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“K” Line Financial Highlights for 2nd quarter FY2020

5th November 2020

Please be advised “K” Line Tokyo Head Office, published the following press release today.

Please click the following addresses to read our reports.

・Financial Highlights for 2nd quarter FY2020

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/ir7459471588023720853/main/0/link/2020_2_report_e.pdf

・Notice on Revised Forecast of Financial Results for Fiscal Year ending March 2021

and Dividend policy (No Interim Dividend)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/auto_20201104414965/pdfFile.pdf

This is also available on the website :

http://www.kline.co.jp/en/

NCB Group joins ICHCA to strengthen ties with global cargo handling community

London, 28 October 2020

National Cargo Bureau, the New York based cargo inspection company and Exis Technologies, global leaders in IT solutions for shipping dangerous goods by sea are pleased to announce that they have joined the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) under a group corporate membership. Exis Technologies, which has been part of the NCB Group since April 2018, had previously been an individual member of ICHCA for over 10 years.

Exis Technologies and ICHCA have worked together on many joint projects over the past decade, including, with sponsorship from the TT Club, the CTU pack e-learning courses for those involved in container packing job roles and IMDG Code e-learning courses for shore side staff handling and transporting dangerous goods by sea.

As part of the membership Captain Eric Rounds, Chief Surveyor NCB will join the ICHCA Technical Panel alongside Will Bartle, Compliance and Regulations Manager at Exis Technologies. The Panel provides technical advice and publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues and will allow NCB and Exis to be involved in the improvement of knowledge and best practice across the global cargo chain.

Richard Brough OBE, Head of ICHCA commented, “We are delighted that the NCB Group have decided to join us under a group corporate membership. Together the companies bring a wealth of container and dangerous goods shipping experience. We have worked with Exis for many years on initiatives to improve cargo handling. We look forward to building on our relationship with Exis and NCB to develop more solutions for our members and the wider shipping community.”

Ian Lennard, President of NCB, commented, “ICHCA is an important part of the global cargo handling community. Like us, they are a not-for-profit organisation, and their focus is on improving the safety and security of our global supply chains. We are pleased to be able to join them alongside Exis in our mission to improve the Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea.”

– Ends –

About National Cargo Bureau

The National Cargo Bureau was incorporated as a non-profit organization in May 1952 with a mission of “Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea”. The Bureau was created to render assistance to the United States Coast Guard in discharging its responsibilities under the 1948 International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea which addressed the carriage of Dangerous Goods and Grain cargos for the first time. NCB operates in 18 offices throughout the United States. These locations are supplemented globally by a network of vetted and approved marine surveyors. Exis Technologies, headquartered in Darlington, UK, has been part of the NCB Group since April 2018. Together their not-for-profit mission is the Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea. http://www.natcargo.org

About Exis Technologies

Exis, part of the NCB Group, has been a leading supplier of IT compliance systems for the management of dangerous goods in sea transport for over 30 years. Major container shipping lines, ports and shippers have been relying on Hazcheck Systems for regulatory compliance, efficiency and safety in their global operations. In recent years, Exis has developed new solutions with NCB including a portal for sharing operator, vessel and port restrictions among ports and operators; a web-based database and access portal for inspection companies to plan and enter details of cargo inspections; and a cargo screening service to identify misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods. www.existec.com

About ICHCA

The International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA), founded in 1952, is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity and efficiency of cargo handling and goods movement by all modes and through all phases of national and international supply chains.

ICHCA International’s privileged non-government organisation (NGO) status enables it to represent its members, and the cargo handling industry at large, in front of national and international agencies and regulatory bodies. Its Expert Panel provides technical advice and publications on a wide range of practical cargo handling issues.

ICHCA International operates through a series of autonomous national and regional chapters – including ICHCA Australia, ICHCA Japan and ICHCA Canarias/Africa (CARC) – plus Correspondence and Working Groups to provide a focal point for informing, educating, networking, shaping and sharing industry views to improve knowledge and best practice across the global cargo chain www.ichca.com

Dachser’s response to the UK’s dynamic retail sourcing patterns

The complexities of supply chain dynamics have never been so varied as those currently experienced by much of the retail sector.  Through a combination of well-established North African services and new network extensions in Turkey and Eastern Europe, logistics provider Dachser stands ready to help UK retailers cope.

