April 16, 2009 - Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) and TOKYO SENPAKU KAISHA, LTD (TSK) have reached an agreement to launch a joint service between Japan and Straits / Jakarta from mid-May 2009, in response to the ongoing financial crisis that has drastically reduced cargo volume for this sector.
"K" Line and TSK will merge two existing, independent services into one service, unifying fleet deployment to their maximum size thereby improving efficiency and schedule integrity.
In addition to this newly-established joint service, both parties also agree to widen their cooperation by exchanging slots with each other on their existing services, so that they can maximize efficiency and provide better quality and wider range of services to their customers. This slot ex change is also designed with the intent of keeping comprehensive port coverage that both parties now operates through their existing two independent services, and ensure that all ports will be continuously served without hindrance.
Four (4) vessels of about 1700 nominal TEU capacity will be deployed on a 28-day round voyage to provide a weekly service. "K" Line and TSK will provide two (2) vessels each
The joint service will provide the following port coverage:
Osaka, Shimizu, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Keelung, Manila, Singapore, Port Klang, Jakarta, Singapore, Manila, Osaka