"K" Line to drop all-water route ... but keeps an eye on the Atlantic. (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha will suspend its U.S. East Coast all-water liner service)

"K" Line to Drop All-Water Route

..... but keeps an eye on the Atlantic. Multitrade operations may bring it back.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" Line) has commissioned construction of five container ships and will suspend its U.S. East Coast all-water liner service from the Far East in mid-December when it upgrades its West Coast-based stack-train routes.

Absence from East Coast ports may only be temporary for the Japanese carrier's liner operations, however. Growing shipper interest in multi-trade carrier services has led "K" line to eye the possibility of entering the transatlantic trades, which would necessitate calls at U.S. Atlantic ports.

"How can you be global and not be in the North Atlantic?" queried Oscar Abello, president and chief executive officer of "K" Line America, Inc.

Abello indicated there was no schedule for "K" Line's entry into …