Japanese Shipping Lines Have Big Plans for 2018

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K Line’s containerships and overseas terminals to integrate with MOL and NYK

2018 promises to be a decisive year for Japan’s K Line Group as the company steams its way toward rebuilding its portfolio strategy. First and foremost, the company’s containership and overseas terminal business will be integrated with MOL and NYK’s respective businesses in a new company, Ocean Network Express (ONE), set to start operation in April 2018.

In his New Year message, K Line’s President & CEO, Eizo Murakami said, “This spring, we will take a giant step forward as a brand-new K Line Group. Moreover, 2018 will be the year in which we solidify our foothold in preparation for the next 100 years.”

Strenuous efforts were invested in large-scale structural reforms over the past two years in order to weather the storm brought about by the downturn in the container and dry bulk shipping businesses. Moving forward K Line plans to focus on dry bulk, car carrier, energy transportation and marine resources development. K Line is on the path of financial recovery having returned to the black in the first half of 2017 fiscal year, and sees 2018 as being an important link to a ‘new era.’

NYK Line Eyes Business Acquisitions

Japanese shipping company NYK Line will be looking into business acquisition opportunities in the year ahead. A window of opportunity has been identified in the transportation of oil and petroleum products, especially since the focus of the sector is expected to switch to Asia in the future, NYK’s President Tadaaki Naito said in his New Year’s speech.

In 2018 NYK plans to advance the group’s activities with a focus on the keywords ‘green’ and ‘digitalization,’ i.e., strongly promoting environmental issues and the utilization of IoT. They believe the promotion of ‘digitalization’ and new technology such as autonomous sailing has the potential to advance the next generation of safe vessel operations.

 NYK’s stated goals include what they are calling the spirit of the 3 I’s: integrity, innovation, and intensity, in continuing to pursue innovation and staying ahead of their competitors.