(NYK Global History available here)
1896
Liner service begins on European routes, calling at Antwerp.
London Branch opened.
1899
Liner service to London inaugurated.
1918
Mediterranean Liner service begins.
1919
Liner service to Hamburg and Liverpool begins.
1945
NYK left with only 37 vessels, having lost 185 during World War II while supporting military operations in the Pacific.
1954
Near East service re-established after a period of 13 years (monthly service to Mediterranean and Red Sea ports).
1956
Hostilities break out between Israel, UK and France against Egypt which results in the closure of the Suez Canal on 28th October. The canal stays closed until April 1957 and liner services are re-routed via the Cape.
1957
London staff allowed to take holidays aboard NYK vessels while transiting European and Mediterranean ports for a cost of £1 a day!
1965
Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry Floating Fair Ship tours major North European ports to display a selective range of Japanese products designed for the European market.
1967
The '7 Day War' between Egypt and Israel results in the second closing of the Suez Canal, which remains closed for the next 6 years.
1968
Containerisation". The Trio Consortium is established. The joint venture, comprising OCL, Ben Line, NYK, MOL and Hapag Lloyd, is set up with the intention to introduce a fully containerised joint service between N. Europe and the Far East by 1972.
1970
The inauguration of the NYK Japan/Far East - West Africa joint service with the Congolese Maritime Company.
1971
The Trio Service is inaugurated on schedule - NYK's m.v. "Kamakura Maru" sails from Japan in December.
1972
Following the Trio Consortium, the 'Mediterranean Far East Consortium' (or Med Club) is established to containerise this trade, comprising Lloyd Triestino, Messagerie Maritime, Chargeurs Reunie, NYK and MOL. The Med Club serves from Barcelona, Marseilles, Genoa and Trieste to/from Singapore Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea.
1990
First Intra-European trade begins - the North West Europe-Portugal service.
1994
Creation of NYK Own agencies within Europe, starting with UK, quickly followed by Benelux, Germany and Sweden. This was later followed by Denmark and Finland.
1990's
Emergence of the MegaCarrier competitors. Introduction of the FEFC new tariff NT 90.
2007
NYK's Liner, RORO and Logistics companies in Europe merge to form NYK Group Europe Ltd.