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Saturday, May 9, 2026

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha News

17 Mar 2026

MoU for Newbuild Ammonia Bunkering Vessel Ops

Copyright konstan/AdobeStock

Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., and NYK Bulkship (Asia) Pte. Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly conduct a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and explore the ownership of a Newbuild Ammonia Bunkering Vessel (“N-ABV”) for application in Singapore. This collaboration underscores the parties’ shared commitment to enabling the development of a robust ammonia supply chain in Singapore, supporting its emerging role as a global


17 Mar 2026

Japanese Consortium Plans Ammonia Bunkering Operations in Singapore

© Rex Wholster / Adobe Stock

Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and NYK Bulkship (Asia) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly conduct a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and explore the ownership of a newbuild ammonia bunkering vessel for application in Singapore.The MoU is in support of the ammonia value chain development initiative that is jointly led by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the country’s Energy Market Authority (EMA).

16 Mar 2026

ClassNK SOF for ‘Seawing’ Automated Kite System

Right: Mr. Shingo Ikeda, Managing Corporate Officer, “K” LINE    
Left: Mr. Masaki Matsunaga, Executive Vice President, ClassNK

ClassNK confirmed the validity of the performance analysis evaluation for the automated kite system ‘Seawing’, which is being developed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. and its French subsidiary OCEANICWING S.A.S., and issued a Statement of Fact (SOF). In response to environmental regulations and as a solution for reducing fuel costs, the implementation and installation planning of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), including kite systems, have been progressing. As standards for wind-assisted propulsion systems and ships equipped with such systems


04 Dec 2025

Two New LNG Carriers Delivered to QatarEnergy

Source: NYK

On December 3, a joint venture company comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited held a naming ceremony for two new 174,000cbm LNG carriers for QatarEnergy.The ceremony was held at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. One vessel was named “Sharq” after an area east of Doha, Qatar’s capital, while the other was dubbed “Shra’ouh” after a Qatari island.The two vessels will be the seventh and eighth of 12 new LNG carriers ordered by the joint venture company for QatarEnergy, the world’s largest LNG providers.

18 Aug 2025

LNG Carrier Al Zuwair Delivered to QatarEnergy

Source: NYK

The 174,000 cubic meter capacity LNG carrier Al Zuwair has been delivered from the HHI Ulsan Shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and will be deployed under a time-charter contract with QatarEnergy. The vessel will be managed by the NYK Group.Al Zuwair is the third of 12 new LNG carriers being built for QatarEnergy by a joint venture comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited.This delivery marks the first of these vessels built at HHI.

15 Aug 2025

WFW Advises on Financing for ONE Newbuild Fleet

Copyright Stimmungsbilder1/AdobeStock

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised a consortium of lenders on an ECA-backed JOLCO financing for Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) to finance four newbuild container vessels. The consortium comprised BNP PARIBAS (acting through its Tokyo Branch and as ECA Coordinator), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Tokyo Branch and Citibank, N.A., Tokyo Branch (as mandated lead arrangers) as well as Japanese export credit agencies Japan Bank for International Cooperation


18 Jun 2025

Yinson Production, “K” LINE Target Europe's CCS with FSIU and LCO2 Solutions

An illustration of an FSIU vessel in the foreground, taking cargo from an LCO2 carrier in the background (Credit: Yinson Production)

Yinson Production and “K" Line Energy Shipping (UK) (KLES), a London-based subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" LINE), have entered into an agreement to jointly develop and market solutions for the transportation and injection of liquefied CO2.Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Yinson Production and KLES will jointly develop and market a floating storage and injection unit (FSIU) and a liquefied CO2 carrier.The collaboration will target carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects being developed mainly in Europe.For CCS projects worldwide


27 May 2025

Global Ro-Ro Community Develops GHG Calculation Guidelines

Source: ClassNK

The Global Ro-Ro Community including Eastern Car Liner, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Wallenius Wilhelmsen and ClassNK have developed guidelines for calculating GHG emission intensity for ro-ro ships in conjunction with the international non-profit organization Smart Freight Centre.The guidelines introduce a common calculation method, enabling shippers to accurately measure Scope 3 emissions.The standard calculation model complies with the ISO 14083 and Global Logistics Emissions Council framework.

