Editing K Line

{{Short description|Japanese shipping company}}
{{About|the Japanese shipping company||K-line (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
| logo = K line logo.svg
| image = Iino Building.jpg
| image_caption = Headquarters in [[Chiyoda, Tokyo]]
| trade_name = "K" Line
| caption = 
| type = [[Public company|Public]] [[Kabushiki gaisha|KK]]
| traded_as = {{tyo|9107}}<br><s>[[Osaka Stock Exchange|OSE]]: 9107</s><br>{{NAG|9107}}<br>{{Fukuoka Stock Exchange|9107}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1919|df=yes}}
| founder = [[Kojiro Matsukata]]
| hq_location = [[Uchisaiwaichō]]
| location_city = [[Chiyoda, Tokyo]]
| location_country = [[Japan]]
| key_people = *Iyazu Tokogawa (CEO)
*Shigeru Masuda, MBA (COO)
*Hideyoshi Yamamoto (CFO)
| industry = [[Transport]]
| products = 
| revenue = 
| subsid = [[International Transportation Service]]
| operating_income = 
| owner = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = 
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.kline.co.jp/}}
| image_size = 200px
}}
[[Image:K_Line_container.jpeg|thumb|K Line container]]
[[Image:K-stack.jpg|thumb|Smokestack of a K Line vessel.]]
[[Image:Volvo FH12-Simons (B)-2005.jpg|thumb|A K Line container mounted on a trailer is on a road in [[Belgium]].]]
{{nihongo|'''Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.'''|川崎汽船株式会社|Kawasaki Kisen [[Kabushiki gaisha]]|branded as '''"K" Line'''}} is a Japanese [[transport]]ation company. It owns a fleet that includes dry cargo ships ([[bulk carrier]]s), [[Containerization|container ships]], [[liquefied natural gas]] carriers, [[Roll-on/roll-off|Ro-Ro]] ships, [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]], and [[container terminals]]. It used to be the fourteenth largest container transportation and shipping company in the world, before becoming part of [[Ocean Network Express]] in 2017.

== History ==
[[File:House flag of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line).svg|thumb|upright|[[House flag]]]]

===1919-1944===
"K" Line traces its origin to [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]], which itself was born in 1878, when founder and entrepreneur [[Kawasaki Shōzō]] established Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard in Tokyo, Japan, which, eighteen years later, in 1896, was incorporated as Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd.

The shipping activities were developed when Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Ltd. (predecessor of [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]])'s President [[Matsukata Kojiro|Kojiro Matsukata]], decided to develop shipping services so as to provide business to Kawasaki Dockyard and to serve Japan's national industrial and trade interests.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=https://www.kline.co.jp/en/corporate/profile/history/main/00/link/en%20enkaku.pdf|website=Kline.co.jp}}</ref>

To do so, he placed Kawasaki Kisen, [[Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation|Kawasaki Zosen]] and Kokusai Kisen under joint management to build a stronger fleet of 40 to 50 ships serving the Atlantic, North and South America, Africa and the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

The three firms' initials were combined to form the moniker "K Line" in 1921.

K Line founder, [[Matsukata Kojiro|Kojiro Matsukata]], was also known as an art collector. The [[National Museum of Western Art]] in Tokyo's [[Ueno Park]] was established around the core of Matsukata's private collection. In addition, the Tokyo National Museum houses his extensive collection of [[Ukiyo-e]]prints.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|website=Global.kawasaki.com|url=https://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/history/index.html}}</ref>

In 1926, according to Lloyds, the newly established "K" Line reached the rank of 13th in the world, behind compatriots [[Nippon Yusen|NYK]] (9th) but ahead of [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines|O.S.K.]] (14th).

By the end of World War II, Kawasaki Kisen had lost 56 vessels; 12 survived.

Prior to World War II, the holding company [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] was part of the Kobe Kawasaki zaibatsu, which included Kawasaki Steel and Kawasaki Kisen. After the war, KHI became part of the DKB Group (keiretsu).

===1945-1961===
During that vital recovery period, "K" Line steadily returned to the building and operation of ships, reestablished bases of operation around the world, increased earnings and took other steps to restore corporate strength and vibrancy of the company.

===1962-1967===
After the merger with Iino Kisen, "K" Line was newly capitalized at ¥9 billion and controlled a fleet of 104 ships, 55 of which were also owned by "K" Line. The merger gave "K" Line a solid foundation to advance dynamically into the future both as one of the world's largest shipping lines in terms of fleet size and as a well-balanced, integrated organization.

[[File:K Line-containers.jpg | thumb|right | K-Line containers]]

===1971===
K Line opens [[International Transportation Service]], a [[container terminal]] company in the [[Port of Long Beach]].

