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"K" Line

“K” Line and Chandris enter into Time Charter contracts with BP for two LNG Carriers

July 29, 2015

The joint-venture consortium of “K” Line LNG Shipping (UK) Limited (“K” Line) and Chandris Hellas Inc. (Chandris) is pleased to announce that it has entered into long-term Time Charter contracts with the BP group for two LNG Carrier newbuildings. The vessels, which will have a capacity of 173,400m3, will be constructed by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. in South Korea. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for 2018. It is expected that the vessels will primarily be engaged in the transportation of LNG from the Freeport LNG project in Texas, USA.

150729 K Line LNG Carrier

LNG Carrier owned and managed by “K” Line

Both “K” Line and Chandris are pleased to further develop their relationship with the BP group in the energy transportation sector and also to display its contribution to meet the increasing global demand for LNG transportation services. “K” Line will undertake ship management of the two vessels.

“K” Line to Support Ocean Transportation of a Fire Engine to be donated to Republic of Peru

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The fire engine to be donated from Association of Fukui Peru friendship

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.(“K” Line)has today announced that it has provided free ocean transportation of a fire engine to be donated to Republic of Peru from Association of Fukui Peru friendship (President: Mr. Tadashi Kiyokawa ) in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

The fire engine is to be donated as a commemoration of the fifth anniversary of Association of Fukui Peru friendship, founded in 2010. “K” Line has decided to offer its support by providing free transportation of the vehicle to Peru as per request from both Mr. Elard Escala, Ambassador of Peru to Japan and Association of Fukui Peru friendship.

It is a second free ocean transportation by “K” Line to the Republic of Peru, following the transportation of an ambulance and a fire engine donated from The Yamaguchi Peru Association (President: Mr. Tateo Kawamura) in 2012.

On June 30, in the cooperation of Daito Corporation, an affiliate company of “K” Line, the vehicle has been loaded onto “K” Line’s pure car carrier (PCC) at Yokohama who will arrive at the port of Callao, Peru in the end of July. “K” Line hopes it may contribute to the improvement of firefighting operations in the country.

Enhancement in Quality of Safe Navigation by Installment of State of the Art Ship Handling Simulator at “K” Line Maritime Academy (Japan)

To implement a firmer measure for enhancing our business base “For safety in navigation and environmental preservation”, ”K” Line Maritime Academy (Japan) has newly installed the latest model of ship handling simulator as training equipment for Captains and Deck Officers. “K” Line Maritime Academy(KLMA), based at Machida city in Tokyo, has, as one of its core functions, “K” Line’s education and training schemes for its marine personnel.

150701 Installment of State of the Art Ship Handling Simulator #1

Ship Handling Simulator and BRM Training Course in KLMA (JPN)

This simulator corresponds to ship handling training for 14,000 TEU Mega Container Vessel which are due to be delivered in fiscal 2015 and enable us to accommodate larger container ships of recent years. Thereby, we can conduct more effective training for Captain and Deck Officers who can confidently put into practice the group’s basic philosophy- “Establishing and maintaining safety in navigation to protect human lives, cargoes, and the natural environment at sea”.

Along with the installment of ship handling simulator, Bridge Resource Management (BRM) Training Course with the said simulator was certified by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK). BRM Training Course is the requirement of STCW Convention and it is obliged to exercise the course for Captains and Deck Officers.

The certification proves that BRM Training Course conducted by KLMA (Japan) provides the high-quality training fulfilling the global standard.

In line with the installment of ship handling simulator, the training center has establish the Quality Management System on its own and acquired ISO 9001 certification by Class NK.

Though “K” Line has been providing standardized training for all seafarers onboard our group vessels through KLMA, “K” Line will offer higher level of globally standardized training by incorporating objective assessments from this third-party accreditation organization, which contributes to strengthening safety and efficiency in navigation.

Remarks 1: KLMA is the cluster of our seafarers’ training centers developed in 5 countries around world that provides the career path program for “K” Line seafarers.

Remarks 2: BRM is a management method that aims to archive safe navigation by enhancing teamwork in the Bridge and making effective use of navigational equipment, information, etc. It is a requirement of STCW Convention in which Captains and Deck Officers are obliged to acquire knowledge and skills about BRM as their competency.

