It used to be the fourteenth largest container transportation and shipping company in the world, before becoming part of Ocean Network Express in 2017.

The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo's Ueno Park was established around the core of Matsukata's private collection.

[2] In 1926, according to Lloyds, the newly established "K" Line reached the rank of 13th in the world, behind compatriots NYK (9th) but ahead of O.S.K.

K Line opens International Transportation Service, a container terminal company in the Port of Long Beach.

All owned RORO vessels started to include in the first part of their names the word “Highway” (opposite to its container fleet's vessels that include the word “Bridge” into their names), to symbolize a link in between Japan and the rest of the world served by sea.

They have commissioned new ships suitable for oil and gas fields in ultra-deep water, harsh environments and/or remote areas.

On September 30, 2007, Shuichiro Maeda, K-Line president, said the company will build 10 cargo ships to be manned by an all-Filipino officers and crew.

On 23 July, KESS car carrier Makassar Highway[8] ran hard aground at full speed in the Tjust archipelago near Loftahammar, Sweden, causing an oil spill.

[14] A few month earlier, the Makassar Highway had collided with the dredger "Xiang Wang Cai 17" near the Chinese city of Zhangzhou.

[18] On 15 June 2019, car carrier Diamond Highway caught fire while sailing in between the ports of Singapore and Batangas.

[19] Philippine Coast Guard was alerted, and a mission to rescue the 25 members of the Crew was undertaken by another car carrier sailing in proximity.

On 2 August 2019, K-Line was convicted and fined AUD34.5 million for criminal cartel conduct by the Australian Federal Court.