Northampton, 28th October, 2020

The COVID crisis, a boom in online shopping and the looming, yet uncertain effects of Brexit all add to retailer’s urgent need for their supply chain service providers to move fast in adapting to changing sourcing patterns.

While the Chinese manufacturing phenomenon has radically reduced UK retail prices over the last two decades, the cost of sourcing in China has long been on the rise, with other Asian economies benefitting from their lower labour costs. The COVID crisis as an accelerant of change, however, may well be encouraging the trends for near-sourcing policies to be re-energised as longer supply chains are seen as more susceptible to disruption.

Added to this trend is the current boom in omnichannel sales channels. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures show that in April this year, 30% of retail sales in the UK were conducted online. This figure compares with just 18% in the same month last year and 21% at the Black Friday/Christmas peak in 2019. Much of this online market is made up of fashion items and clothing that are changing in nature as lifestyle changes are forced on a ‘lockdown’ population.

Shorter lead times on textile products are being demanded by retailers of their manufacturers, and that means transit times of 4 or 5 days, by road and ferry from Tunisia and Morocco are preferable over 20 to 30 days by sea from the Indian sub-Continent, China and other Asia origins. The option of airfreight with transits comparable to North Africa at 5 to 6 days door-to-door, is far more expensive and currently lacking in capacity.

The ‘groupage’ and partial load services that are offered by Dachser enable customers to have the ability to move freight in smaller quantities regularly from the region. The UK retailer need not commit to the high-volume orders of items required when shipping full container loads from Asian origins.

Reliability of delivery is also crucial to the UK retailer. Merchandise delivered when expected and indeed arriving intact, are standard requirements for the fashion retailer to stay competitive. Again the shorter, overland North African supply chain has its advantages against the Asian alternative. 

Dachser has operated in these regions for over 25 years, with its own branch offices strategically located in Tunisia and Morocco.  The services are driver accompanied direct weekly road freight departures, utilising box trailers for added security.

This service provides reliable support for a wide range of industries, in addition to retail, and the fast transit times help customers improve and develop their supply chains, whether feeding the manufacturing process or for onward distribution.

ABOUT DACHSER UK

Dachser UK is part of the Dachser group, a major international logistics provider which on 31 December 2019 generated total sales worth EUR 5.7 billion. 31,000 staff working in 393 locations worldwide handled 80.6 million consignments comprising 41.0 million metric tonnes. Dachser has been established in the UK since 1975, and now has four locations which include a new logistics centre in Northampton as well as branch offices in Rochdale, Dartford and Bristol. 

Dachser aims to be the supplier of choice for European logistics and value-added services. A fully-integrated European distribution network provides a comprehensive, high-quality service of total freight solutions supported by the latest technology. Core services in the United Kingdom comprise European export, import and UK pallet distribution, as well as contract logistics, value-added services and international sea and air freight forwarding.  

For more information, please visit   www.dachser.co.uk 

American P&I and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) continues close collaboration on Loss Prevention initiatives

NEW E-LEARNING MODULE – CHEMICAL TANK – PROMOTES IMO BEST PRACTICES IN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT WITH ANIMATIONS BY IDESS IT

New York, October 27, 2020:  The close collaboration between the American P&I Club and ABS continues to deliver new loss prevention initiatives for the industry.

Leaders in their respective fields, the Club and ABS have worked together to produce a new e-learning module on chemical tanker operations, brought to life by state-of-the-art animations by IDESS IT, a frequent contributor to the American Club’s loss prevention capabilities.

The new e-learning module, entitled CHEMICAL TANK, has been developed in accordance with the IMO Model Course 1.03 Advance Training for Chemical Tanker Cargo Operations – 2016 Edition in compliance with the competency and knowledge requirements as contained in the 2010 STCW Code, Table A-V/1-1-3, Specification of minimum standard of competence in advanced training for chemical tanker cargo operations. It will form an important new addition to the American Club’s growing library of safety and environmental protection related materials.

This initiative is the latest development in an increasingly dynamic collaboration between the American Club and ABS in the field of loss prevention which has, in the recent past, embraced subjects as diverse as measures to prevent injury caused by slips, trips and falls, and the protection of vessels from cyber attack.

