From the front left row: NAVTOR AS Managing director, CEO Mr. Tor A. Svanes, “K” LINE Senior Managing Executive Officer Captain Aya Kiyotaka. From the back left row: Norwegian Embassy in Japan Counsellor, Head of Trade & Technology Office, Dr. Svein Grandum, NAVTOR Japan Managing Director Mr. Hiroaki Kitano, Norwegian Embassy in Japan Chargée d’Affaires ad interim Ms. Aune Line, “K” LINE Managing Executive Officer Captain Fujimaru Akihiro, “K” LINE Safety and Quality Management Group General Manager Captain Endo Hideaki
NAVTOR has secured a landmark agreement with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE). The partnership will see the Norwegian maritime technology company supplying its NavFleet solution as a cornerstone of the development of “K” LINE’s 24/7 global fleet monitoring and support system.
Once operational, the unique facility will help the Japanese maritime logistics giant enhance the safety, efficiency and sustainable performance of its inhouse managed fleet. NavFleet will have a key role to play, seamlessly connecting vessels, crews and onshore teams with a solution that delivers real-time monitoring, and powerful operational insights.
Integrated benefits
“NavFleet builds a bridge between ships and shore,” explains Tor A. Svanes, CEO NAVTOR. “Functioning as a single, integrated platform, it shares the data necessary to build complete situational awareness of vessel operations; allowing for smarter, safer and more informed decision making.
“Working together with “K” LINE we can help them understand and act upon a constant stream of high-quality data, allowing them to address pain-points – on individual ships and across their entire, diverse fleet – and achieve the high standards they, and their business stakeholders, desire.
“We look forward to partnering with this globally respected shipowner, operator and manager on a mutual voyage of development, understanding and continual improvement.”
Committed to quality
NavFleet launched in 2021, building on NAVTOR’s integrated digital ecosystem of performance and e-Navigation products and services. Amongst other features, the solution unites business critical data, automates tasks, simplifies reporting, and eases regulatory compliance.
It proved to an ideal proposition for “K” LINE, as Captain Kiyotaka Aya, “K” LINE Senior Managing Executive Officer, explains:
“We have very good experience of working with the team at NAVTOR, who have delivered our navigational chart management services for more than eight years. We are confident that NavFleet will become vital in developing K-Line’s global fleet management and monitoring support systems, enhancing our safety and quality management. We are truly delighted to be partners with NAVTOR and expect to develop continually improving safety and quality together.” Kiyotaka Aya
Global ambition
The partnership also has the potential to expand to encompass further NAVTOR performance and e-Navigation products and services across “K” LINE’s total operated fleet.
A special signing ceremony in Japan was attended by the Norwegian Embassy and Norwegian Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Line Aune, Chargée d’Affaires ad interim, Norwegian Embassy, Japan, said at the event: “Japan is a very valuable partner of Norway in the maritime sector and this MoU is yet another example of the effective working partnership between our countries. I want to congratulate both “K” Line and NAVTOR on this new collaboration.”
In addition to NavFleet, NAVTOR’s portfolio includes NavStation digital chart table software (with automated Passage Planning), NavBox, a certified cyber secure gateway for seamless data transfer, NavCloud cloud computing services, and NAVTOR digital logbooks.
Read more about Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE)- Website