21 Apr 2025

NYK, Partners Name First of 12 New LNG Tankers for QatarEnergy

(Credit: NYK)

A joint venture, comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings), has held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for QatarEnergy, the first of 12 being built for the state-owned energy company of Qatar.The ceremony was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) in China, and the vessel was named Al Tuwar, after the name of a hill in Al Wakrah, a major city in Qatar.The 174,000 m3 vessel is the first of a series of 12 LNG carriers that the joint venture company will build for QatarEnergy


27 Feb 2025

"K" Line Secures ‘Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance’

Image Courtesy  "K" LINE

Increasingly, maritime finance is tied to the environmental impact of the asset or project.Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (the Program), which is jointly operated by the Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the LNG-fueled car carrier OCEANUS HIGHWAY (IMO No. 1046049), owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE). DBJ provided financing to "K" LINE.ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scoring model jointly developed with DBJ from the perspective of ‘decarbonization


07 Feb 2025

World’s First LCO2 Transport Ship Arrives to Norway

(Credit: Northern Lights JV

)

The Northern Pioneer, the world's first commercial liquefied CO2 transport ship, has arrived to Stavanger in Norway, ahead of moving to CO2 receiving facilities in Øygarden for commissioning.The 130-meter-long ship can transport 8,000 tonnes of liqued CO2 and is ready for operations in 2025.Northern Pioneer received blessings from her godmother Tina Bru – a Stavanger citizen and former Minister of Petroleum and Energy when the Longship project was proposed to the Norwegian Parliament in 2019.The ship


02 Dec 2024

World’s First CO2 Carrier Delivered

Source: Northern Lights JV

The Northern Lights JV has taken delivery of the Northern Pioneer, the first in a fleet of four CO2 transport ships, from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC).The Northern Pioneer is the first of its kind, custom designed to transport liquefied CO2 from capture sites in Europe to the Northern Lights receiving terminal.Northern Lights is the first company to offer commercial CO2 transport and storage as a service. The CO2 receiving facility in Øygarden, Norway, was completed in September.Northern Lights is a Joint Venture between Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell.

29 Nov 2024

GAIL Pens Long-Term Charter with “K” Line for LNG Ship

© moofushi / Adobe Stock

GAIL (India) has signed a long-term time charter contract with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) for a newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship.The LNG ship will be a modern two-stroke vessel having a tank capacity of 1,74,000 cubic metres and will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries.The contract was signed through GAIL’s ship-owning company established in Singapore.This is the first long-term time charter contract between GAIL and "K" LINE involving a newly built vessel which is expected to be engaged in transportation of LNG for GAIL in 2027.GAIL currently has four LNG vessels


18 Nov 2024

Japan’s First LNG Bunkering Vessel Marks Milestone

(Credit: NYK Group)

Japan's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel Kaguya conducted its 100th ship-to-ship supply of LNG fuel, with the refueling of the car carrier Sakura Leader at the port of Mikawa in Aichi Prefecture.Kaguya was completed in 2020 as Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel and is operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel, a JV company among NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, JERA Co, and others.Since October of the same year, the vessel has been part of Japan's first LNG bunkering business, using the ship-to-ship supply method.

24 Oct 2024

"K" Line puts Inmarsat NexusWave to the Test

(Left) Ben Palmer, President, Inmarsat Maritime, and Yukikazu Myochin, President & CEO, “K” LINE. Image courtesy Inmarsat

Later this month Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) will conduct a trial of Inmarsat Maritime's new bonded network service NexusWave on “K” LINE's fleet. “In recent years, there has been an increase in data transmission to enhance safety and quality. As such, we require connectivity services that are fast, reliable and global. Furthermore, high-speed internet connectivity will greatly contribute to reforms to onboard workstyles and automated ship navigation," said Akihiro Fujimaru, Managing Executive Officer of “K” LINE.

