VESSEL REVIEW | Penghu – Ro-Pax for Taiwan inter-island routes

Japanese shipbuilder Naikai Zosen Corporation has delivered a new Ro-Pax ferry to Taiwanese-government owned shipping line Taiwan Navigation for inter-island sailings.

Named Penghu after the archipelago that lies west of the Taiwanese mainland, the vessel will be operated on a route that connects its namesake island with the mainland via the Port of Kaohsiung.

The new ferry has an LOA of 119.99 metres, a moulded beam of 21 metres, a draught of 5.5 metres, a depth of eight metres, a gross tonnage of approximately 9,980, and space for 632 passengers and crew plus assorted vehicle, bulk, and containerised cargo for a total deadweight tonnage of 1,915.

Cargo is transported via two vehicle decks with loading and unloading accomplished via ramp doors at the stern and near the bow. Only passenger-driven cars may be housed in the lower cargo deck whereas the upper deck can accommodate other types of freight.

The passenger spaces are distributed across three decks while the topmost deck contains the crew accommodation spaces along with the bridge. Passenger cabins include first class, business class, and economy options.

Two Daihatsu 8DKM-36e 4,400kW diesel engines drive propellers to enable the ferry to reach a cruising speed of 19.3 knots. Also fitted are two rudders and a bow thruster, which permits enhanced manoeuvrability especially when navigating in port.

Penghu was built in compliance to CR Classification Society requirements. It replaces an older ferry that had served the Kaohsiung-Magong route for 34 years before being retired from service in August 2023.

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