'K' LINE Places Orders for Two 205,000 DWT-Type Bulk Carriers

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) takes pleasure in announcing that we have placed orders for two 205,000 DWT-type (capesize) bulk carriers with Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., which will be completed in 2005. This action is based on KV-Plan, a 3-year management plan, which started from last April, one of its targets being to positively expand and reinforce bulk carrier business. Above all, we are focusing on an increase in our activities of raw materials transport for steel manufacturers by capesize bulk carriers.

After completion, these two newbuildings will be engaged in raw material transport for Kawasaki Steel (JFE Steel as from April 1, 2003). To maximize our customers’ satisfaction, “K” LINE has adopted a new ship type in tie-up with Imabari Shipbuilding, with the following concept:
1) Wide-breadth/shallow-draft for cost reduction owing to an increase of loaded cargo volume
2) Double-hull for upgrade of cargo-handling efficiency in discharging.　　　A double-hull type makes every cargo hold flat in comparison with a single-hull, whereby contributes to more efficient cargo operation inside the hold. Eventually, it also serves us through safety and environment management.

“K” LINE has, in the meantime, taken measures to strengthen and to maintain hulls of single-hull ships for safety and environment management. In promoting the future newbuilding program, the choice of hull types will be made in careful assessment of pros and cons for both types.

Ship particulars of the above 2 newbuildings:
LOA 299.9 meters; Breadth 50.0 meters; Depth 24.5 meters; and
Dead Weight 205,000 metric tons