History

  • 1903

    Katsutaro Kambara, the first company president, purchases 3 sailing ships to establish his marine transport business.

  • 1943

    SETONAIKAI SENPAKU Co., Ltd. is established.

  • 1948

    SETONAIKAI SENPAKU Co., Ltd. changes its name to KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd. and relocates its head office to Tokyo.
    Wooden vessels begin being replaced by steel vessels with the purchase of the steel ship “Ibokawa Maru”.

  • 1956

    An order for the first newly constructed vessel, the “Daigo Tensha Maru” (a steel ship), is placed.

  • 1967

    An order is placed with TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING for the first ocean vessel, the “Tenshou Maru”.

  • 1969

    The “Tenko Maru” high-speed liner vessel is constructed.

  • 1978

    KAMBARA MARINE K.K. is established.
    The “Tenjin Maru” and “Joujin Maru” pure car carriers (PCC) are constructed. The “Tenyo Maru” multipurpose cargo carrier is also constructed.

  • 1982

    High skew propellers are adopted for newly constructed car carriers.

  • 1983

    Southeast Asia and Micronesia semi-container carrier route is established.

    The “Anne B” and “Betty B” are constructed as the largest refrigerated cargo carriers in the world at the time.
    40 thousand ton (TESS40) bulk carrier developed in collaboration with TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING to establish the Handymax ship class.

  • 1984

    DOLPHIN PACIFIC (SAIPAN) Inc. is established.

  • 1986

    The “Astro Prosperity” full container carrier is constructed.
    The 110,000 ton “Aimuiden Maru” Capesize bulk carrier is also constructed.

  • 1994

    Container liner service between Japan and China is established under joint management.

  • 1995

    Head office relocated to Numakuma-cho, Hiroshima prefecture and Tokyo location converted to a branch office.

  • 1997

    Three 23,000 ton bulk carriers are constructed consecutively at TSUNEISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Inc. (Cebu) in the Philippines.

  • 2000

    The 150,000 ton bulk coal carrier “Tsunomine” is constructed.
    Xiamen office is established.

  • 2002

    Independent container liner service between Japan and China is established.

  • 2003

    Fully owned subsidiary KAMBARA KISEN (CHINA) SHIPPING Co., Ltd. is established in China.

  • 2004

    Tianjin and Ningbo Offices are established.

  • 2005

    KAMBARA KISEN (CHINA) SHIPPING Co., Ltd. Dalian and Qingdao Branches are established.
    Hiroshima, Otaru, and Nanjing Offices are established.

  • 2006

    KAMBARA KISEN Fukuyama Logistics Center commences operation.
    SHANGHAI KAMBARA INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION AGENCY Co., Ltd. is established.

  • 2007

    Merged with other 10 affiliate companies to form TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS CORPORATION KAMBARA KISEN COMPANY.

  • 2008

    Southeast Asia, India, and Middle East service areas are expended in cooperation with RCL (Regional Container Lines).

  • 2011

    KAMBARA KISEN Co., Ltd. is formed through split-up of TSUNEISHI HOLDINGS.

  • 2012

    Completion ceremony is held for the KAMBARA KISEN Fukuyama Logistics Center No. 2 warehouse.
    10th anniversary of the establishment of the Otaru-China container liner service.

  • 2013

    The newly constructed, company-owned “Vega Sky” and “Altair Sky” container carriers enter into service.

  • 2015

    E-service started for container liner service.

  • 2016

    Taiwan service is strengthened in cooperation with HASCO (SHANGHAI HAI HUA SHIPPING Co., Ltd.).

  • 2017

    The newly constructed, company-owned “Scarlet Arrow”, “Crystal Arrow”, and “Oriental Arrow” container vessels enter into service.

  • 2019

    LR1 type product / chemical tanker construction completed.

  • 2020

    2800TEU type container carrier construction completed.

  • 2022

    The newly constructed, company-owned “Sustainable Earth” and “Harmonized Earth” container carriers enter into service.