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| Ferries at Port of Shin Moji in Kitakyushu Japan 2023 10 09 |
On the October 9, 2023 a perennially late railway company known as JR Kyushu held a "walking event." These are extremely popular and attract massive amounts of people, the minority of whom are normal. Their 2023 Autumn walking event started at JR Shimosone Station and ended at the "goal" Tokyo Kyushu Ferry Terminal. Participants were allowed inside four ferries;
1) FERRY KYOTO of the City Line Meimon Taiyo Ferry fleet
2) FERRY DOUGO of the Ocean Tokyu Ferry fleet
3) SETTSU a ferry of the Hankyu Ferry fleet
4) SOLEIL of the Tokyo Kyushu Ferry fleet (they misspell their own name as Tokyo Kyusyu Ferry)
Ship Freakazoid went inside three of the four. The new Soleil ferry had the best dressed and friendliest staff. Pets are allowed on board and the ship seemed more luxurious than the others, probably because there were no dogs pissing on the carpets and barking---Yet! Besides misspelling their own company's name, Soleil offers passengers "SMOOKING ROOM" (sic) so that they can "smook" cigarettes and cigars or vape. City Line Meimon Taiyo Ferry not only gave visitors the best swag, but also had a better restaurant than Hankyu Ferry's Setsu. It felt more spacious, as well. Due to a logistical miscalculation, SF elected not to double back a couple clicks to board Ferry Dougo. Its exterior looked cool enough, but somehow it gives the vibe that it is more geared towards carting cargo than people as there weren't that many windows. Photos of all four of these ferries and other assorted ships and ferries at the port at Shin Moji in the Garden Paradise Kitakyushu follow.
1) FERRY KYOTO of the City Line Meimon Taiyo Ferry fleet
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| Ferry Kyoto at Port of Shin Moji in Garden Paradise Kitakyushu (Oct. 2023) |
Vessel Name: FERRY KYOTO ( フェリー きょうと )
IMO: 9890991
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger / Ferry
Vessel Type -
Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431017994
Call Sign: JD4980
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 15400
Summer DWT: 5865 t
Length: 195 meters
Width: 28 meters
Year Built: 2021
Because the ferry travels overnight between Kyushu and Kansai, the restaurant offers a buffet dinner for 1800 JPY and a light breakfast for 400 JPY, or 2000 JPY if you pre-pay for both. Draft beers are 500 JPY and bottled beers are 530 JPY. For this walking event they offered curry rice for 500 Yen and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and French fries (300 Yen each). The curry was OK and the beer was awesome (pictured below). View their regular menu here:
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| Curry Rice and Asahi Beer on the Ferry Kyoto |
2) FERRY DOUGO of the Ocean Tokyu Ferry fleet
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| FERRY DOUGO of the Ocean Tokyu Ferry fleet |
Vessel Name: FERRY DOUGO ( フェリー どうご )
IMO: 9815056
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger / Ferry
Vessel Type - Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431007905
Call Sign: JD4006
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 12636
Summer DWT: 7000 t
Length: 191 meters
Width: 27 meters
Year Built: 2016
Ferry Dougo runs between Kitakyushu and Tokyo, stopping briefly in Tokushima (on the island of Shikoku). Details in English are here:
3) SETTSU a ferry of the Hankyu Ferry fleet |
| SETTSU a ferry of the Hankyu Ferry fleet |
(Above) A look at the backside of Settsu which is both a RoRo and passenger ship.
(Below) A look at the bunk bed room, which is similar to Japanese capsule hotels.
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| A bunk bed room in Hankyu Ferry's Settsu |
Vessel Name: SETTSU
IMO: 9860831
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger / Ferry
Vessel Type - Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431014026
Call Sign: JD4659
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 16292
Summer DWT: 6200 t
Length: 195 meters
Width: 30 meters
Year Built: 2020
4) SOLEIL of the Tokyo Kyushu Ferry fleet (they misspell their own name as Tokyo Kyusyu Ferry)  |
| SOLEIL of the Tokyo Kyushu Ferry fleet |
Vessel Name: SOLEIL ( それいゆ )
IMO: 9894571
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger / Ferry
Vessel Type - Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431017055
Call Sign: 7KIN
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 15515
Summer DWT: 5500 t
Length: 222.5 meters
Width: 26 meters
Year Built: 2021
This ferry was quite nice looking. They have an outdoor "BBQ space" just outside their restaurant where passengers can dine al fresco. There is a dog walk, kennels, and, obviously pets are welcome. For any reprobate passengers who like to "smook" , there is a "smooking room" for their addiction to be enjoyed. The staff uniforms are top of the line and the rooms impressive (guess you get what you pay for...).
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| SOLEIL それいゆ Tokyo Kyushu Ferry at Port of Shin Moji in Kitakyushu Japan |
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| SOLEIL それいゆ Tokyo Kyushu Ferry at Port of Shin Moji in Kitakyushu Japan |
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| SOLEIL それいゆ Tokyo Kyushu Ferry at Port of Shin Moji in Kitakyushu Japan |
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| SOLEIL それいゆ Tokyo Kyushu Ferry at Port of Shin Moji in Kitakyushu Japan |
There were a number of other ferries, ships and vessels at Port of Shin Moji in addition to Kyoto, Settsu, Dougo and Soleil. Here they are:
City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
Vessel Name: FERRY KITAKYUSHU II ( きたきゅうしゅう II )
IMO: 9726982
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger / Ferry
Vessel Type - Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431007095
Call Sign: JD3900
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 14920
Summer DWT: 6098 t
Length: 183 meters
Width: 28 meters
Year Built: 2015
Home Port: Tokyo, Japan
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
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| City Line's FERRY KITAKYUSHU II |
TOYOFUJI MARU (roro / vehicles carrier) ☆ とよふじ丸 （Roro船）
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| とよふじ丸 (RORO船) ☆ Toyofuji Maru (roro vehicles carrier) |
Ship Freakazoid was digging the dolphin painted on this cool auto carrier. The vessel was being unloaded at an amazing pace. The Japanese staff who roll vehicles on and off these car carriers have it down to a science. Wham! Bam! Thank you, ma'am! They come off at an amazing pace and are expertly parked. A van is waiting for them and takes them back inside. And, repeat. So cool to watch. Since this ship's home port is in Tokai City in Aichi Prefecture, it can be (correctly assumed) the cars are Toyotas, as Toyotas are made in Aichi. And, these were! Oh, and by the way, this ship made a one month test voyage using biodiesel fuel produced from the cooking oil waste from Toyota's cafeterias. Very cool indeed.
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| Toyota vehicles being rolled off the Toyofuji Maru at Port of Shin Moji |
Vessel Name: TOYOFUJI MARU ( とよふじ丸 )
IMO: 9336919
Vessel Type - Generic: Cargo
Vessel Type - Detailed: Vehicles Carrier / RoRo
MMSI: 431200683
Call Sign: JD2152
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 12687
Summer DWT: 5490 t
Length: 165 meters
Width: 27.6 meters
Year Built: 2005
Home Port: Tokai (Aichi Prefecture) Japan
いずみ ☆ IZUMI (Part of the Hankyu Ferry fleet)
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いずみ ☆ IZUMI (Roro Cargo & Passenger Ship - Part of the Hankyu Ferry fleet)
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Vessel Name: IZUMI ( いずみ )
IMO: 9726906
Vessel Type - Generic: Passenger Ferry
Vessel Type - Detailed: Ro-Ro / Passenger Ship
MMSI: 431006014
Call Sign: JD3743
Flag: Japan [JP]
Gross Tonnage: 16040
Summer DWT: 6756 t
Length: 195 meters
Width: 30 meters
Year Built: 2015
Home Port: Tokyo, Japan
All in all, a pretty productive day of ship freaking was had. Managed to go on board three ferries and got some pics of some other sweet ships. Too bad about the weather, but, hey, can't have everything, right?