Speaking in New York, Dr. William Moore, SVP and Global Director of Loss Prevention at the American Club’s Managers, SCB Inc., said: “We are very pleased to be launching this important new e-learning tool for the promotion of best practices in the operation of chemical tankers. It is even more pleasing to be doing so in conjunction with our friends at ABS with whom we continue to develop new initiatives to enhance the safety of life and limb at sea, and the protection of the environment.”

“ABS is a leader in the classification of chemical tankers, so is uniquely well placed to work with the American Club to develop this industry leading training with the American P&I Club. Together, we are using our strong technical and sector knowledge to help drive safety performance in the industry,” said John McDonald, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Business Development.

Notes for Editors

About the American Club

American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, Inc. (the American Club) was established in New York in 1917. It is the only mutual Protection and Indemnity Club domiciled in the entire Americas and its headquarters are in New York, USA. The American Club has been successful in recent years in building on its U.S. heritage to create a truly international insurer with a global reach second-to-none in the industry. Day-to-day management of the American Club is provided by Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. also headquartered in New York. The Club is able to provide local service for its members across all time zones, communicating in a large number of different languages, and has subsidiary offices located in London, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Houston, plus a worldwide network of correspondents. The Club is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, a collective of 13 mutuals which together provide Protection and Indemnity insurance for some 90% of all world shipping. For more information, please visit www.american-club.com.

P&I Insurance

Protection and Indemnity insurance (commonly referred to as “P&I”) provides cover to shipowners and charterers against third-party liabilities encountered in their commercial operations; typical exposures include damage to cargo, pollution, death/injury or illness of passengers or crew or damage to docks and other installations. Running in parallel with a ship’s hull and machinery cover, traditional P&I cover distinguishes itself from usual forms of marine insurance by being based on the not-for-profit principle of mutuality where Members of the Club are both the insurers and the assureds.

Brexit web resource for the freight industry

Recognising the complexities and the uncertainties that the upcoming consequences of Brexit will bring for all stakeholders in the UK and EU, international freight transport insurer, TT Club has launched a Brexit webpage resource in an attempt to bring clarity.

London, 27th October 2020

TT’s aim in providing this online resource is to collate, in a single accessible location, a wide variety of available information that is likely to be of importance to its Members and entities across all jurisdictions and disciplines in the freight supply chain.* Through researched articles and the webpage’s dynamic frequently asked questions area, TT will endeavour to develop practical guidance and advice in relation to the complex challenges that have already arisen and will continue to emerge in the wake of Brexit.

What is clear is that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) has left the European Union (EU) and in doing so will also leave the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. The end of the current transition period on 31 December 2020 is now fast approaching, after which import and export declarations will be required, regardless of whether a trade deal is agreed between the UK and the EU.

“As a result, there will be significant changes to the current processes of moving goods between the UK and the EU. However, Northern Ireland (NI) will be subject to a different regime under the NI Protocol”, states Mike Yarwood Managing Director Loss Prevention at TT. “All stakeholders involved in the cross-border movement of goods will need to be aware of the changes, make appropriate decisions and adjust systems and processes at the earliest opportunity to avoid unnecessary disruption.”

Acknowledging that the Club’s membership spans not only both the UK and the EU, but also globally, the site will strive to maintain a balanced approach to the provision of information that will be to the benefit of all, regardless of their location.

The changes will inevitably have an impact on the operations of diverse stakeholders in the supply chain to a greater or lesser degree. Through its webpage resource TT aims to inform as many as possible across the industry — whether its drivers, haulage companies, freight forwarders, customs agencies, logistics operators or port operators.

Unfortunately, of course, many issues are yet to be clarified at government level and until such time that there is definitive guidance on customs procedures, trade agreements and solutions to potential transport disruption, no supply chain stakeholder will have the knowledge to prepare themselves entirely. TT’s webpage will continue to be updated through the process and respond to identified industry concerns.

* https://www.ttclub.com/products-and-services/loss-prevention/brexit/

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

Dachser and Fraunhofer IML continue research partnership

The focus is on developing digital process and service innovations for the Dachser logistics network.

Kempten/Dortmund, October 20, 2020. The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and Dachser are extending their collaboration in the DACHSER Enterprise Lab for a further three years. Their partnership will continue to focus on research and development projects with practical application benefits for the Dachser network. These include digital technologies such as data science and artificial intelligence (AI), real-time locating systems (RTLS), 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and adaptive warehouse systems.

