INTERNATIONAL FERRIES
The following are international ferries to and from Japan.
Russia
Sakhalin (Korsakov)-Wakkanai (169km)
Hokkaido Sakhalin Line Co., Ltd.
SASCO
Nichi-ro Ferry Teiki Koro Riyo Sokushin Kyogi-kai
Wakkanai Korsakov Teiki Koro Riyo Sokushin Kyogi-kai
Hokuto Kanko
Bi Tomo
South Korea
Vladivostok-Takaoka (Fushiki)-Sokcho (South Korea)-Zarubino
Dong Chun Ferry
Fushiki Kairiku Unso
Donghae-Sakaiminato
Duwon Shipping
Busan-Osaka
Sunstar Line Co., Ltd.
Panstar Co., Ltd.
Busan-Shimonoseki (228km)
Kampu Ferry Co., Ltd.
Pukwan Ferry Co., Ltd.
Busan-Fukuoka (Hakata) (215km)
Camellia Line Co., Ltd.
Koreaferry Co., Ltd.
Busan-Fukuoka (Hakata) (213km)
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry
Korea Marine Express
Mirae Jet
Dae-A Express Shipping
Busan-Tsushima
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry
Mirae Jet
Dae-A Express Shipping
Sunstar Line Co., Ltd.
Panstar Co., Ltd.
Tsushima Kokusai Line
China
Shanghai-Kobe-Osaka (1,540km)
China-Japan International Ferry Co., Ltd., CHINJIF
Japan-China International Ferry Co., Ltd., JIFCO
Information
On July 4, 2014, Japan finalized its decision to lift some of its unilateral sanctions on North Korea. However, a ban on the entry of the Mangyongbong-92, a North Korean passenger-cargo ferry will continue.
Sapporo-based Heart Land Ferry withdrew from the Wakkanai-Korsakov route on September 18, 2015 because of a declining demand. The Eins Soya will be sold.
Wakkanai city government will found a new ferry company, which will operate the Wakkanai-Korsakov route by January 2016 to strive to survive the route.
A South Korean ferry operator, DBS Cruise Ferry's Eastern Dream will call at Maizuru on a trial basis from July 3, 2015. The Port of Maizuru is planning to open the Maizuru-Sokcho (S. Korea)-Zarubino (Russia) route.
An Urasoe, Okinawa-based logistics company, Anshin Co., Ltd. set up a strategic partnership with a Taipei, Taiwan-based logistics company, Wagon Group on July 8, 2015. They are planning to start to operate a fast ro-pax ferry between Hualian, Taiwan and Miyakojima (or Ishigakijima) , Japan within a year.
On December 26, 2015, Orient Ferry will halt an operation of the Shimonoseki (Japan)-Tsingtao (China) route, which was opened in 1997.
Wakkanai city government has given up the idea of buying the Eins Soya from Sapporo-based Heart Land Ferry before December 17, 2015. However, it seeks to resume the Wakkanai-Korsakov route.
In January 2016, Heart Land Ferry's Eins Soya was sold to Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Inc., a Filipino ferry company.
Gwangyang Line, a South Korean ferry company will open the Gwangyang-Shimonoseki route with the ex-Ishikari (II) in 2016.
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry dissolved a joint operation with Mirae Jet at the end of March 2016.
Anshin and Wagon Group will launch a fast ferry service between Ishigaki and Hualian (Taiwan) on May 14, 2016.
On June 29, 2016, Hokkaido Sakhalin Koro, a joint public-private venture which was founded on April 1, 2016 announced that it has reached an agreement with SASCO, a Sakhalin shipping company that the SASCO will operate the Penguin 33, a catamaran (Pass: 80), chartered from a Singapore-based shipping company, Penguin International Limited, on the Wakkanai-Korsakov route from July 25 to September 16, 2016. 16 round trips are expected.
On August 1, 2016, SASCO will start to operate the Wakkanai-Korsakov route.
Sunstar Line Co., Ltd., a South Korean ferry company's affiliate in Japanese, will launch a reserved tour bus business in October 2016.
A South Korean ferry operator, Mirae Jet's Nina (553gt), a fast ferry entered service on the Busan (South Korea)-Tsushima (Izuhara & Hitakatsu, Japan) route on October 8, 2016.
On October 11, 2016, a South Korean company, Seodong Maritime Co., Ltd. went to law against Niigata International Shipping Co., Ltd. to ask for compensation, etc. In August, 2015, Niigata International Shipping's wholly owned subsidiary, NAFJ Panama made a contract with Seodong Maritime to buy the Ohamana (ex-Ferry Akebono), but refused to receive the ship because of her poor performance.
