Abstract
The situation of the Pacific liners has been changed greatly in these ten years. It includes an increase of container cargoes and also several conditions such as the number of shipping companies, their alliance, services, selection of anchorage, vessel design and, freight rate etc. A route planning method of the lines is a determinant to the evaluation of their whole situation in the future. Thus the method should be changed from skill into technology. We show significance of the change and discuss the present situation, merit and demerit of handwritten route planning and technological one. Also we show fundamentals for a computational method of the route planning such as linear arrangement of the hub ports, calling ports in sequence, weekly service and empty containers arrangement, and basics of evaluation by the shipping companies' profits and the freight owners' advantage.
