

“We are honoured to participate in the Northern Lights project and contribute to the decarbonisation of industry. We have been able to develop a new field by making use of our decades of know-how in liquefied gas transport”, said Yukikazu Myochin, President and CEO of “K” LINE.

Northern Lights and “K” LINE will jointly establish operational procedures for safe transportation of liquefied CO2. The ships are classified by DNV and will be registered in Norway and operated under Norwegian (NOR) flag by mainly Norwegian shipboard personnel.

About Northern Lights

Northern Lights is developing an open and flexible infrastructure to transport CO2 from industrial emitters by ship to a receiving terminal in western Norway for intermediate storage, before being transported by pipeline for permanent storage in a geological reservoir 2,600 meters under the seabed. Operations are scheduled to start in 2024. The facilities are under construction and will enable Northern Lights to offer a safe and reliable shipping and storage service to industrial emitters from across Europe. With increased interest from industrial sectors in Europe, additional shipping and storage capacity will be developed as demand grows. Northern Lights JV DA is a registered, incorporated General Partnership with Shared Liability (DA) owned equally by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies.

About Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE)

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) founded in 1919 is one of the largest shipping companies in the world. “K” LINE has a long history and diversified track-record in ownership and technical management of liquefied gas carriers since delivering its first LPG carrier in 1974 and first LNG carrier in 1983. Based on such extensive experience of safe navigation and cargo operation of liquefied gas carriers, “K” LINE will contribute to safety and reliable liquefied CO2 transportation in the new CCS market. “K” LINE Group, as a globally trusted logistics company rooted in the shipping industry, will continue to work toward realizing low-carbon and carbon-free business operations and supporting decarbonization of society as a whole in order to realize a sustainable society and increase its corporate value, based on its corporate philosophy of “helping make the lives of people more affluent”.

船が浮かんでいる船の絵 低い精度で自動的に生成された説明
Northern Lights Liquefied CO2 vessel (Provided by Northern Lights JV DA.)

Dimensions and Characteristics

Cargo tank capacity    : 7,500㎥

Length overall             ：130m

Breadth                       ：21.2m

Draft                            ：7.5m

Filed Under: "K" Line

Solar Power Generation System Installed at Seafarers’ Training Facility in Philippines

December 16, 2022 by

– Aiming to be an even more environmentally friendly company using renewable energy –

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) announced that its overseas subsidiary had installed a solar power generation system on the roof of building named Ocean Breeze (“the Building”) which was constructed in 2018 to strengthen and expand our seafarer’s training facility “K” Line Maritime Academy Philippines (“KLMA”) in Pasay, Metro Manila. Such system will cover the electricity usage of KLMA, which is located adjacent to Ocean Breeze Building.

KLMA is a comprehensive training facility that provides education and training using real equipment not only for Filipino seafarers but also for seafarers of all nationalities on “K” LINE-operated vessels. The facility is equipped with a latest ship handling simulator, an engine room simulator, and a platform that replicates an engine room for hazard simulation training. The Ocean Breeze building was fully furnished in March 2018 with a clinic for seafarers equipped with latest medical equipment and accommodations for 225 trainees and ready to receive 10,000 trainees per year. After the spread of COVID-19, the accommodations were also used as pre-boarding isolation facility and vaccination center. KLMA has been in operation since its predecessor, “K” Line Maritime Training Corporation (KMTC, established in 1993) and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023.

Handover ceremony

The region has a mild climate and long hours of sunshine throughout the year, and the Building is located in a sunny seaside area. The system has the capacity to generate more than 150 kWh of electricity required for KLMA’s use.

On December 8th, the handover ceremony for the system was solemnly held with the attendance of Yukikazu Myochin (President) and Kiyotaka Aya (Senior Managing Executive Officer) from “K” LINE, and Sadakatsu Hiramatsu, President of Shimizu Philippines Contractors, Inc. and the handover was successfully completed.

“K” LINE Group will continue its efforts to reduce its negative environmental impact, both at sea and shore.

