Hankyu Ferry
Hankyu Ferry is a Japanese shipping company headquartered Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The company operates ferry routes connecting the Hanshin Industrial Region and Kitakyushu, and is recognized as Japan’s first long-distance car ferry operator. Hankyu Ferry is part of the SHK Line Group, led by Kanko Kisen, and forms one of its core companies alongside Shin Nihonkai Ferry and Kampu Ferry. It is also a member of the Midori-kai Association and belongs to the Sanwa Group.
History
In 1964, Japan’s coastal shipping industry faced several challenges, including the enactment of the Coastal Shipping Business Act and the Coastal Shipping Association Act, the increase in long-distance trucking following the opening of the Meishin Expressway, and rising labor costs and shortages among dockworkers. In response, Toyoshu Iriya, president of Kanko Kaiun, proposed modernizing maritime transport through the use of ferries, roll-on/roll-off ships, or container ships as part of a “sea bypass” concept.Since cargo handling costs were placing a strain on company operations, he chose ferries, which could significantly reduce handling expenses by allowing trucks to be loaded directly onto vessels. In November of the same year, a Long-Distance Ferry Research Department was established within the company.
At the time, no precedent existed for long-distance car ferry routes in Japan, and there was skepticism about the project’s feasibility. To verify profitability, the company conducted field surveys of truck traffic at Sumaura Park in Kobe and near the Kanmon Tunnel exit, supplemented by data from the Land Transport Bureau and Japanese National Railways. The survey results exceeded expectations, confirming sufficient demand for long-distance ferry service.
Hankyu Ferry began operations in 1968, initially using its own trucks to fill empty space on the car deck. With the launch of its second vessel, Dairoku Hankyu, the company established daily service between Kobe and Kokura. Truck traffic increased rapidly, and the company became profitable within six months of launching operations. In 1973, Meimon Car Ferry and Taiyo Ferry opened a parallel route, beginning long-term competition that continues today.
Timeline
Routes
For detailed and updated information, refer to the official website.| Service | Departure Port | Arrival Port | Distance | Vessels in Service |
| Kobe No. 1 | Port of Kobe | Port of Shinmoji | 454 km | Settsu, Yamato |
| Kobe No. 1 | Shinmoji Port | Kobe Port | 454 km | Settsu, Yamato |
| Izumiotsu No. 1 | Izumiotsu Port | Shinmoji Port | 458 km | Izumi, Hibiki |
| Izumiotsu No. 1 | Shinmoji Port | Izumiotsu Port | 458 km | Izumi, Hibiki |
; Former routes
- Kobe Port – Kanda Port
- Kobe Port – Shimonoseki Port – Kokura Port
- Osaka Nanko – Hakata Port
Vessels
The current livery is beige with light blue lines on the bow and stern of the hull, a single blue line on the front half, and a double blue line on the rear half that forms a U-shape when viewed from the port side. The blue Hankyu Ferry logo is placed at the center. This design has been used since theYamato and Tsukushi entered service in 2003.
Ship allocation by service is as follows :
- Izumiotsu departures and arrivals: Izumi and Hibiki
- Kobe departures and arrivals: Settsu and ''Yamato''
Current Vessels
| Ship name | Completed | Launched | Gross tonnage | Length | Beam | Service speed | Passenger capacity | Truck capacity | Car capacity | Builder |
| Izumi | 2014 | January 22, 2015 | 15,897 | 195 | 29.6 | 23.5 | 643 | 191 | 184 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard |
| Hibiki | 2014 | April 21, 2015 | 15,897 | 195 | 29.6 | 23.5 | 643 | 191 | 184 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard |
| Settsu | February 2020 | March 10, 2020 | 16,300 | 195 | 29.6 | 23.5 | 663 | 277 | 188 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard |
| Yamato | June 2020 | June 30, 2020 | 16,300 | 195 | 29.6 | 23.5 | 663 | 277 | 188 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard |
Former Vessels
| Ship name | Completed | Launched | Gross tonnage | Length | Beam | Speed | Passenger capacity | Truck capacity | Car capacity | Builder | Notes |
| Ferry Hankyu | 1968 | June 11, 1968 | 5,201.8 | 127.7 | 22.4 | 16.8 | 1,195 | 80 | 60 | Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki | Entered service on Kokura–Kobe route ; sold to Greece and scrapped in Alang, India |
| Hankyu No. 6 | 1968 | November 2, 1968 | 5,011.1 | 127.3 | 22.4 | 16.8 | 1,195 | 80 | 60 | Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki | Became Ferry Kampu, later Kibo Maru; sold to Greece and scrapped |
| Ferry Seto | 1970 | August 1970 | 6,523.2 | 149.1 | 22.8 | 20.0 | 1,193 | 92 | 120 | Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki | Sold to the Philippines as Nasipit Princess, scrapped |
| Ferry Harima | 1970 | November 19, 1970 | 6,521.1 | 149.1 | 22.8 | 20.0 | 1,193 | 92 | 120 | Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki | Sold to the Philippines as Cotabato Princess ; scrapped 2009 |
| Ferry Nagato | 1972 | September 3, 1972 | 7,009.2 | 150.1 | 22.8 | 20.5 | 1,185 | 94 | 120 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to Greece as Grace M / Felicia; scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey |
| Ferry Akashi | 1972 | November 20, 1972 | 6,987.0 | 150.1 | 22.8 | 20.5 | 1,185 | 94 | 120 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to Greece as Dame M, later Salamis Star, Marrakech Express, then became Bni Nsar, detained and later scrapped at Aliaga, Turkey |
| Hankyu No. 16 | 1972 | April 1973 | 5,687 | 135.5 | 22.0 | 20.25 | 770 | 84 | 109 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Ex-Tsukushi; sold to South Korea as Ferry Busan, later Panagia Krimniotissa, broken up at Aliaga, Turkey |
| Hankyu No. 17 | 1973 | December 18, 1973 | 5,748.3 | 135.5 | 22.0 | 20.25 | 770 | 84 | 109 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Ex-Hakata; renamed multiple times ; ended as Panagia Agiasou, decommissioned in 2008 |
| Hankyu No. 24 | 1976 | January 24, 1976 | 6,936.2 | 151.5 | 22.8 | 21.7 | 950 | 114 | 38 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to the Philippines as St. Joseph the Worker, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Hankyu No. 32 | 1976 | 1976 | 6,950.9 | 151.5 | 22.8 | 21.7 | 950 | 114 | 38 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to the Philippines as St. Peter the Apostle, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| New Yamato | 1983 | October 16, 1983 | 11,919.0 | 173.0 | 26.8 | 22.5 | 760 | 166 | 75 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to the Philippines as Princess of the Universe, scrapped |
| New Miyako | 1984 | January 29, 1984 | 11,914.0 | 173.0 | 26.8 | 22.5 | 760 | 166 | 75 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to the Philippines as SuperFerry 12 then to 2GO Group as St. Pope John Paul II, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| New Harima | 1984 | March 18, 1984 | 12,589.0 | 174.5 | 26.8 | 22.6 | 921 | 166 | 75 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to Philippines as SuperFerry 17, later Huadong Pearl III, Isabel del Mar, scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey |
| New Seto | 1988 | June 26, 1988 | 12,589.0 | 174.5 | 26.8 | 22.6 | 921 | 166 | 75 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to the Philippines as SuperFerry 18, then to China as Asia Pearl, later Huadong Pearl VI, later scrapped |
| New Akashi | 1990 | Mar 19, 1991 | 14,988 | 185.5 | 26.8 | 22.9 | 895 | 180 | 110 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Built by Kanda Shipyard; sister ship to New Nagato, sold overseas as Daleela, in active service |
| New Nagato | 1990 | Jan 22, 1991 | 14,988 | 185.5 | 26.8 | 22.9 | 895 | 180 | 110 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to South Korea as Star Cruise / Seastar Cruise, scrapped |
| Ferry Suou | 1995 | Mar 15, 1996 | 15,188 | 189.0 | 27.0 | 23.0 | 810 | 219 | 77 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Later operated as Santa Lucino scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Ferry Settsu | 1995 | Dec 21, 1995 | 15,188 | 189.0 | 27.0 | 23.0 | 810 | 219 | 77 | Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri | Sold to South Korea as Gold Stella, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh |
| Yamato | 2002 | Mar 27, 2003 | 13,353 | 195.0 | 26.4 | 23.5 | 667 | 229 | 138 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki | Sold to Stena RoRo as Stena Nova, then to 2GO Group as 2GO Maligaya, in active service |
| Tsukushi | 2002 | Jun 12, 2003 | 13,353 | 195.0 | 26.4 | 23.5 | 667 | 229 | 138 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki | Sold to 2GO Group as 2GO Masagana, in active service |