“The first step in our joint research work in the DACHSER Enterprise Lab is to gain a detailed understanding of new technologies and their potential for logistics. Then we build on that to develop prototypes and concepts that add tangible value for Dachser and our customers, turning them into innovations,” explains Stefan Hohm, Corporate Director Corporate Solutions, Research & Development at Dachser, who will head the new IT & Development executive unit as of January 1, 2021. “So far, the work we’ve done together has proven that we can transform research results from the DACHSER Enterprise Lab into new processes and services throughout the entire logistics network,” Hohm says.

“We’re delighted that Dachser is continuing its collaboration with Fraunhofer IML. Our research results up to now and our new research contracts show just how important applied research is for logistics and supply chain management,” says Prof. Michael ten Hompel, Managing Director of Fraunhofer IML. “We’re particularly proud that the lab teams have continued to work effectively despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. Of course, technical aids such as video conferences and collaboration tools have been a great help. But above all, it’s the extraordinary commitment and motivation of everyone working at the DACHSER Enterprise Lab that is key to successful research in challenging times,” ten Hompel says.

In the DACHSER Enterprise Lab, Dachser logistics experts and scientists from Fraunhofer IML work in mixed lab teams on various research and development assignments. The partnership between the logistics service provider and the research institute was launched in October 2017 and will now run until October 2023. 

About Dachser

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

Thanks to some 31,000 employees at 393 locations all over the globe, Dachser generated consolidated net revenue of approximately EUR 5.7 billion in 2019. That same year, the logistics provider handled a total of 80.6 million shipments weighing 41.0 million metric tons. Country organisations represent Dachser in 44 countries. 

For more information about Dachser, please visit www.dachser.com

   

TT Club focusses on temperature-controlled cargo losses

The leading international freight transport and logistics insurer, TT Club has drawn attention to action required to reduce perishable cargo losses and refrigerated container failures and damage

London, 22 October, 2020

Analysis of the specialist insurer’s claims records for transport operators over the past three years shows temperature-controlled incidents ranking in third place. Almost 30% of these incidents involved a miscommunication of operational instructions on care of the cargo with a further 23% down to temperature setting errors. Reefer equipment failure or damage accounted for a quarter of the claims. Please see the attached infographic.

TT continues in its attempts to minimise losses for both its Members and all those involved in the cool supply chain with publicly available guidance documents such as StopLoss – Temperature Controlled Cargo, and increasingly via online webinars. The latest was held last week, entitled ‘Warm or cold: is it a game?’. With expert speakers, this forum contained causational information as well as advice on risk avoidance. A recording is available here.

“Our own experiences and the data drawn from our claims history was reinforced by over a third of webinar attendees, who when asked their perception of the primary risk factors, pointed to communications errors with ambiguous or incorrect instructions passed between supply chain stakeholders,” commented Mike Yarwood, TT’s Loss Prevention Managing Director.

The sensitivity of many commodities transported under temperature-controlled conditions puts the care of the product both before and during transit as a paramount concern. During TT’s webinar, Carsten Jensen, a consultant and surveyor specialising in perishable goods transport gave a comprehensive insight into the five key aspects that impinge on loss prevention: product quality; preparation of the goods; correct packaging and stowing; attention to temperature irregularities and prolonged storage and transit.

“Clearly a number of these processes are outwith the control of forwarder, carrier and terminal operator,” commented Yarwood. “But as the demand for unitised transport of perishables continues its upward trend, it is vital that the transport links in the chain become more informed about all the relevant processes to improve the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders.”

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

New Managing Director for GEODIS in Taiwan

Lin Shih Ying (Nana Lin) becomes the second female Managing Director in the GEODIS’ Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The appointment exemplifies GEODIS’ avowed mission to promote diversity in its leadership teams.

Nana Lin is a Taiwanese with strong international supply chain management experience, having worked for leading logistics operators in Europe, Hong Kong, Philippines, and Taiwan for over ten years. She joins GEODIS as Managing Director in Taiwan. She holds Masters Degrees in both Business Administration and Fine Art, obtained in the Netherlands and Taiwan.

