On February 28, 2007, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) took delivery of a new 90,000 DWT bulk carrier built by Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (Head Office: Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture; President: Sho Minami).

The new bulk carrier has been named Shin Sanyo Maru and is the fourth vessel to be used entirely for the transport of coal for Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc. All four of the bulk carriers are wide and have shallow drafts,* features that are common on modern vessels used for coal transport, and transport their cargo to power stations, including Misumi Power Station in Shimane Prefecture. The new bulk carrier will be used for the transport of coal from mainly Australia and Indonesia to Chugoku Electric power stations and coal centers in Japan.

Immediately before the delivery of the vessel, a naming ceremony was held at Oshima Shipbuilding. Mr. Yasushi Yamawaki, NYK executive vice-president, and his wife, in addition to Mr. Shigeo Suehiro, Chugoku Electric executive vice-president and director, and his wife, attended among others. The bulk carrier then embarked on its first voyage to the port of Newcastle in Australia for loading.