site.btaBulgarian Company to Manage Nine Japanese Car Carriers

The Bulgarian company Stargate Bulgaria, part of "K" Line, is taking over the management of nine car carriers owned by the Japanese company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" Line), Stargate Bulgaria General Manager Andriyan Evtimov said here on Friday. As part of the investment worth over USD 1 million, Stargate will open an office employing nine people.

Stargate is expected to take on the management of more vessels, specifically running on alternative fuels such as gas, ammonia and hydrogen, in 2025.

As of January 12, "K" Line ships will not pass through the Gulf of Aden for at least a week because of the situation there. The ships in the area are waiting in the Suez Canal. While bypassing the critical area does not make the voyages more expensive, as the cost of additional fuel is offset by the non-payment of fees for crossing the Suez Canal, it does cause delays in the deliveries.

Sohachi Takimoto, senior managing director at "K" Line, said that representatives of the company visited Bulgaria in the late 1990s, and a manning company was established then. It is now moving to the next stage in the partnership - ship management. Sohachi Takimoto added that the company already has three such centres. The first two are in Kobe and Bremen. Choosing the city of Varna to host the third one is recognition of the professionalism of Bulgarian seafarers and specialists, Sohachi Takimoto said.

Evtimov reported that the Japanese company employees more than 300 Bulgarian officers. He pointed out that as the number of its ships increases, the need for such personnel will also rise. He added that in 2023 the company has reinstated its internship and cadet programmes with students from Bulgarian universities with maritime degrees.

According to data cited by Evtimov, some 81% of sailors around the world need more detailed training related to alternative fuels. He said this gives all institutions involved in training maritime personnel a chance to take a larger share of this market, if they react appropriately and in time. Shipping is a global business, but so can be cadre training, as long as the requirements of the International Maritime Organization are met, Evtimov said.