Lin Shih Ying (Nana Lin) becomes the second female Managing Director in the GEODIS’ Asia-Pacific (APAC) region

In welcoming Nana, GEODIS Asia-Pacific Regional President and CEO, Onno Boots said, “We seek to put in position those with industry experience, a thorough knowledge of the region and who are representative of cultural diversity and gender equality. Nana’s skills in organizational management will strengthen our operation in Taiwan,” he says. “One of Nana’s prime aims will be to support GEODIS’ customers in de-risking their supply chains. We are seeing our customers’ actively seeking for this support.”


“GEODIS in Taiwan has an established forty-year experience in freight forwarding and the provision of logistics services to the Taiwanese import and export community,” says newly appointed Managing Director, Nana Lin. “At a time when the Taiwanese market is poised for strong growth, we will continue to focus on our industry-specific solutions, especially in High Tech, Retail and Automotive.”

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide.

In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated EUR8.2 billion in sales.

Online training for seafarers obtain DNV GL Certification

K” Line Maritime Academy (KLMA) Japan (Machida City, Tokyo) have obtained certification from Norwegian certification organization DNV GL for seafarers Online training.

LNG seafarer training by KLMA Japan, “LNG SIGTTO STANDARD TRAINING COURSE” (Note 1), was certified by DNV GL in 2007 that it adapts to the international seafarers training standard. Recently Online course delivery using the internet is added to the conventional face-to-face training and the certification range is enlarged. This is the first certification by DNV GL for Online seafarers training in Japan.

We place KLMA Japan as a core of our seafarers training system “K” Line Maritime Academy (KLMA). By adopting “Online” method, we have established a training system that eliminates the risk of infection due to the movement of trainees and face-to-face lectures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This enables us for maintaining safety in navigation which is fundamental to our business operations.

Expanding safety, environment and quality initiatives is one of our business policies to create corporate value. Growing seafarers is important mission to accomplish it. By providing continuous, high-quality training to our seafarers through KLMA, we promote safe operation and environmental conservation which lead to higher quality marine transportation.

Note1: SIGTTO (Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Limited)

Membership that includes the major oil companies, gas, electric and gas tanker transport companies, is an organization that aims at ensuring the safety of the LNG and LPG business, from production/transport to consumption.

First Ship-to-Ship LNG bunkering business to commence in Japan

~Supply eco-friendly fuel by first LNG bunkering vessel in Japan~ 

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), hereby announce commencement of LNG bunkering business in the Chubu region through its joint venture company (Note 1) with JERA Co. Inc. (JERA), Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK).

On October 20, First LNG bunkering vessel in Japan,“Kaguya” (Note 2), owned by the joint venture company made historic first Ship-to-Ship (Note 3) LNG fuel supply in Japan to a car carrier “Sakura Leader” which will be operated by NYK at the construction yard of Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

Kaguya”, based at JERA’s Kawagoe Thermal Power Station, will supply LNG fuel to “K” Line’s first LNG-fueled car carrier that is scheduled to be delivered by the end of FY2020.

In the global shipping industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a goal of halving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. With increasing the delivery of LNG fueled vessels that are capable of reducing GHG emissions, “Kaguya” will be having an important role for stable LNG fuel supply.

“K” Line Group sets safety, environment and quality as key management issues and is working towards reducing GHG emissions based on its long-term environmental policy “Environmental Vision 2050” (Note 4). By expanding LNG-fueled vessels with LNG fuel bunkering business, we will contribute to the reduction of environmental burdens.

Kaguya” supplying LNG fuel

(Note 1) Joint Venture Company

Central LNG Shipping Japan Corporation and Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation

https://central-lng.com/en/

(Note 2) Principal Particulars of “Kaguya

LNG cargo tank capacity : 3,500 m3

Gross tonnage  : 4,044 tons

Length overall  : 81.7 m

Breadth  : 18.0 m

Shipyard  : Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Sakaide Works

(Note 3) Ship-to-Ship Bunkering

A method of bunkering where an LNG bunkering vessel comes alongside an LNG-fueled vessel to supply LNG at different locations such as along the quay or pier or at anchor.

(Note 4) ”K” Line Environmental Vision 2050

“K” Line group formulated the “K” Line Environmental Vision 2050 in March 2015. Revised June 2020 edition sets CO2 reduction milestones for 2030 that exceed the IMO’s targets which includes plans to “introduce LNG-fueled ships” and “commercialization of LNG fuel supply”.