The Car Carrier transport division was inaugurated with the launch of the new [[Roll-on/roll-off]] vessel Toyota Maru No. 10.
K-Line would thereafter enlarge the fleet up to 70 [[Roll-on/roll-off|Car carriers]] vessels. All owned RORO vessels started to include in the first part of their names the word “Highway” (opposite to its container fleet's vessels that include the word “Bridge” into their names), to symbolize a link in between Japan and the rest of the world served by sea.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/japans-k-line-warns-of-huge-loss-cuts-chartered-fleet-11551974910/|title=K Line cuts chartered fleet|website=Wall Street Journal|date=7 March 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-02 |last1=Paris |first1=Costas }}</ref>

===2003===
[[KESS - K Line Europe Short Sea]] is inaugurated in July 2003 in [[Germany]], as a dedicated feeder operator in [[Europe]] specialized in brand new cars shipping in between 
European, Scandinavian, Baltic and Mediterranean ports.<ref>{{cite web|title=News|website=Cmport.com|url=http://www.cmport.com/news-and-media/news/2009/2009-01-02}}</ref>
The company tonnage is composed of 11 [[Roll-on/roll-off]] ships.[[image:Kline SF.jpg|thumb|right|K-line container ship ''Valencia Bridge'' steaming into [[San Francisco Bay]], June 2007]]

===2007===
[[File:KL Saltfjord in Bergen harbour 02.jpg|thumb|''KL Saltfjord'' in [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] harbour]]

'''K Line Offshore AS''' was founded in Arendal, Norway in October 2007 as a subsidiary of K Line to provide offshore support services to oil and gas fields. They have commissioned new ships suitable for oil and gas fields in ultra-deep water, harsh environments and/or remote areas.

On September 30, 2007, Shuichiro Maeda, K-Line president, said the company will build 10 cargo ships to be manned by an all-Filipino officers and crew. The vessels are expected to be finished by 2010. It will employ 7,000 Filipinos in the next 4 years (3,330 officers and 3,600 ratings or crew). K-Line will build the K-Line Maritime Academy-Philippines operational in February 2008 and is intended to train at least 10,000 seafarers a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/62707/Japan-firm-builds-10-ships-to-be-manned-by-Filipinos|title=Japan firm builds 10 ships to be manned by Filipinos|work=GMA News Online|date=October 2007 }}</ref>
[[Image:Wuhan-boat-0156.jpg|thumb|K Line containers aboard a Chinese boat on the [[Yangtze]] in [[Wuhan]]]]

===2017===
{{Main|Ocean Network Express}}
In 2017, K Line, [[Nippon Yusen]] (NYK) and [[Mitsui O.S.K. Lines]] (MOL) announced that they would merge and jointly operate their global container shipping services as [[Ocean Network Express]] (ONE), in order to better compete against other global container shipping groups. ONE would merge all container shipping services of the three companies, as well as their port terminal operating subsidiaries in various countries, except in Japan, while keeping their other shipping services separate. ONE began operations on April 1, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Japanese shippers K Line, MOL, NYK to merge as ONE|url=https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/ocean-network-express-ONE-K-line-MOL-NYK-april-2018/443906/|author=Lopzez, Edwin|website=Supply Chain Dive|date=May 31, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ONE – Integration Of K-Line, MOL & NYK Commences Shipping Services|author=MI News Network|date=April 2, 2018|url=https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/one-integration-of-k-line-mol-nyk-commences-shipping-services/|website=MarineInsight|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324041434/https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/one-integration-of-k-line-mol-nyk-commences-shipping-services/|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the company headquarters in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]], a business operation headquarters in [[Singapore]] and regional headquarters in: [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]; [[Richmond, Virginia]]; and [[São Paulo]], [[Brazil]].
[[File:K Line Offshore PSV at Torry Quay, Aberdeen Harbour.jpg | thumb|right | K-Line offshore ship At The Harbor of Aberdeen, United Kingdom]]
[[File:MV DIAMOND HIGHWAY - DAMAGE ASSESSMENT 2023-04-28.png|alt=Hull of vessel 'K-Line Diamond Highway' burned on 28 April 2023 in baranagy Punta Engano, Lapu Lapu City. Author: Bart Sakwerda|thumb|Hull of  vessel 'K-Line Diamond Highway' burned on 28 April 2023 in baranagy Punta Engano, Lapu Lapu City]]
[[File:Euphrates Highway, Fremantle, 2017 (05).jpg|thumb|Car Carrier Euphrates Highway]]

