Incheon~Baengnyeong Route Large Passenger Ship Introduction Business Agreement Ceremony [Photo provided by Ongjin-gun, Incheon]
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A new large passenger ship will be deployed on the route connecting Incheon and Baengnyeongdo, the northernmost island in the West Sea, starting from the second half of 2023.
On the 6th, Ongjin County in Incheon signed a business agreement with passenger shipping company H Shipping to introduce a large passenger ship on the Incheon-Baengnyeong route.
According to the agreement, H Shipping will newly build a 2,400-ton class ultra-high-speed ferry and deploy it on the Incheon-Baengnyeong route, receiving 12 billion KRW in support from Ongjin County over 10 years.
The new large passenger ship will have a capacity of about 700 to 750 passengers and can carry 20 to 30 vehicles simultaneously.
The Incheon-Baengnyeong route experiences cancellations of passenger ships for 60 to 80 days annually due to bad weather, making it essential to have a passenger ship of 2,000 tons or more capable of stable operation even in adverse weather conditions.
Currently, H Shipping operates the 271-ton large passenger ship Harmony Flower on the Incheon-Baengnyeong route, but by 2023, the ship will be 25 years old and, due to safety concerns, will no longer be allowed to operate under maritime law.
An official from Ongjin County stated, "With this agreement, a large ferry equipped with the latest facilities will operate stably for a long period on the Incheon-Baengnyeong route, which had only operated secondhand ships until now," adding, "We expect the maritime transportation conditions for residents of Baengnyeongdo and Dae- and So-cheongdo to improve significantly."
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