Japan’s third largest shipping line, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), has announced that it intends to order an additional four new next-generation pure car and truck carriers. The extra vessels come after another recent order for four vessels placed with Japanese shipbuilders Shin Kurushima Dockyard Co Ltd and Japan Marine United Corporation, with each yard building four vessels, deliveries to start from 2015 through to the first quarter of 2017.
The vessels have a capacity of 7,500 units, which compares to around 6,200 on their largest vessels to date. The new vessels also boast a wider beam of 37-38m compared to the 32.2m of the Line’s current vessels. In a statement, the company said: ‘By adding this series of eight new ships with better stability and better fuel efficiency, we can handle an even wider cargo mix.’ AM