===2018===
On 23 July, [[K Line European Sea Highway Services|KESS]] [[car carrier]] Makassar Highway<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:413386/mmsi:353969000/imo:9235426/vessel:MAKASSAR_HIGHWAY|title=Vessel details for: MAKASSAR HIGHWAY (Vehicles Carrier)|website=MarineTraffic|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> ran hard aground at full speed in the [[Tjust]] archipelago near [[Loftahammar]], Sweden, causing an [[oil spill]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://splash247.com/k-line-car-carrier-hard-aground-in-southern-sweden/|last=Chambers|first=Sam|date=24 July 2018|title=K Line car carrier hard aground in southern Sweden|website=Splash 247|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="The Local">{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180730/swedish-coastguard-oil-spill-freight-ship|date=30 July 2018|title=Swedish coast guard works to clean up 14,000-litre oil spill|website=The Local|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> By his own account, the captain had ordered a course close to land, far from established shipping lanes, in order to gain mobile phone reception. The ship's satellite communication system and [[voyage data recorder|black box]] were inoperable when departing [[Cuxhaven]] for [[Södertälje]], and alarm systems had been disabled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/smaland/fartyget|date=1 August 2018|title=Nya uppgifter: Fartyget hade trasigt kommunikationssystem|language=Swedish|trans-title=New details: The ship's communication system was broken|website=Swedish Television|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The [[Swedish Coast Guard]] recovered approximately {{convert|7000|L}} of oil by 30 July,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://splash247.com/oil-spill-detected-as-k-line-car-carrier-refloats/|last=Jiang|first=Jason|date=30 July 2018|title=Oil spill detected as K Line car carrier refloats|website=Splash 247|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> but thousands of litres of oil nevertheless washed up on the coast.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://splash247.com/leaking-k-line-car-carrier-under-tow/|date=1 August 2018|last=Jiang|first=Jason|title=Leaking K Line car carrier under tow|website=Splash 247|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> An estimated {{convert|14000|L}} of oil were spilled.<ref name="The Local" /><ref name="Barometern">{{cite news|url=http://www.barometern.se/oskarshamn/aklagare-om-grundstotningen-vansinnigt/|date=2 August 2018|title="En fullständigt vansinnig kurs"|language=Swedish|trans-title="A completely insane course"|website=Barometern|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> The ship was towed to Oskarshamn, where its cargo of 1,325 vehicles were offloaded. The [[chief mate]] was taken into custody and accepted a fine for intoxication and recklessness in maritime traffic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kustbevakningen.se/hallbar-havsmiljo/nyhetsarkiv/tidslinje-for-operation-makassar-highway/|date=August 2, 2018|title=Tidslinje för Operation Makassar Highway|language=Swedish|trans-title=Timeline for Operation Makassar Highway|website=Swedish Coast Guard|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/skandalen-makassar-highway-dag-for-dag/|date=2 August 2018|title=Skandalen Makassar Highway – dag för dag|language=Swedish|trans-title=The scandal of Makassar Highway – day by day|website=Dagens Nyheter|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> His [[blood alcohol content]] by mass at the time of the accident was estimated at 1.15 permille, based on samples taken after the accident.<ref>{{cite report|last1=Karanikas|first1=Mikael|last2=Zachau|first2=Jörgen|date=9 July 2019|title=Slutrapport RS2019:04|language=Swedish|trans-title=Final Report RS2019:04|url=https://www.havkom.se/assets/reports/RS2019_04-MAKASSAR-HIGHWAY-Slutrapport.pdf|publisher=[[Swedish Accident Investigation Authority]]|access-date=9 July 2019|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208042640/https://www.havkom.se/assets/reports/RS2019_04-MAKASSAR-HIGHWAY-Slutrapport.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The oil spill is also being investigated as an [[environmental crime]].<ref name="Barometern" />

A few month earlier, the [[Makassar Highway]] had collided with the dredger "Xiang Wang Cai 17" near the Chinese city of [[Zhangzhou]]. According to investigations, the Makassar Highway was also responsible for the collision.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Login - THB |url=https://www.thb.info/login.html?redirect_url=/rubriken/international/detail/news/k-line-carrier-havariert.html |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=www.thb.info}}</ref>

===2019===
On 15 June 2019, [[car carrier]] [[MV Diamond Highway|Diamond Highway]] caught fire while sailing in between the ports of [[Singapore]] and [[Batangas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.automotivelogistics.media/fire-on-k-line-car-carrier-forces-crew-to-abandon-ship/38510.article|title=Fire on K-Line car carrier forces crew to abandon ship|last=Williams|date=2019-06-19|first=Marcus|website=Automotive Logistics|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> [[Philippine Coast Guard]] was alerted, and a mission to rescue the 25 members of the Crew was undertaken by another car carrier sailing in proximity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2019/26305/abandoned-car-carrier-adrift-update-jun-17/|title=Abandoned car carrier adrift UPDATE Jun 17|website=FleetMon.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-19}}</ref> The ship had to be abandoned, and later towed to dry dock. The reason why the fire broke out is unknown but possibly related to the cargo on board.

