Ferries in EAST JAPAN

KMC Corporation (Reserved Cruise) will begin to operate regular service between Yokohama Minato Mirai Pukari Sanbashi, Haneda Airport and Odaiba Kaihin Koen (Tokyo) on every Sundays from July 20, 2014.

Heda Unsousen withdrew regular services on the Numazu-Heda-Toi route at the end of August 2014 because of a demand decline.

Meitetsu Kaijo Kankosen's Morosaki-Irago route was closed at the end of September 2014 because of a demand decline and a rising cost of fuel.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) hoped to introduce LNG-powered ships on the Tomakomai-Hachinohe route in 2017. But the plan was pulled back later.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) has offered charging facilities for electric vehicles (EVs) on its car ferry, the Silver Eight since July 3, 2015.

Mutsuwan Ferry, which operates the Kanita-Wakinosawa route, sufferes accumulated losses of 67 million yen owing to a decreasing demand as of February 4, 2015.

Gifu prefecture-run Obeni-Tosen (Obeni No Watashi) reassumed operations on September 16, 2015.

Tokyo Water Taxi will make a test installation on Tokyo Bay from November 30, 2015.

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry will build two car ferries (8,800gt) at Naikai Zosen Corporation in 2016. The Blue Dolphin (ex-Horus) and the Venus will be replaced.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) plans to introduce a new ship on the Hachinohe-Tomakomai route in the spring of 2018.

On June 4, 2016, the "Blue Dolphin" (II) for Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard.

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry's Blue Dolphin(II) will enter service between Hakodate and Aomori on October 11, 2016.

The Matsusaka-Chubu Centrair International Airport route, which is operated by Tsu Airport Line, will be closed on December 19, 2016 due to decreasing demand.

On September 28, 2016, the "Blue Happiness" (8,800gt) for Koyo Kaiun took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard. Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry will operate her. She is due to enter service on March 11, 2017.

On December 8, 2016, Hakodate-based Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry announced that the Blue Dolphin 2 (7,003gt) will reenter service on the Hakodate-Aomori route on February 2, 2017. The Blue Dolphin 2 is the ex-Blue Dolphin (ex-Horus) which ran on the route until October 28, 2016. The Esan 2000 (2,367gt, 2000) will be replaced by her.

On March 11, 2017, Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry's Blue Happiness entered on the Hakodate-Aomori route. The Venus was sold to PT. Jemla Ferry, an Indonesian ferry operator. Renamed Athaya.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) will launch the Silver Tiara (8,600gt) on the Tomakomai-Hachinohe route on April 25, 2018. The Silver Queen will be transfered to the Muroran-Miyako route.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) and K Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) have agreed to work on joint study for K Line Kinkai's new LNG fueled car ferry in September, 2017.

The Silver Tiara (8,600gt) for K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard on December 18, 2017.

Libera will use the Natchan World as a tourist boat from February 2018.

On May 25, 2018, S-Puls Dream Ferry, which operates the Shimizu-Toi route, announced that it will withdraw its money-losing Suruga Wan Ferry business at the end of March, 2019.

On September 19, the governor of Shizuoka prefecture announced that the Shizuoka prefectural government and Suruga Wan coastal 3 cities & 3 towns will be a ferry operator, and continue the Suruga Wan Ferry operation from April 2019 for a year. The Shizuoka prefectural government will acquire a car ferry and mooring facilities by gift from Suzuyo & Co., the parent company of S-Puls Dream Ferry, and entrust ferry operations to S-Puls Dream Ferry.

On March 28, 2019, Seikan Ferry (Kita Nippon Kaiun) decided to cancel 40 services from March 29 to April 7 due to an engine malfunction on the Asakaze No.5.

On April 1, 2019, "Fujisan Surugawan Ferry" a general incorporated association will be established and take over ferry services on the Shimizu-Toi route from S-Puls Dream Ferry on June 1, 2019.

On January 9, 2020, the Blue Luminous (8,800gt) took the water at Naikai Zosen Setoda shipyard.

K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) made an end to call at the port of Miyako on the Muroran-Hachinohe-Miyako route, and shifted to the Muroran-Hachinohe route on March 31, 2020.

Tokyowan Ferry will suspend all services from April 29 to May 6, 2020 due to the Novel Coronavirus.

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry's Blue Dolphin 2 (ex-Horus, 7,003gt) on the Hakodate-Aomori route retired on May 22, 2020. A new ferry, Blue Luminous (8,800gt) is set to enter service on June 9.

Nippon Express will sell all shares of Kita Nippon Kaiun (Seikan Ferry), its subsidiary company, to Kuribayashi Steamship on September 1, 2020.

On December 23, 2020, Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha (K Line Kinkai/Silver Ferry) announced that the Silver Breeze (8,900gt) will enter service on the Tomakomai-Hachinohe route in June 2021. The Venilia will be replaced.

The Silver Breeze (8,900gt) took the water at Naikai Zosen Corporation Setoda shipyard on January 27, 2021. Her owner will be Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry. Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha (K Line Kinkai/Silver Ferry) will charter her.

On June 16, 2021, the Silver Breeze (8,900gt) entered service on the Tomakomai-Hachinohe route.

On December 24, 2021, K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen) announced that it will close the Muroran-Hachinohe route (226km) on February 1, 2022.

On February 9, 2022, Tokyo-based K Line Kinkai (Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen, Silver Ferry) announced that it will sell its SILVER QUEEN (7,005gt) to a yet-to-be-announced foreign company at the price of about 850 million yen.

Kyoei Unyu and Kita Nippon Kaiun, which operate Seikan Ferry will consolidate to become Seikan Ferry on April 1, 2022.

Seikan Ferry ordered two car ferries from Hakodate Dock. The first ship is expected to enter service on the Hakodate-Aomori route in March 2023, and the second ship in spring of 2024.

On November 7, 2022, Seikan Ferry's HAYABUSA II (3,000gt, 1,400 dwt, Length:115m, Beam:19m, Draft: 4.80m, Pass: 300, Car: 44, 19knots) took the water at Hakodate Dock. She is set to enter service on the Hakodate-Aomori route in March 2023.

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry announced on February 1, 2023 that it will open the Muroran-Aomori route (205km) on October 2, 2023. The 2014 built Blue Mermaid (8,820gt) will enter service on the route.

Sii Line, which operates the Aomori-Wakinosawa-Sai route (79.9km) was out of business on March 31, 2023.

Seikan Ferry's Hayabusa II is set to enter service on the Hakodate-Aomori route on April 4, 2023. Asakaze No.5 (built in 1998, 1,958gt) retired on March 25, and was sold to Kerkyra Lines, a Greek ferry operator.

Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry announced on December 26, 2023 that the Aomori-Muroran route will be temporarily closed from January 13 to March 26, and from April 3 to April 16, 2024. During the period, BLUE MERMAID, which operates the route alone will be built an addition of 66 individual cabins.

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