| January 5, 2006 |
| "K" Line launches New Asia/Southeast Australia Service |
| Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) will launch a new joint Asia Southeast Australia Services in February 2006 together with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Cosco Container Lines Co., Ltd. (COSCON) |
| The companies, along with Royal P&O Nedlloyd N.V. (P&O Nedlloyd), currently serve this trade through a joint service that will be dissolved this coming February. The 2 new vessels out of a total of 5 having 2400TEU capacity operated jointly by "K" Line, MOL, and NYK will be deployed in Asia/Southeast Australia weekly service. Total 5 vessels of 1700TEU capacity operated by COSCON will be deployed in China/Southeast Australia weekly service. |
| The new joint services are intended to call following ports: |
| Asia/Southeast Australia (ESACO Loop 2) |
| Yokohama - Nagoya - Osaka - Pusan - Shanghai - Nansha - Shekou - Hong Kong - Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane - Yokohama |
| China/Southeast Australia (ESACO Loop 1) |
| Xiamen - Qingdao - Shanghai - Ningbo - Sydney - Melbourne - Brisbane - Hong Kong - Xiamen |
| The new Asia Southeast Australia services will provide higher quality dependability assuring customers of greater satisfaction through the above new port rotation, including the strengthening of cost competitiveness. |
| For further information, please contact: |
| Takafumi Kido |
| Manager, Planning Team, Containership Business Group |
| Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. |
| TEL: 81-3-3595-5309 FAX: 81-3-3595-5288 |