Facilities overview
Filed Under: "K" Line

“K” Line resume face-to-face team-building activities for seafarers in the Philippines

December 15, 2022 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) resumed team-building activities for seafarers in the Philippines, one of the major seafarer supplier countries, hosted by our related ship management companies in December which include seminars for LNG officers, a long-service award ceremony, and a Christmas event to which families were also invited, after refraining from face-to-face activities due to the global spread of COVID-19 that began in early 2020. Many of “K” LINE’s executives, including President Yukikazu Myochin, were in attendance.

President Yukikazu Myochin also visited the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines (MARINA) and met with Administrator Attorney Hernani N. Fabia, who reaffirmed “K” LINE’s policy of further strengthening educational activities for Filipino seafarers.

“K” LINE Group has decided to resume face-to-face events gradually, while keeping a close eye on COVID-19 situation. By building strong sense of mutual understanding with seafarers, who are the essential workers responsible for global marine transportation not only in the Philippines but around the world, and their families through face-to-face interaction, we aim to instill and mature our corporate culture (safety culture), which will lead to safe operations and the provision of high-quality transportation services.

Award Ceremony
Filed Under: "K" Line

Dachser UK focuses on the needs of the DIY industry

December 14, 2022 by

Northampton, 14 December, 2022

The experienced Dachser UK marketeer, Peter Vickers has been appointed Business Development Manager with responsibility for DIY logistics solutions in a move designed to bring the industry solution into even greater focus for the specialist in European distribution and logistics, the second largest in the sector in the groupage market segment.

Peter Vickers, Sales Manager Midlands

The DIY or home and garden improvement market received a significant boost during the pandemic. At the same time, the supply chains for the industry are more global than almost any other and products are very seasonal. To help suppliers and retailers in the sector respond to the challenges associated with the spike in market growth, the special requirements, and the appreciable swing towards e-commerce as a route to market for their products, Dachser UK now also offers the industry solution service from DACHSER DIY Logistics.

In announcing Vickers’ new appointment, Mark Cosgrove, Dachser UK’s Regional Sales and Commercial Manager said, “At Dachser, we have developed the DACHSER DIY logistics solution tailored to the home improvement sector already twenty years ago. Today, we handle nearly eight million associated shipments across the company as a whole. With Peter’s experience and marketing skills, we aim to develop this business in the UK and expand our share of this trade even more.”

A smooth and uninterrupted global flow of goods, bundled deliveries into the markets and, above all, maximum transparency of the product’s supply flow is key to efficient management of the fast-moving DIY market dynamics. Whether variations in routing, volumes, delivery criteria or unexpected disruptions that may occur, detailed knowledge of a shipment’s status is vital in maintaining a DIY supplier’s competitive advantage.

“Throughout my fifteen-year career with Dachser in various industry solutions such as DACHSER Chem Logistics and DACHSER Fashion Logistics, I have understood the crucial nature of shipment transparency; our customers expect it and rely on us to provide it. Orders are tracked from all over the world and retailers can locate them all the way to the hook in their outlets,” says Vickers.

“Logistics services for DIY and garden markets is a vital part of Dachser´s business and for me it´s good now to be back in DIY helping to continue our UK growth in the sector.”

About Dachser:

Dachser, a family-owned company headquartered in Kempten, Germany, provides transport logistics, warehousing, and customized services in two business fields: Dachser Air & Sea Logistics and Dachser Road Logistics. The latter is divided into two business lines, Dachser European Logistics and Dachser Food Logistics. Comprehensive contract logistics services and industry-specific solutions round out the company’s offerings. A seamless shipping network—both in Europe and overseas—and fully integrated IT systems provide for intelligent logistics solutions worldwide.

Thanks to some 31,800 employees at 376 locations all over the globe, Dachser generated consolidated net revenue of approximately EUR 7.1 billion in 2021. The same year, the logistics provider handled a total of 83.6 million shipments weighing 42.8 million metric tons. Dachser is represented by its own country organizations in 42 countries on five continents.

For more information about Dachser, please visit dachser.com

Filed Under: Dachser UK
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