Remarks 3: STCW Convention (The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers,1978) was adopted in response to the tanker oil spill accident which was occurred due to grounding on the southwest coast of UK in 1967. The establishment of STCW Convention aimed to improve the quality of seafarers’ competence equivalent to the international qualification standards. It came into force in 1984 and adopted a new set of amendments in Manila in 2010 called “The Manila Amendments” as a result of implementation of comprehensive review of human error in marine accidents.

“K” LINE PTE LTD Signs Long-Term Contract with EGA

June 22, 2015

“K” LINE PTE LTD is pleased to announce that agreement has been reached with Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”) for ocean transport of bauxite ore. The quantity involved is about 5 million tonnes per year using Cape-size bulk vessels, with the contract to commence in late 2010’s over a long period.

“K” Line has been a business partner of Dubai Aluminium (“DUBAL”), now an operating subsidiary of EGA, since its inception in 1979 and has continuously transported its cargo for the past 35 years.  The bauxite ore contract is for the alumina refinery that EGA plans to build in Al Taweelah, UAE.

“K” Line announced its new medium-term management plan “ Value for our Next Century” in March this year. Under this new plan, “K” Line is expanding its  Cape-size carrier business as one of the company’s core business sectors for achieving consistent growth by securing medium- to long-term contracts.

 

“K” Line Honors First “K” Line Group Recipients with Environmental Awards

On June 15, “K” Line honored first “K” Line Group recipients with its Environmental Award.

Under the direction of ““K” Line Environmental Vision 2050,” as our long-term environmental management vision toward 2050, we founded “K” Line Group Environmental Award in order to recognize group-wide efforts for environmental conservation and biological diversity to assure sustainable operations for all executives and employees of both “K” Line and “K” Line Group.

As a result of the wide range of participation by the national and international in-house divisions and the group companies, there were many applicants. Activities that were judged as the finalists and who were selected as recipients in the first awards ceremony are as summarized below.

 150616 K Line Environmental Awards

Special Excellence Award

・Company Sustainability Report (“K” Line (Nederland) B.V.)

(Outline) “K” Line (Nederland) B.V. issued its own Sustainability Report that gives clear and detailed information about their environmental preservation efforts and activities.

Special Awards

White Sand Beach – Lembeh Island – Beach cleaning (LNG Carrier Tangguh Palung)

(Outline) The ship’s officers and crew are involved in volunteer activities for beach cleaning on Lembeh Island in Indonesia while the ship is anchored at the harbor.

・Voluntary cleaning activities around container terminals, warehouses and offices(Nitto Total Logistics Ltd)

(Outline) Voluntary cleaning up activities are being done in collaboration with partner companies at lunch time and before office opening hour. So far the activities have been carried out 48 times with participation of 600 people in total.

・Participating Ecocap recycling movement (Daito Corporation )

(Outline) They have been continuously implementing this program from 2009, collecting PET bottle caps in their offices in order to contribute to resources recycling, as well as sending infection vaccines to developing countries from the profit earned in selling the caps.

・Promotion of Eco-drive by digital tachographs (NAIGAIRIKUUN Co., Ltd. )

(Outline) They introduced online digital tachographs to their trucks, allowing them to know the operation status in real time, and achieve reduction in fuel consumption.

・Realization of energy saving by new second warehouse of BANGKOK COLD STORAGE SERVICE, LTD. (K Line (Thailand) Ltd.)

(Outline) They largely reduced electric power consumption by use of renewable energy and introduction of innovative energy-saving technology in their newly-constructed refrigerated warehouse.

The “K” Line Group is positively committed to continuous engagement in worldwide environmental conservation and contributing to marine and global environmental protection in order to hand on this blue and beautiful ocean to the next generation, set up in “K” Line Environmental Vision 2050” with the goal of achieving consistent growth and corporate value improvement that are incorporated as part of the “K” Line Group’s new medium-term management plan “ Value for our Next Century.”

“K” Line Establishes Joint Venture Company for Cold Storage Business in Vietnam

Preparations are being advanced for the establishment of a new joint venture company for cold storage business in Vietnam by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), Cool Japan Fund Inc. and Japan Logistic Systems Corp.   A press release was issued on September 25, 2014 giving the initial details of this venture.

It is now confirmed that the new joint venture company has received official approval for the establishment from Vietnamese authorities.