On December 2, 2016, SASCO and Hokkaido Sakhalin Line announced that they will operate a ferry service (38 round trips) on the Wakkanai-Korsakov route from June 1, 2017 to around September 20, 2017. SASCO is planning to build a new ferry in around 2018.
On December 10, 2016, South Korean ferry operator, Dae-A Express Shipping launched the Ocean Flower 2 (4,114gt, LOA: 81.15m, Beam: 26m, Pass: 825, Max Speed: 38knots, 1996) on the Busan-Tsushima (Izuhara) route.
On December 19, Niigata International Shipping Co., Ltd. entered into a settlement with Seodong Maritime Co., Ltd. a South Korean company, to pay 0.99 million USD over a dispute on the purchase of the Ohamana, a car ferry.
The Rera (ex-Natchan Rera) is set to launch on the Ishigaki-Suao (Taiwan) route in May 2017.
Niigata International Shipping Co., Ltd., which plans to open the Vladivostok-Niigata-Zarubino route, went into liquidation on September 21, 2017.
Urasoe-based Anshin has abandoned the idea of operation of the Rera (ex-Natchan Rera) on the Keelung (Taiwan)-Ishigaki route in at least 2017.
On December 8, 2017, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry signed a MOU (memorandum of understanding) to build a 80m-class fast trimaran with Austal Ships Pty. Ltd. The fast ferry is expected to enter service on the Busan-Fukuoka route in 2020.
On February 2, 2018, a South Korean company, Han-Il Express Shipping will launch the Aurora, a fast ferry on the Busan (South Korea)-Tsushima (Izuhara) route.
On February 28, 2018, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry signed a contract to design & build a 83m fast trimaran with Austal Ships Pty. Ltd. The red fast ferry will enter service on the Busan-Fukuoka route in July 2020.
From July 23, 2018, Kyushu Yusen will operate the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Tsushima (Hitakatsu) route by use of JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's three jet foils, the Beetle, the Beetle II, and the Beetle III on the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan (South Korea) route. Kyushu Yusen will rent 26 upstairs seats on JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's jet foils (a kind of "space charter"). As a result, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's jet foils, which run on the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan route, will begin to call at Tsushima (Hitakatsu) on July 23, 2018.
On May 25, 2018, Hokkaido Sakhalin Line announced that it has decided to give up the idea of operating ferry services in the year of 2018 on the Wakkanai (Japan)-Korsakov (Russia) route.
On June 13, 2018, Hokkaido Sakhalin Line (HSL) announced that SASCO will operate the Wakkanai (Japan)-Korsakov (Russia) route from July 20, 2018 to the late September with support from the Sakhalin Government. SASCO will operate the route with the Penguin 32, a fast pure-passenger catamaran. Hokkaido Sakhalin Line is a Japanese agent.
On August 3, 2018, Hokkaido Sakhalin Line (HSL) announced that SASCO will operate 19 round trips, a total of 38 services on the Wakkanai (Japan)-Korsakov (Sakhalin, Russia) route with the Penguin 32 catamaran from August 8 to September 22, 2018.
On August 27, 2018, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry announced that a fast trimaran which is set to enter service in July 2020, will be named "Queen Beetle".
The ridership of Hokkaido Sakhalin Line's Wakkanai-Korsakov service in fiscal 2018 was 678.
On July 29, 2019, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry announced that the Queen Beatle, a fast trimaran will enter service on the Fukuoka (Japan)-Busan (South Korea) route on July 15, 2020.
Hanil Express Shipping suspended its service on the Busan-Tsushima route from July 8 to September 30, 2019 due to the recent anti-Japanese sentiment among South Korean consumers.
Hanil Express Shipping was out of business in 2019.
Due to the boycott Japan movement in South Korea, Busan-based Mirae Jet will suspend services on the Busan (S. Korea)-Izuhara (Tsushima, Japan) route from August 16 to September 30, 2019, Pohang-based Dae-A Express Shipping will also suspend the route from August 19 to August 31, 2019.
A South Korean Ferry operator, DBS Cruise Ferry Co., Ltd. has announced that it will suspend operation of the Eastern Dream (ex-Queen Coral, 1993) on the Tonghae (S.Korea)-Sakaiminato (Japan)-Vladivostok (Russia) route from November 28, 2019 to February 29, 2020.
Japan-China International Ferry will suspend passenger service with the "Xin Jian Zhen" ferry on the Osaka-Kobe-Shanghai route from January 28, 2020 until further notice to prevent further spread of infection of the new coronavirus. Freight transport will be continued.
Shanghai Ferry's "SU ZHOU HAO" (14,410gt) which plies between Osaka and Shanghai will suspend passenger services from Shanghai to Osaka on February 11, and from Osaka to Shanghai on February 14, 2020 to prevent further spread of infection of the new coronavirus in China.
