Maritime





Monday February 9, 2009

K Line launches new coal carrier


KAWASAKI Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K Line), a Japanese shipping company, has launched a new 88,000 deadweight tonne coal carrier to join its specialised fleet for thermal coal transport.

The vessel, Tohoku Maru, was built at Marugame Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding Co Ltd in Japan, K Line said in a statement.

The Corona-series, which K Line created and continues to develop, consists of epoch-making coal carriers equipped with wide beam and shallow draft, which are the most suitable type to enter ports of domestic thermal power stations to discharge cargo.

The Tohoku Maru

Tohoku Maru will be principally involved in long-term service carrying thermal coal to Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc thermal power stations.

In another statement, K Line announced that it would launch a new service between South Africa and West Africa by April.

The service will enable K Line to tap into the growing Asia to West Africa market by linking with its Asia to South Africa service and offer a high-quality package to its customers.

The new service will be operated independently by K Line where its port rotations include Cape Town in South Africa, Tema in Ghana and Lagos in Nigeria and Cotonou in Benin.

There weekly service will be operated by four 1,000 20ft-equivalent-unit capacity vessels.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story