16 Oct 2024

ONE Slashes Scope 1 Emissions

Source: ONE

Singapore-based liner company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has released its Sustainability Report 2024 which indicates that it has achieved a 62% reduction in Scope 1 emissions intensity in FY2023 from a 2008 baseline.These efforts have yielded a 21% reduction in emissions intensity from 2018 to 2023.ONE has also received approval in principle for an ammonia dual vessel along with an investment in 12 13,000 TEU methanol dual-fueled vessels. The newly constructed container ships are slated for delivery in 2027.

02 Oct 2024

ABS Issues AIP for Japanese LCO2 Carrier Designs

Source: ABS

ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to leading Japanese companies at Gastech 2024 for two liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier designs with Type-C cargo tanks that do not require performing post-weld-heat-treatment based on the demonstration of an engineering critical assessment.ABS reviewed the drawings based on class and statutory requirements for the two designs, a 50K cubic meter carrier and a 23K cubic meter carrier, featuring Type-C cylindrical tanks made of carbon


18 Sep 2024

Japanese Shipping Majors Secure AiPs for Two Types of LCO2 Carriers

(Credit: MOL)

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) have issued approvals in principle (AiPs) for two types of low-pressure type liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers developed jointly by Japan’s industry majors.The LCO2 carriers have been developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE), Nihon Shipyard, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), Mitsui & Co, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.The two LCO2 carriers that received AiP certifications are low-pressure type 50


01 Apr 2024

QatarEnergy to Charter 19 New LNG Carriers

(Photo: QatarEnergy)

QatarEnergy CEO Saad Al Kaabi announced on Sunday that the company has finalised a number of charter contracts with several Asian ship owners to bolster its shipping fleet by 19 LNG vessels ahead of a massive expansion in LNG output.In a ceremony at its Doha headquarters state-owned QatarEnergy signed contracts to charter six vessels from CMES LNG Carrier Investment, six vessels from Shandong Marine Energy and three vessels from MISC Berhad. Those 15 vessels will be built at South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries


12 Dec 2023

ClassNK Grants AIP for Maneuvering Assist System

Scene of proposing avoidance routes (courtesy of Japan Radio Co., Ltd.)

Classification society ClassNK reports it has issued an approval in principle (AIP) for the “Advanced Maneuvering Assistant System”, the core technology for the autonomous navigation system, developed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Japan Radio Co., Ltd. and YDK Technologies Co., Ltd.The system automatically generates some routes for avoiding a collision with other ships on a monitored route when a collision with another ship due to OZT is predicted and assists the operator in avoiding the collision.

29 Nov 2023

Diana Shipping Announces Time Charter with K Line

Source: Diana Shipping

Diana Shipping Inc. has announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the New Orleans.The gross charter rate is US$20,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum August 15, 2025 up to maximum October 31, 2025. The charter is expected to commence on December 7, 2023.The New Orleans is a 180,960dwt Capesize


28 Nov 2023

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Christens Liquefied CO2 Ship

Source: MHI

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has held a christening and handover ceremony for a demonstration test ship to transport liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2).The ship will be used for the "CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project / Large-scale CCUS Demonstration in Tomakomai / Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation" being conducted by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture


27 Nov 2023

K Line Conducts 1,000 Mile Autonomous Voyage Trial

Source: K Line

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE) and the Nippon Foundation have demonstrated autonomous navigation on a roro for a round-trip route of approximately 1,000 miles (1,600km) between Hitachi Port and Kushiro Port.The 11,413gt Hokuren Maru No. 2 sails the route routinely in service for operator Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen. Three autonomous voyages have been undertaken since October 1, 2023.“We confirmed that recognition, analysis, and decision making by the autonomous navigation system are executed with a high degree of accuracy in coastal navigation,” said K Line in a statement.