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry announced that it would stop all services on the Fukuoka-Busan route, the Tsushima-Busan route and the Fukuoka-Tsushima route from March 9 to March 31, 2020 at the request of the Japanese government to prevent the spread of the infection of the COVID-19.
Camellia Line will stop passenger transport with the New Camellia ro-pax ferry on the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan route from March 8 to March 31, 2020 at the request of the Japanese government to prevent the spread of the infection of the COVID-19. Cargo transport will be continued.
Kampu Ferry will stop passenger transport with the Hamayuu & the Seong Hee ro-pax ferries on the Shimonoseki-Busan route from March 6 to March 31, 2020 at the request of the Japanese government to prevent the spread of the infection of the COVID-19. Cargo transport will be continued.
On March 25, 2020, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Inc. announced that it pushed back the launch of the Queen Beetle, a fast trimaran to September 2020 or later. Because Australia has placed a ban on foreign nationals from entering into the country due to the novel coronavirus, and Japanese examining staffs can't carry out a completion test there.
A South Korean Ferry operator, DBS Cruise Ferry Co., Ltd. closed the Tonghae (S.Korea)-Sakaiminato (Japan)-Vladivostok (Russia) route on April 27, 2020.
On September 22, 2020, Osaka-based Shanghai Ferry announced that it will terminate the operation of the SU ZHOU HAO on the Shanghai-Osaka route at the end of September 2020 due to "the recent difficult business circumstances." The SU ZHOU HAO (14,410gt) will be transfered to China-Japan International Ferry (CHINJIF)/Japan-China International Ferry (JIFCO), and run on the Shanghai-Kobe-Osaka route with the XIN JIAN ZHEN(14,543gt).
On September 29, 2020, Austal Australia delivered the Queen Beetle, a high-speed trimaran ferry to JR Kyushu Jet Ferry.
On October 15, 2020, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's Queen Beetle arrived at the port of Hakata (Fukuoka).
As of December 1, 2020, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry has decided to sell three jetfoils called "Beetle," operate the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan route with the Queen Beetle alone, and cease calling at Tsushima.
On March 20, 2021, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's Panamanian-registered fast ferry, Queen Beetle started business as a sightseeing ship off Okinoshima under exceptional permission by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Ships Act article 3). She will also sail on March 21, 27, and 28.
Panstar, a South Korean shipping company signed agreement with DAE SUN SHIPBUILDING & ENGINEERING to build a new "cruise ferry" on July 11, 2022. The 22,000gt car ferry is expected to enter service on the Busan-Osaka route in 2025 when the Osaka Expo will be held.
On August 26, 2022, China-Japan International Ferry Co., Ltd. (CHINJIF) ordered "JIAN ZHEN HAO" (20,000gt, LOA:167.2m, Beam: 25.0m, Depth:9.0m) from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co.,Ltd. She is expected to enter service on the Osaka-Shanghai route in May 2024.
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry announced on October 26 that it will resume ferry services on the Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan route (213km) on November 4, 2022. This means that QUEEN BEETLE fast trimaran (2,582gt) will enter service on the route at last.
South Korea's PanStar resumed operation on the Busan-Osaka route with the Panstar Dream on November 1, 2022.
On December 16, 2022, Kampu Ferry will resume passenger operation on the Shimonoseki-Busan route for the first time in about two years and nine months.
Camellia Line, which operates Fukuoka (Hakata)-Busan route with the NEW CAMELLIA will resume passenger operations on December 23, 2022.
Sanstar Line, a general agent for Panstar announced that their PANSTAR TSUSHIMA LINK (ex-OCEAN FLOWER) fast ferry will enter service on the Tsushima-Busan route on February 25, 2023.
Vostok Tour (East Tour) in Shikotan Island began to offer regular services between Vladivostok and Nanao with Pleiona (944gt, Built in 1999, Pass:43, Crew:11, ex-Shonan Maru (646gt)) on October 23, 2023, but changed Nanao to Otaru on November 13, 2023. And then, it withdrew from the route.
Jian Zhen Hao is set to enter service on the Shanghai-Osaka/Kobe route on June 8, 2024.
Duwon Shipping, a South Korean shipping company will open the Donghae-Sakaiminato route with Eastern Dream on August 3, 2024.
August 14, 2024, JR Kyushu disclosed that its subsidiary, JR Kyushu Jet Ferry operated the Queen Beetle fast ferry linking Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea for more than three months, covering up a water leak under an order from the president. JR Kyushu Jet Ferry's president, Wataru Tanaka was relpaced with a board director, Kenji Oba.