The need to achieve stable profits at a time of highly volatile shipping markets has driven Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) to expand beyond its traditional bulkers, tankers and boxships into energy transport and car carriers.

NYK’s medium-term management plan, “More Than Shipping 2018 — Stage 2 leverage by Creative Solutions”, which runs from April 2014 for five years, will see the company grow its LNG fleet and beef up its presence in offshore business.

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