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Containership Business has had the distinction of being the centerpiece
of "K" LINE’s global sea-transportation services.
Providing stable and dependable services, this business has been
continuously developing, expanding and being upgraded, with the
present global network offering coverage around the world. By keeping
abreast of changing business circumstances and in order to meet
shipper requirements, we are also constantly reinforcing our company’s
international competitiveness.
Against the backdrop of the recent increase in global trade,
there comes more need for stability and speediness
in container transport service. To cope with such customer needs,
"K" LINE has been carrying out the planned deployment
of a series of 13 brand new 5,500-TEU containerships with a speed
of 25 knots. They have been deployed in the Pacific Northwest/Asia/Europe
service route. This deployment also signifies that we have finished
constructing the new East/West trunk line service framework. Completion
of the trunk line makes it possible to achieve an increase in
callings Chinese ports and to significantly reduce transit times.
We have placed an additional order for 8 new 4,000-TEU Panamax
type containerships that are to be delivered between 2004 and
2005. And furthermore, we have placed an order for four 8,000-TEU
type and five 5,000-TEU type that will be delivered between 2006
and 2007. As a matter of fact, we are confident that we are able
to satisfy customer needs with the best quality service available
anywhere on the globe.
Since early in 2000, "K" LINE has been improving its
Asia/U.S. East Coast, Asia/Mediterranean, and Mediterranean/U.S.
East Coast services in addition to Asia/U.S. West Coast and Asia/
North Europe services by developing tie-ups with Yangming Marine
Transport Corp. (Taiwan) and COSCO Container Lines (PRC). In September
2001, Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. (Korea)/Senator Lines GmbH (Germany)
were added to the preceding 3-line tie-ups and all parties have
now reached an agreement on working toward the forging of a new
and strengthened alliance. The CKYH alliance has become closer
and deeper in mutual relationship- COSCO Container Lines, "K"LINE,
Yangming Marine Transport Corp. and Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd.
Since the beginning of 2003, we have been providing 3-sailings-per-week
service in the remarkably expanding trade between Asia and U.S.
East Coast. Similarly, improvement has been attained through optimum
positioning of the fleet of each alliance member. In the meantime,
we have been successful in rationalizing the Atlantic trade, circumstances
of which had been worsening. In the China trade, we have increased
the frequency of direct calls at ports in China that is developing
a great deal: 57 direct calls per week. This achievement has enabled
us to exceed services offered by other competitive companies and
groups.
In the meantime, concerned with the recent remarkably developing
Intra-Asia trade, "K" LINE has been enhancing its service
network in quality through exploitation and development of new
sea transport routes, increase in both sailing frequency and speed-up
of transit time. "Tropical Express" that is being provided
under "K" LINE’s own management constantly provides
4-sailings-per-week service to both Thailand and Straits service
routes. In addition to "Tropical Express, "we have opened
an Intra-ASEAN service linking Singapore/Thailand/Malaysia/Indonesia
with the ASEAN Free Trade Area named "AFTA" in mind.
Looking at "K" LINE’s participation in Asian services
outside of Japan, you will see that we have opened a direct two-sailings-per-week
service to the Middle East from China and Southeast Asia, and
that we also now offer a three-sailings-per-week service to India
and Sri Lanka from China, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Furthermore,
we have been successful in improving the prevailing service between
Taiwan/Hong Kong/Vietnam with a 3-loop concept and increased service
frequency. One loop has been arranged to cover Japan with direct
callings. We are now positioned to supply a direct Japan/Vietnam
service with shorter-transit time and higher quality.
In container transportation,it is the terminals that are the
gateway linking the sea with land, and "K" LINE has
four terminals exclusively for containers. In North America, a
group company is performing efficient port business, managing
their own container terminals. More precisely, International Transportation
Service, Inc. (ITS) situated at Long Beach, a main gate port to
U.S. West Coast implemented expansion of its terminal and renewed
a host of IT-related equipment, succeeding in occupying 240 acres
including a newly-built deep-draft berth. With this innovation
and expansion in place, ITS is expected to contribute to prompt
cargo delivery.
Along with the various other innovations, the shipping industry
is required to successfully ride the wave of rapidly advancing
Information Technology (IT), and "K" Line is actively
endeavoring to introduce and develop the most updated IT services.
Our recognition of this obligation is exemplified by the information
being provided on the Internet, by our acquiring membership in
Bolero Net ahead of other domestic rivals and by our active participation
in EDI (TEDI.) We are also taking part in GT Nexus, a joint portal
site of shipping lines, demonstrating how positively we are coming
to grips with the introduction and acceptance of e-commerce throughout
our industry.
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