K Line plans huge fleet expansion

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has introduced a newly-revised interim management plan to be known as “K” LINE Vision 2008+, which starts from fiscal year 2006, and involves embarking on an extensive fleet expansion programme by the mid 2010s.

Its current container fleet of 78 vessels will be expanded to 120 by the mid 2010s and it has already ordered 16 new boxships towards this target. K Line?s car carrier business will grow from 84 vessels to 110 and has so far ordered 17 newbuildings. On the dry bulk carrier sector, the Japanese company aims to increase its fleet from 151 ships to 250 and has to date placed orders for 53 bulkers.

On the energy transportation and tanker side, the company aims to have a fleet of 90 LNG carriers by the mid 2010s, an increase of 60 ships from the existing fleet, while on oil tankers, the plan is to have a 60-ship fleet, an increase of 40. To date, K Line has 32 tankers, including LNG carriers, on order.