Message from the President

The “K” LINE Group helps enrich the lives of people as a logistics company and aims for sustainable growth and greater corporate value by supporting the infrastructure of the global community as a partner trusted by all its stakeholders.

 

The “K” LINE Group has made sustainability (environmental, social, and economic sustainability) a key management priority in achieving our corporate principles and vision and fulfilling our mission as infrastructure that supports human life and the economy. That is why the Group is pursuing sustainability management with materiality at its core. We define materiality as key issues to be addressed in order to achieve sustainable growth and greater corporate value under the medium-term management plan as well as help solve social issues.

 

Our 12 material issues have been categorized into five areas: Safety & Ship 
Quality Management, Environment & Technology, Digital Transformation, Human Resources to support these areas, and a Management Base to serve as our foundation. We are also working to increase the transparency of Group sustainability initiatives by establishing basic policies and medium- to long-term goals for each material issue, setting key performance indicators (KPIs), and monitoring progress toward these goals.

 

The “K” LINE Group has recognized global climate action as an issue that must be enhanced by the entire international community and announced our challenge of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 in November 2021. As an additional long-term vision in our medium-term management plan announced in May 2022, we laid out a growth strategy that interprets investment in alternative fuel vessels for our own low-carbon transition and decarbonization and ventures into new business areas that help achieve a low-carbon and carbon-free society as business opportunities, and are actively pursuing initiatives to implement this strategy.

 

The first of these initiatives is part of our transition to low-carbon and carbon-free operations at “K” LINE. We are making the shift from conventional heavy fuel oil to LNG fuel, which has a lower environmental footprint, and aim to introduce zero-emission vessels fueled by ammonia and hydrogen in the future. We are also conducting R&D and demonstration testing to introduce Seawing, a wind assisted propulsion system that attaches a large kite to the bow of a vessel to gain propulsion. Through these efforts, we will transition to low-carbon and carbon-free operations while also helping our customers reduce their Scope 3 GHG emissions. The second important initiative is our ongoing contributions to a low-carbon and carbon-free society. In addition to managing liquefied CO2 carriers engaged in the world’s first full-scale carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) project, the “K” LINE Group also aims to be involved in peripheral businesses upstream in the energy supply chain, such as marine transport of next-generation energy, such as hydrogen and ammonia, and offshore wind power support vessels.

 

The “K” LINE Group positions diversity as a source of competitiveness and aims to maximize the capabilities of our diverse human resources in a safe, comfortable working environment. We are creating a work environment in which all officers and employees can maximize their individuality and capabilities regardless of gender, nationality, age, or experience, allowing everyone to thrive while respecting one another's diversity. At our headquarters, we have established childcare support systems that exceed legal guidelines, allowing us to develop a pleasant working environment regardless of gender or life stage while also promoting employees to managerial positions based on ability, regardless of gender. We  are also taking steps to foster unity with locally hired staff through “K” LINE UNIVERSITY, a group training program for Group employees worldwide.

 

We are pursuing stronger corporate governance, which serves as the foundation for sustainability management. At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on March 28, 2025, the “K” LINE Group transitioned its corporate structure from a company with an Audit & Supervisory Board to a company with a Nominating Committee, etc. Achieving sustainable growth and greater corporate value amid increasing uncertainty in the environment surrounding companies requires swift decision-making in business execution, and it is essential to establish robust corporate governance that can support this. We have continuously worked to refine and strengthen our corporate governance in recognition of its importance. Based on these efforts, we have transitioned to a company with a Nominating Committee, etc., to pursue greater corporate value through even stronger governance and management reform. Clear separation of supervision and execution will increase management transparency and strengthen our ability to adapt to change.

 

Sustainability management at the “K” LINE Group is built on the understanding and cooperation of all of our stakeholders. We ask for your continued support as we do our utmost to fulfill our roles and responsibilities to our customers, employees, shareholders, local communities, and future generations while we work to build a better future.

Takenori Igarashi
Director, Representative Executive Officer,
President & CEO