VESSEL REVIEW | Ferry Takachiho – Newbuild enters service with Japan’s Miyazaki Car Ferry

Japanese operator Miyazaki Car Ferry recently took delivery of the first of two large Ro-Pax vessels ordered from local shipyard Naikai Zosen Corporation.

Ferry Takachiho and sister vessel Ferry Rokko will replace two 1997-built ferries in the owner's fleet. The older vessels were acquired by Miyazaki Car Ferry from the now-defunct shipping line Marine Express. The decision was made to replace them after it became evident that they had limited potential with regards to improving passenger comfort in compliance to the latest standards.

The new ferry has a length of 194 metres, a beam of 27.6 metres, a draught of 6.7 metres, a gross tonnage of 14,200, and capacity for 576 passengers and 1,972 lane metres of freight, which will typically include 81 cars and 160 trailers, split across two vehicle decks. Vehicle access is via ramp doors at the stern and the forward port side near the bow.

Although the newbuild has a slightly reduced passenger capacity compared to its predecessors, it nonetheless offers a number of key improvements including a more streamlined hull shape to reduce fuel consumption, a funnel fitted with SOx filters, additional trailer capacity (the owner's two older ferries were limited to carrying a maximum of 80 vehicles each), and larger and more spacious private cabins.

The passenger cabin options include premium two- and three-person staterooms, first class double and quadruple cabins, single cabins, cabins for lorry drivers, cabins for passengers traveling with pets, and dormitory-style spaces with multiple berths in each. The crew accommodations are situated on a separate deck.

Amenities include a restaurant, indoor and outdoor promenades, a retail shop, and two traditional Japanese public bath areas with sea-view windows.

A pair of JFE-SEMT Pielstick 12PC2-6B diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers deliver a maximum speed of 23 knots. Two bow thrusters and an anti-roll stabiliser are also fitted.

Should evacuation of the ferry become necessary, the passengers and crew have access to liferafts. A semi-rigid rescue boat is also available for use in man overboard situations.

Ferry Takachiho was delivered in March 2022 and has since begun operating on the 494 kilometres between Miyazaki and Kobe, the only route served by its owners. Sister vessel Ferry Roko is nearing completion and will serve the same route following its delivery in the autumn of this year. Some of the funding for the construction of the two newbuilds was provided by the Miyazaki prefecture government and the Regional Economy Vitalisation Corporation of Japan (REVIC), a Japanese government-sponsored private lending body.

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