CSR Together with Local Communities and Global Society

The "K" Line Group's Social Contribution Activities

The "K"Line Group operates globally in seeking to achieve mutual benefit with local communities in different countries. We do this through steady accrual of small efforts, including contributions to society with resources as a shipping business, development of the next generation, and participation in volunteer activities.

Fundamental Policy

Mutual Benefitting Society

Contributing to society as a good corporate citizen

As a responsible member of society, the "K"Line Group makes use of its expertise and technologies to proactively engage in social contribution activities. For instance, in times of disaster or marine accidents we transport goods and equipment.

We also participate in volunteer activities in local communities and support development of human resources who will take charge in the next generation.

Development of the Next Generation

Cooperating in Internship Programs

Cooperation in the human resource development of the travel industry

Every year "K"LINE TRAVEL, LTD. accepts interns from Bukkyo University in the Hanshin (Osaka/Kobe) area and from Dokkyo University in the Tokyo area. When we first accepted interns, we sometimes wondered what to do for these students who were sparing their valuable time for the program. But we can give them opportunities to experience onsite work in the travel industry, which is impossible without joining an internship program.

We believe the significance of an internship program lies in the fact that students can experience working for companies before they graduate, which is later instructive for their job hunting. It is also significant for companies because it gives them opportunities to exchange information with universities and students. We will continue these activities in the hopes that this program will help develop human resources who become responsible for the future of the travel industry.

Support for Local Communities

Baskets Containing Gifts for Senior Citizens

KAM's support for senior citizens

"K"Line America, Inc. (KAM) sent 15 baskets to Senior Connections, a non-profit organization supporting senior citizens based in Richmond (Virginia, USA), where the company' head office is located. KAM began this activity in 2004. KAM staff members fill each basket with preserved foods, toiletries, and other daily commodities purchased at stores and pack the baskets with care before sending them to senior citizens.

KAM staff members filling baskets

Exchange Meeting with Children

Activities to bring smiles to children

In December 2010, the "K"Line Maritime Academy Philippines (KLMA Phil) invited 30 children from impoverished homes in Pasay, where the company is located. Staff members of "K"Line Group companies residing in the city, including those of KLMA, met with the children, had lunch together, and gave them bags containing stationery. Children enjoyed singing and dancing and all the participants had a good time together. Through this activity, which was in its third year, KLMA brought smiles to the children's faces and cheered them up.

Pasay children with KLMA staff members

Creation of Small Dams in a National Park

KTL Walk Rally 2010

Every year, K Line (Thailand) Ltd. (KTL) holds Walk Rally, an event aimed at promoting good health of staff members and preserving the natural environment. In 2010, 400 staff members participated in this event and created small dams for preventing soil runoff due to rain at Kaeng Krachan National Park in a southwest suburb of Bangkok. Located in a mountain range canyon, this park provides habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna, including wild elephants. To protect the rich natural environment, KTL cooperated with the park's administration bureau and created as many as 10 small dams with only human power by collecting stones and wood and piling them up with impermeable soil.

Staff members creating a small dam

Corporation with NPOs

"K"Line Supports Survey of Pacific Surface Water

VOS Nippon, a nonprofit organization, installed equipment

on ocean-going ships that navigate in Asian seas and

between Japan and Australia to measure and collect data on

the salinity and temperature of surface waters for provision to

research organizations. VOS Nippon has also made the data

available on a website for free access by the public. This data

shows the status of ocean surface waters, and the accumulated

data is expected to contribute to the scientific explanation

of the mechanisms of climate change, including global warming.

"K" Line is cooperating in the research, having installed the

special equipment on the coal carrier "Chubu Maru" in June 2002.

Collaboration with an Overseas NPO

"K" Line is a member of the Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) which is facilitated by

Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), North America-based CSR and Environmental NPO.

World's major shippers of container cargo and shipping companies participate in the CCWG

and assess the approach to the environment-friendly activities through the Environmental

Performance Survey (EPS) which is a unified standard for the evaluation of environmental

preservation activities in marine transportation, and through the Environmental Performance

Metrics by which CCWG evaluates each ship's consideration to the environment and

calculates the amount of exhaust gas emission from ship including GHG.

Other Support Activities

Disaster Relief

Providing aid for reconstruction in areas hit by major disasters

The "K"Line Group has been assisting disaster-hit areas through donations and cooperating in transportation. In 2010, a huge earthquake that registered magnitude 8.8 on the Richter scale hit central Chile, and was followed by a tsunami. This resulted in a great disaster that took lives of many people over a wide area including the capital of Santiago. REPRESENTACIONES MARITIMAS KAWASAKI CHILE LTDA. provided free transport of relief supplies in two 40-foot containers, including preserved foods and clothing.

Staff members loading containers with relief supplies

Cooperating in Ocean Transport of Relief Supplies

Contributing to society with our expertise

"K"LINE SHIPPING (SOUTH AFRICA) PTY LTD. (KLSSA) cooperates with the South African Primary Education Support Initiative (SAPESI), a non-profit organization supporting education of South African children. KLSSA provides free ocean transport and domestic land transport of educational materials for children.

The first shipment took place in March 2011, when a "K"LINE-operated ship loaded with 1,000 English books and stationery for children arrived at the city of Durban.

KLSSA staff members (two people on the right) handing over transported cargo to the SAPESI representative.

Assistance against Disasters and Poverty

Volunteer Activities

Participating in volunteer activities with "K"Line Group staff

Participating in volunteer activities with "K"Line Group staff In June 2010, "K"Line Group staff and their families (38 people in total) participated in an annual cleanup of the beach in Odaiba, Tokyo.

In November of the same year, staff from "K"Line and four Group companies (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., "K"Line Ship Management Co., Ltd., Escobal Japan Ltd., and KMDS Co., Ltd.) and their families (30 people in total) participated in the Umi-no-Mori [Sea forest] tree-planting activity in Tokyo. Sweating from their efforts, they enjoyed planting trees for the first time in their lives. We hope that the planted trees will grow up, turn into a lush green sea forest in 10 to 20 years, and help prevent global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide.