New South Korea-Japan-Russia cargo-passenger liner service launched

Wednesday 01st July, 04:10 AM JST

TOTTORI —

A South Korean ferry entered Sakai port in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, Tuesday, inaugurating a new cargo-passenger shipping route linking Sakaiminato with South Korea’s Donghae and Russia’s Vladivostok. The 14,000-ton Eastern Dream, which left Donghae Monday, is scheduled to leave Sakai port Wednesday to continue its cruise first to Donghae and then to Vladivostok. The ship, operated by DBS Cruise Ferry, a subsidiary of Seoul-based Dae-A Express Shipping Co., is able to carry about 450 passengers plus cargo. The new liner shipping service was originally planned to begin in April but was postponed due to the global financial and economic crisis that broke out last year.

Through the new service, the Japanese side plans to export sake and watermelons and hopes to accept South Korean and Russian tourists who wish to visit hot-spring resorts and eat Japanese food. The Tottori prefectural government said it expects that the new shipping service may generate 10 billion yen in annual economic effects through trade and passenger traffic. The local government said it expects to make Sakai port a gateway to other parts of Northeast Asia through the new service, which it said could break the current recession in Japan. According to Yonhap News Agency, a 90-member South Korean delegation was aboard the inaugural cruise. Among them were senior officials and assembly members of the Gangwon provincial and Donghae municipal governments. Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai and Sakaiminato Mayor Katsuji Nakamura are scheduled to board the Eastern Dream Wednesday to visit first Donghae and then Vladivostok, the Tottori prefectural government said.

Kyodo

› Login to comment

3 Comments

Foxie at 01:39 PM JST - 1st July

That's a good start. I hope to see more ferries between Korea, Russia, China and Japan in the future.
moshiso7 at 09:26 PM JST - 1st July

There's a reason why qina isn't included.
Stonecoldsoba at 09:25 PM JST - 2nd July

and hopes to accept South Korean and Russian tourists who wish to visit hot-spring resorts and eat Japanese food.

Of course! Why else would anyone come to Japan!? :)