“K” LINE PREPARES TO INTRODUCE 5,500-TEU SHIPS

“K” LINE PREPARES TO INTRODUCE 5,500-TEU SHIPS

“K” LINE PREPARES TO INTRODUCE 5,500-TEU SHIPS

   “K” Line will start introducing a series of 12 containerships of 5,500-TEU capacity in the Asia/Europe and transpacific trades next July.

   A spokesman for the Japanese shipping line said that some of those new ships will be used to retonnage its Japan Express Service between Asia and northern Europe. The service forms part of the “K” Line/COSCO/Yangming alliance and currently employs eight “K” Line vessels of under 4,000-TEU capacity.

   The 12 containerships will be delivered in the second half of next year and in 2002.

   “K” Line is also expected to replace several of its 3,500-TEU vessels in the transpacific by some of the new 5,500-TEU tonnage. Details of the service changes have not been finalized, a spokesman for “K” Line said.