- 27,000-ton Class, Korea's Largest Ferry Passenger Ship
- 7 Years and 6 Months Since the Sewol Ferry Disaster
- Increase in Travelers and Cargo Volume Due to With-Corona Policy
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dong-guk Lee] Hyundai Mipo Dockyard announced on the 19th that it has successfully completed the construction of a ferry to be deployed on the Incheon-Jeju route, which had been suspended for over 7 years since the Sewol ferry disaster, and named it the ‘Beyond Trust’.
At the naming ceremony held at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard on the same day, about 30 key stakeholders including Shin Hyun-dae, CEO of Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Bang Hyun-woo, CEO of HiDex Storage, and officials from related organizations attended to celebrate the successful construction and upcoming departure.
The ‘Beyond Trust’ means ‘trust, and beyond,’ signifying a commitment to prioritize safety above all. It is a 27,000-ton ferry, four times the size of the Sewol ferry.
The vessel measures 170 meters in length, 26 meters in width, and 28 meters in height, capable of carrying 850 passengers, 487 cars, and 65 containers, and can operate at a maximum speed of 23.2 knots (43 km/h).
Additionally, in response to strengthened safety regulations after the Sewol disaster, the ship is designed with a low weight and low center of gravity to maximize stability during operation, focusing on passenger safety. It is equipped with Maritime Escape System (MES), satellite navigation devices, automatic fire alarms, and sprinklers to prepare for emergencies such as flooding or fire.
The interior of the hull includes about 90 luxury rooms such as VIP rooms, as well as various customer convenience facilities including a cafe, restaurant, business lounge, sunset terrace, massage lounge, convenience store, kids zone, and pet zone.
Moreover, it is equipped with two powerful 13,000-horsepower ship propulsion engines featuring optimal fuel injection technology developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries, a group company, which reduces nitrogen oxide emissions, and an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) to comply with various environmental regulations.
The Beyond Trust will be delivered to the operator HiDex Storage within this month and will officially resume service on the Incheon-Jeju route next month.
Bang Hyun-woo, CEO of HiDex Storage, said, “We have devoted our efforts to building a ship that prioritizes the safety of passengers and crew so that they can travel with peace of mind. Going forward, we will continue to integrate various eco-friendly and information communication technologies to further strengthen our competitive edge in the ferry construction market.”
Meanwhile, the Incheon-Jeju route has been suspended for 7 years and 6 months since the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014, which claimed 304 lives, and currently only cargo ships operate. Passenger service was discontinued after Cheonghaejin Marine, which operated the Sewol and Ohamana (6,322 tons), had its license revoked following the Sewol disaster.
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