| November 8, 2006 |
| |
| |
| "K" Line concludes Long-term Contracts
with Baosteel to Transport |
| Brazilian and Australian Iron Ore to China |
| |
| |
| Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) has
concluded long-term contracts with Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel: Shanghai,
China) for the transport of iron ore by the large-sized bulk carriers. |
| |
| On October 31, 2006, the signing ceremony was held at the
Baosteel headquarters at Shanghai, with top officials from both companies, including
Chairman of Baosteel Xu Lejiang, and President Ai Baojun, and "K" Line President
& CEO Hiroyuki Maekawa and Vice President & Assistant CEO Eiichi Suzuki. |
| |
| <Outline of Contracts> |
| |
| 1. |
Period: Approximately three (3) years from fourth-quarter of
FY2006
Trade: Transport of iron ore from Brazil to China
Transport Volume: Approximately 0.5 million tons per year |
| |
|
| 2. |
Period: 10 years from the second half of 2008
Trade: Consecutive voyage transport of iron ore from Western Australia to China
Transport Volume: Approximately 2.4 million tons per year |
|
| |
| "K" Line has participated in the transportation of
iron ore to Baosteel since 1994, accumulating experiences of iron ore transportation for
more than 10 years. However, these Contracts are the first long-term contracts between
"K" Line and Baosteel. "K" Line will launch a newly built carrier of
185,000 DWT to the transportation of iron ore concerning the 2006 Contract, and a newly
built carrier of 200,000 DWT to the transportation of iron ore for the 2008 Contract. |
| |
| In "K" LINE Vision 2008+, a new interim
management plan, "K" Line ranks the involvement in the fast-growing Chinese
market as one the most important management issues. The conclusion of the contracts is a
part of such management strategy, and "K" Line will continue active involvement
in the coal and iron ore transportation business in the Chinese market. |
| |
| For further information, please contact: |
| |
| Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. |
| |
| Jiro Asakura |
Executive Officer, General Manager of Coal & Iron Ore
Carrier Group
Tel: +81-3-3595-5390 Fax: +81-3-3595-5369 |
| Osamu Saegusa |
Manager of Coal & Iron Ore Team No.2
Tel: +81-3-3595-5406 Fax: +81-3-3595-5369 |
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
(from left: Hiroyuki Maekawa, "K"
Line President & CEO and Ai Baojun, Baosteel President,
center: Xu Lejiang, Baosteel Group Corporation President & Baosteel Chairman) |