Yaima Line will begin regular ferry service between Ishigaki Island, Okinawa and Keelung, Taiwan, on May 28.
The vessel’s name is YAIMAMARU. Main specifications are: overall length 160m, overall width 25m, gross tonnage 21,688 tons, and maximum speed 25.16 knots. She has a passenger capacity of 545 and a cargo carrying capacity equivalent to 180 TEUs (1 TEU = one 20-foot-long marine container).
In 1997, the ship was named “Sunflower Kuroshio” and operated between Tokyo, Nachikatsuura and Kochi until 2001, then operated between Kobe and Beppu for Diamond Ferry. 2002, the ship was sold to Panstar Ferry of Korea and operated between Busan and Osaka as “Panstar Dream”. In 2002, it was sold to Panstar Ferry of Korea, which operated the Pusan-Osaka route as Panstar Dream.
The Yaima Maru will be the southernmost international passenger ferry in Japan, sailing approximately 270 km from Ishigaki Port to Keelung Port in approximately 8 hours. Passengers can stay for up to 12 hours, from two hours before departure to two hours after arrival.
The Ishigaki – Keelung service is operated in cooperation with Taiwan’s Uniwagon (Tong Lian Airways). Reservations must be made by the day before the flight, and applications are accepted at travel agencies (Chuo Tourist, Klook, etc.).
There are seven room types: Royal Suite, Deluxe Suite, Family Room, and Standard A/B/C/G. Fares per person (excluding tax) start at 14,400 yen from May to June and 14,560 yen in July. Ishigaki citizens can take advantage of the “Ishigaki Citizens’ Discount” only if they apply at Chuo Tourist, a travel agency on Ishigaki Island.
The inaugural flight will depart from Keelung (24:00) on June 28 to Ishigaki (08:00) on June 29, with one round-trip flight per week until June 29 and two round-trip flights per week from July 2 to 31.
© Source travel watch