On 2 August 2019, K-Line was convicted and fined AUD34.5 million for criminal cartel conduct by the Australian Federal Court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Commission |first=Australian Competition and Consumer |date=2019-08-02 |title=K-Line convicted of criminal cartel conduct and fined $34.5 million |url=https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/k-line-convicted-of-criminal-cartel-conduct-and-fined-345-million |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=www.accc.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> The cartel, which was in place from 1997, had fixed prices for the transport of vehicles into Australia. The other cartel participant, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), was also convicted and fined in 2017.

=== 2023 ===
Around midnight on July 26, 2023, a fire broke out on the [[MV Fremantle Highway|Fremantle Highway]] car transporter operated by "K" Lines. The ship, which came from the port of Bremerhaven, Germany was on its way to the [[Suez Canal]] and, according to the Dutch coast guard, was around 27 kilometers north of the Dutch Wadden Sea island of [[Ameland]] at that time. The ship had 3,783 vehicles on board, including 498 electric cars.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/carrier-ablaze-off-dutch-coast-carrying-almost-500-electric-cars-2023-07-28/|title=Fire on car carrier ablaze off Dutch coast now less intense|date=July 29, 2023|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=August 5, 2023}}</ref> The cause of the fire is unknown, according to the Coast Guard; Media reports that an electric car had started the fire.

During the extinguishing work on board, one crew member died and 16 were injured. The Dutch Coast Guard rescued the remaining 22 members of the crew.

The extinguishing work was difficult because the bow is 30 meters high. An [[environmental disaster]] was feared if the ship would have sunk.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2023-07-26 |title=One killed as ship carrying 3,000 cars catches fire off Dutch coast |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/26/cargo-ship-fire-off-dutch-coast |access-date=2023-07-26 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> After the fire had burned out, ''Fremantle Highway'' was towed into [[Eemshaven]], Groningen (Netherlands) on 3 August.<ref name=NLT030823>{{cite web |url=https://nltimes.nl/2023/08/03/burnt-freighter-arrives-eemshaven-eu300-million-cargo-lost |title=Burnt-out freighter arrives at Eemshaven; €300 million in cargo los |publisher=NL Times |accessdate=3 August 2023 }}</ref>

== Fleet ==
"K"-Line fleet consists of about 500 ships, despite by the segments

* [[Car carrier|Car Carrier]]
* [[Bulk carrier|Bulk Carrier]]
* [[Oil tanker|Oil Tanker]]
* Liquid-Gas-Tanker
* [[Thermal Coal Carrier]]
* Offshore-service ships
* Containerships (in ONE integrated)

=== Offshore support vessels ===
'''K Line Offshore AS''' in [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]], a subsidiary of K Line for offshore support services of oil and gas fields is operating the following ships:
*''KL Arendalfjord'' - Delivered 24 October 2008
*''KL Brevikfjord'' - Delivered 24 September 2010
*''KL Sandefjord'' - Delivered 7 January 2011
*''KL Brisfjord'' - Delivered 13 January 2011
*''KL Brofjord'' - Delivered 5 April 2011
*''KL Saltfjord'' - Delivered 14 April 2011
*''KL Barentsfjord'' - Delivered 28 June 2011

=== Container ships ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Container ship classes of K Line
!Ship class
!Built
!Capacity (TEU)
!Ships in class
!Notes
|-
|''Hannover Bridge''-class
|2006–2012
|8,212-8,970
|13
|Operated by [[Ocean Network Express]]
|-
|[[Millau Bridge-class container ship|''Millau Bridge''-class]]
|2015–2018
|13,900
|10
|Operated by [[Ocean Network Express]]
|}
[[File:K Line Orient King at Imabari Shipyard.jpg | thumb|220x124px | right|MV Orient King under repair at the shipyard of Imabari, Japan.]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.kline.co.jp/en/ Official website]
*[https://www.klineglobalroro.com/ Kline Global Roro Site ]
{{Container shipping companies}}
{{Nikkei 225}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shipping companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Transport companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Container shipping companies]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1919]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Companies in the Nikkei 225]]
[[Category:Ro-ro shipping companies]]
[[Category:Car carrier shipping companies]]
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1919]]