“K” Line to bring Hitachi rail cars to UK

The Japanese ocean carrier will deploy a series of new 7500-unit capacity roll-on/roll-off cargo ships on the project beginning in July.    Japanese ocean carrier “K” Line has signed contract with VANTEC HTS FORWARDING, LTD. (Hitachi Transport System Group), to transport Hitachi rail cars to the United Kingdom.
   The company said in a statement it will deploy a series of 10 previously ordered 7500-unit capacity roll-on/roll-off cargo ships currently under construction in Japan on the project, which is expected to begin July 2015.
   The new vessels have 20 percent more increase car-carrying capacity than current ships and will provide “much more space for High and Heavy cargo, including Construction Machinery,” said “K” Line.
   “With these newly-designed vessels, “K” Line will continue to proactively increase the handling of railway infrastructure as exports of these cargoes from Japan are expected to increase from now on,” the carrier added. “In addition, with these new state-of-the-art vessels, we will be better prepared to minimize the impact on Global Environment by accomplishing safe navigation.”
   The rail cars are intended for use in the Intercity Express Program (IEP) and are being manufactured at Hitachi’s Kasado plant. The IEP rail cars will be loaded onto the new “K” Line vessels from the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu, located near Hitachi’s Kasado plant, and discharged near the company’s train plant currently under construction in Newton Aycliffe, UK.