VESSEL REVIEW | Ferry No 11 Oosumi – First of two Ro-Paxes built for Japan’s Kagoshima Bay

Japanese transport company Iwasaki Corporation recently took delivery of a new Ro-Pax ferry built locally by Naikai Zosen Corporation.

Named Ferry No 11 Oosumi, the vessel is the first unit in a series of two ferries ordered by Iwasaki Corporation for operation by subsidiary Kagoshima Kotsu. The ferries will sail primarily within Kagoshima Bay, transporting passengers and freight between the ports of Kamoike and Tarumi in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The newbuild has an LOA of 76.9 metres, a moulded beam of 13.3 metres, a maximum draught of 3.73 metres, a gross tonnage of 1,500, a crew of 11, and capacity for 500 passengers and vehicles consisting of either 54 cars or 14 buses. Loading and unloading of vehicles and other freight will be via bow and stern ramp doors.

Two Daihatsu 6DKM-26e diesel engines that each produce 1,470 kW at 750 rpm drive propellers to deliver a cruising speed of approximately 16.4 knots. The propulsion setup also includes a bow thruster and two flap rudders capable of rotating 45 degrees and with rear ends that can swing up to 90 degrees. These enable the ferry to manoeuvre more efficiently in close quarters such as when entering and leaving ports.

To help minimise energy consumption and thus improve propulsion performance, the ferry is equipped with features such as rudder valves, bow and stern fins, and stern wave rectifier plates.

Ferry No 11 Oosumi was completed in compliance to Japanese Government flat water area requirements. Sister vessel Ferry No 12 Oosumi is meanwhile in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to begin serving the Kamoike-Tarumi route in 2024.