BC
DRY BULK · 01
Bulk Carriers / Bulk Carriers
Steel, biomass, grain and coal — the dry bulk that powers industry, delivered worldwide.
Carrying trust across the oceans
Carrying trustacross the oceans.
Carrying trust across the oceans since 1946.
01
NEWS
2026.06.01
PRESSOur new head office is now open — From Kanaike, Oita, into the next 80 yearsVIEW ALL02PHILOSOPHY / Our philosophy
Through logistics,we enrich the world.
Beyond every horizon, someone is waiting for what we carry — factories waiting for steel, homes waiting for energy, cities waiting for cars. Every cargo we move supports a life, drives a society, and helps shape the future.
In 1946, our founder Kuniyoshi Hirai started a shipping business with a single wooden vessel, driven by a simple wish: to be of use to others through every delivery.Eighty years on, that wish has not changed.
READ MORE · Our philosophy03FACT SHEET / Hirai Line in numbers
80yrs
Founded
1946 · Oita
8ships
Fleet
Bulk · Car · Chemical · LPG
35M USD
Group revenue
FY2025 consolidated
80yrs
Sole banking
Oita Bank partnership
04BUSINESS / Our business
Four vessel types,
every demand the seas can bring.
Hirai Line owns ocean-going vessels and charters them out to operators. A balanced fleet that keeps global logistics moving.
READ MORE · About our businessCC
ROLL-ON / OFF · 02
Car Carriers / Car Carriers
Carrying Japan's automotive industry across the seas with purpose-built ro-ro vessels.
CT
LIQUID BULK · 03
Chemical Tankers / Chemical Tankers
Petroleum products, chemicals and other liquids — careful handling is our specialty.
LPG
GAS CARRIER · 04
LPG Tankers / LPG Tankers
Liquefied petroleum gas — essential energy for Japanese homes and industry.
05STRENGTHS / Why clients choose us
Eighty years, one steady heart.
- 80 years of trust80 Years of Trust
Four generations of relationships built since 1946 — trust is our greatest asset.
- Long-term partnershipsLong-term Partnerships
Once a relationship begins, we honor it for ten, twenty years and beyond.
- Financial stabilityFinancial Stability
80 years of sole banking with Oita Bank — disciplined, dependable management.
- A diversified fleetDiversified Fleet
Bulk, car, chemical and LPG — a balanced fleet for diverse demands.
- Next-generation leadershipNext Generation
Led by a young management team, we honor tradition while taking on new challenges — a partner for the long view.
06COMPANY / About us
Eighty years
on solid ground.
Eighty years since our founding. From our home in Oita, four generations have carried on the work of ocean shipping. A glance at the company behind the voyage.
- FOUNDED
- April 1946
- HEAD OFFICE
- Kanaike, Oita City
- PRESIDENT
- Shinko Hirai
- BUSINESS
- Ocean-going vessel owning & chartering
07RECRUIT / Careers
Care to comeaboard with us?
We're not looking for ready-made talent — we're looking for people who can keep their eyes on the horizon, for the long haul.
Skills come with time. Your colleagues will guide you, step by step.
- ROLEDeck officer / Engineer / Office staff
- FORNew graduates / Recent graduates / Career hires
- PLACEOita & on board our vessels
CONTACT · Get in touch
Set sailwith us.
Chartering, newbuilding plans, careers and other inquiries — please feel free to reach out.