JAPANESE shipping line "K" line has quit the European Liner Affairs Association, becoming the second major ocean liner to leave the group in the last year after MOL.

The departure follows a ban on shipping conferences operating within the European Union that was implemented last October. Since the ban, the ELAA is said to have become primarily an information gathering and disseminating body without lobbying intentions.

Nowadays, the ELAA releases monthly volume information on trades to and from Europe.

"We have made the corporate decision to withdraw from ELAA as we consider the original purpose/role of this group, which was discussing maintaining block exemption to liner services, has concluded," said "K" Line's container marketing chief Shuichi Kimura, reported American Shipper. "As such, it is "K" Line's intention to withdraw."

On the other hand, "K" Line will continue to be a member of the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement, which Japanese shipping line MOL left last year.