Keelung: The first-ever direct ferry service between Taiwan's Keelung City and Okinawa's Ishigaki Island is set to embark on its inaugural journey Thursday night, carrying approximately 200 passengers, which is around 40 percent of its total capacity, as confirmed by the operator Wagon Group.
According to Focus Taiwan, the relatively low bookings for the maiden voyage have been attributed to a short sales period, with tickets only becoming available on May 15. Wagon Group General Manager Hung Yu-hang explained the situation to reporters ahead of the launch ceremony.
The ferry, named the Yaima Maru, boasts a gross tonnage of 21,688 and offers 122 rooms with a total of 493 beds. Accommodations on board range from luxurious suites to dormitory-style rooms designed for four to 15 passengers. During the trial operation phase, which spans from May 28 to the end of June, the ferry is scheduled to depart Keelung every Thursday night, returning from Ishigaki every Monday.
This overnight service is planned to leave Keelung at 11 p.m., reaching Ishigaki by 8 a.m. the following day. Return trips are set to depart Ishigaki at 9 p.m., with arrival in Keelung at 8 a.m. Despite the initial low bookings, tickets for the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend have already been sold out, highlighting the ferry's potential popularity.
Hung noted that the ferry provides travelers with a slower-paced, more affordable transportation option. He also mentioned plans for freight services to commence after four to five months of preparation, and a potential new route connecting Yilan County's Su'ao Township and Ishigaki Island is currently under negotiation with Japanese authorities.
Maritime and Port Bureau Director-General Yeh Hsieh-lung, speaking at the launch ceremony, expressed optimism that the new ferry route would draw more international tourists to Taiwan. He highlighted that Ishigaki had experienced a record influx of overseas visitors in the previous year. Yeh also emphasized the potential expansion of maritime freight services between Taiwan and Japan, with the Yaima Maru capable of carrying up to 90 forty-foot cargo containers once cargo operations begin.
Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama, present at the ceremony, remarked on the significance of overcoming numerous challenges to make the ferry route a reality. He noted that Taiwanese visitors had typically traveled to Ishigaki by cruise ship and expressed hope that the new ferry service would invigorate local tourism and related sectors, such as accommodation.