History
Since our establishment in 1885, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has walked alongside the history of Japan, a maritime nation.
From Foundation to Route Expansion
Born of the merger of Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Company and Kyodo Unyu Kaisha, NYK resultantly expanded its business from the seas of Asia to the oceans of the world under the nibiki flag, which features two thick red lines on a white background to symbolize the union of the two companies from which NYK arose.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1885
Establishment of NYK Line (September 29), Founding (October 1)
1886
Liner service began between Nagasaki, Japan, and Tianjin, China.
1893
Japan's first long-distance liner service began on Bombay route.
1896
Liner service began on the three major routes(European, Seattle, Australian routes.)
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1916
Due to the opening of the Panama Canal, liner service to New York via The Panama Canal began.
1923
By separating the near seas service, Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd. was established.
1926
Dai-ni Toyo Kisen Kaisha acquired, gaining routes to San Francisco and the west coast of South America.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1929
Distinctive twin red stripes on white background became official funnel mark for NYK vessels.
1939
Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd. acquired.
1942
Three NYK vessels - Asama Maru, Tatsuta Maru, and Kamakura Maru - provided transport for exchange of U.S., British, and Japanese diplomats.
Reconstruction after World War II
Due to the devastation of World War II, NYK lost a significant portion of its two important assets, "crews and vessels," and was almost in a state of collapse. However, the company ventured into dedicated ship operations for specific cargoes during the high economic growth period and supported Japan's economic growth by adapting to the containerization of regular routes.
1945
Only 37 vessels, totaling 155,469 gross tons, remained after World War ll.
(185 vessels totaling 1,131,424 gross tons lost in the war)
1951-1957
Main liner services resumed by Conventional Vessels.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1959
Group's first crude oil tanker, Tamba Maru, launched.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1960
Group's first iron ore tanker, Tobata Maru, launched.
1961
Cargo-passenger ship, Hikawa Maru,withdrew from passenger services, moored in the port of Yokohama, where it is opened to the public.
1962
World's first large LPG carrier, Bridgestone Maru, launched.
1964
Acquired Mitsubishi Shipping Co. Ltd.
World's first wood-chip carrier, Kure Maru, launched.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1968
Hakone Maru, Japan's first fully containerized ship, began service on new California route.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1969
Near seas and domestic coastal services transferred to Kinkai Yusen Kaisha Ltd.
Container service to Australia began.
Group's first car/bulk carrier, Toyota Maru No. 5, launched.
1970
Container service to the west coast of North America began.
Group's first car carrier, Jintsu Maru, launched.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1971
Container service to Europe began.
1972
Container service to the east coast of North America began.
1974
Group's first container terminal operations commenced at Oi in the port of Tokyo.
1980
Australia-Malaysia-Persian Gulf container service began.
1983
Group's first LNG carrier, Echigo Maru, launched. LNG transportation began.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
Transition to a Comprehensive Logistics Group
With the rapid appreciation of the yen due to the Plaza Accord announced in 1985, NYK promoted the multinationalization of its crews and embarked on a structural transformation towards becoming a comprehensive logistics group based on international shipping operations.
1990
Luxury cruise ship Crystal Harmony began service as Group reenters cruise business.
1991
Nippon Liner System Co. Ltd. acquired,
Luxury cruise ship Asuka launched.
1993
First Japan-registered double-hull tanker, Takamine Maru, launched.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
1996
New container services offered through the Grand Alliance commenced on the North America - European routes.
1997
Diamond Grace tanker accident occured in Tokyo Bay.
1998
Showa Line Co. Ltd. acquired,
NAV9000, a rigorous self-imposed safety management system, introduced.
2001
Hinode Kisen Co. Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of NYK and assumed responsibility for NYK's conventional ship business.
2002
NYK (including chartered fleet) obtained ISO14001 certification, world's first for a shipping company.
2003
NYK Maritime Museum opened in the renovated Yokohama Yusen Building.
*Owned by NYK Maritime Museum
2004
All logistics subsidiaries rebranded as "NYK Logistics."
Creation of Next-Generation Businesses Beyond Comprehensive Logistics
By participating in the energy sector and investing in new businesses aimed at decarbonization, NYK is actively challenging the creation of new value beyond comprehensive logistics and addressing global societal challenges on a planetary scale.
2005
Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) became a consolidated subsidiary of NYK.
2006
AsukaⅡ, luxury cruise ship, began service.
2007
NYK-TDG Maritime Academy opened.
NYK Group Values (The 3 I's - integrity, innovation, and intensity) announced.
2009
Exploratory design for NYK Super Eco Ship 2030 released.
Group participated in project for ultra-deepwater drillship.
2010
Group entered offshore shuttle tanker business by purchasing interest in Knutsen Offshore Tankers AS.
Yusen Logistics established to integrate the NYK Group's logistics.
2011
Group participated in FPSO business.
2012
NYK's Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) became the first in the world to be certified by ClassNK.
2013
NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. and NYK Global Bulk Corporation merged to form NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd.
2015
Japan's first LNG-fueled tugboat, Sakigake, launched.
2016
World's first LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) delivered.
2017
New integrated container shipping company Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) established.
Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd. fully acquired.
ENGIE Zeebrugge, the world's first LNG bunkering vessel, launched.
2018
New integrated container shipping company ONE started operation.
Exploratory design for NYK SUPER ECO SHIP 2050 released.
2019
World's first Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships trial conducted.
2020
Framework for ESG management established.
MarCoPay Inc. realized world's first onboard use of digital currency.
Japan's first LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) delivered.
2021
NYK Group ESG Story issued.
First NYK-TDG Maritime Academy graduate attained rank of NYK captain.
Target of net-zero emissions by 2050 for oceangoing businesses announced.
2023
World's first LNG-fueled Panamax delivered.