Company outline:

  • Name : CLK COLD STORAGE COMPANY LIMITED
  • Location : Lot B2, Tan Dong Hiep B Industrial Zone, Tan Dong Hiep ward, Di An town, Binh Duong province
  • Representative : Tatsuya Yamada
  • Date of establishment : April 25, 2015
  • Start of Business : July 2016 (Plan)
  • Capital : 15,000,000 USD
  • Business activities : Storage and Warehouse Services and related business
  • Investment ratio :  Japan Logistic Systems Corp.: 26%;  “K” Line : 25%;  Cool Japan Fund Inc.: 49%

Location:

Access to Ho Chi Minh City center, international airport and Cat Lai port is attractive.

Features:

The new joint venture company will contribute to popularization of Japanese food in Vietnam by providing high-quality services.

Bangkok Cold Storage, a member company of the “K” Line Group, has been engaged in cold storage business in Bangkok, Thailand for 26 years since 1989. Bangkok Cold Storage’s experience and expertise will be transferred to the new joint venture company with measures for damage prevention and energy saving to also be performed. The sophisticated marine and air transportation network of the “K” Line Group, as well as the knowledge of Japan Logistic Systems Corp., which has been doing business in Vietnam for more than 20 years, will also be utilized to provide incidental services such as delivery arrangements.

“K” Line Change of Executive Officers’ Responsibilities

June 3, 2015

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has decided on changes to Executive Officers’ responsibilities, effective July 1 2015.

To see the full press release please see attached PDF document or click on the following link : CLICK HERE

“K” Line signs Contract to transport Hitachi Rail Cars to UK

May 20, 2015

“K” Line has signed contract with VANTEC HTS FORWARDING, LTD. (Hitachi Transport System Group), to transport Hitachi rail cars for IEP (Intercity Express Programme) that are being manufactured at Hitachi’s Kasado plant.

These IEP rail cars will be loaded onto new “K” Line vessels from the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu, located near Hitachi’s Kasado plant, and will be discharged at the nearest port on the east coast of UK to Newton Aycliffe, where Hitachi is constructing the train plant for these rail cars.

A series of “K” Line’s 7500-unit size RORO vessels are now under construction in Japan. Some of these vessels will be deployed into Japan – Europe trade, and will serve for this transportation project from July onward for several years.

A total of 10 vessels of this series of 7500-unit size have been ordered with state-of-the-art design. The first vessel will be rolled out in July 2015. These new vessels will give us increased car-carrying capacity of 20% as well as much more space for High & Heavy cargo, including Construction Machinery. With these newly-designed vessels, “K” Line will continue to proactively increase the handling of railway infrastructure as exports of these cargo from Japan are expected to increase from now on.

In addition, with these new state-of-the-art vessels, we will be better prepared to minimize the impact on Global Environment by accomplishing safe navigation.

 

“K” Line Enters Long-Term Time Charter to Serve Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

May 12, 2015

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) is pleased to announce that a joint venture comprising “K” Line, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui, Head Office: Tokyo, President: Tatsuo Yasunaga) and Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Imabari, Head Office: Imabari, President: Yukito Higaki) has concluded the agreement to enter into a long-term Time Charter contract with Mitsui for its Cameron LNG Export Project in the U.S.A..

Mitsui, through its subsidiary company in the U.S.A., is participating in this project and will be off taking the LNG once the production starts.

The vessel to serve the project will be built in Imabari and equipped with an electronically- controlled dual fuel gas injection diesel engine (ME-GI).

By utilizing the knowledge and network established for more than 30 years in LNG transport business, “K” Line is achieving consistent growth and corporate value improvement which is incorporated as part of the “K” Line Group’s new medium-term management plan “  Value for our Next Century.”

Outline of the contract:

Date of Contract May 11, 2015
Charterer Mitsui
Owner Trinity LNG Transport S.A.

(A joint venture of “K” Line, Mitsui and Imabari)

Term of Contract Maximum 25 years after delivery
Vessel Membrane type LNG Carrier (Capacity: 178,000 m3)
Propulsion Electronically-controlled dual fuel gas injection diesel engine (ME-GI)
Builder Imabari
Delivery 2020 (scheduled)
Ship Manager “K” Line LNG Shipping (UK) Limited (planned)

Disaster Relief for Victims of Earthquake in Nepal

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has today announced that it has decided to make a donation of 2 million yen through Japanese Red Cross Society in consideration of damages caused by the earthquake that hit the western Nepal on April 25, 2015.

“K” Line would express its most sincere sympathy to all those affected by the earthquake and pray for the soonest recovery of the damaged area.