LILAC らいらっく Shinnihonkai Ferry 新日本海フェリー

sailed the Kanmon Straits of Japan on a cold, dark and windy sunset January 25, 2025. The ferries Lilac and Yuukari, according to Shinnihonkai Ferry's website, connect Tsuruga Port, Niigata Port, Akita Port in Fukui Prefecture, and Tomakomai East Port in Hokkaido. So, why was Lilac sailing thru the Kanmon Straits between Kyushu and Honshu in southern Japan? Rumor has it, the ro-pax vessel was carrying military personnel.

LILAC Shinnihonkai Ferry ★ らいらっく新日本海フェリー

Ship Freakazoid used a secondhand Olympus E520 DSLR with Zuiko 150mm lens to take photographs (Adobe Photoshop used to brighten and adjust contrast of these photos) and an old used JVC Everio video camera with Konica Minolta 54x lens mounted on a Slik tripod (used, of course!) to get video footage while ship spotting the roll-on roll-off passenger ship as it sailed between Garden Paradise Kitakyushu and Surreal Shimonoseki City. Check out the video at the @ShipFreakazoid channel on YouTube.

Japan has several ferry services that have rooms for passengers and can also carry their cars and motorcycles. It is a popular, economical and comfortable way to travel in Japan. SF recommends you try the ferry if you visit Japan from abroad. It is often times cheaper than a hotel and it gets you from Point A to Point B while you sleep, if it is a night route.

While ship spotting the Kanmon Straits of Japan, the ferry Lilac passed a buoy on its way past Kokura and Moji in Kitakyushu Japan. The lights on the ship and the buoy were on and can be seen in this photograph.

Ferry sailing at sunset in Japan - Lights on the ship and the buoy

Type of vessel: Ferry

Region: Japanese flag, Japan

Owner: Shin Nihonkai Ferry

Operator: Shin Nihonkai Ferry

Built at: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Yokohama 3rd Factory

Home port: Otaru Port

Sister ship: Yukari ( Yuukari ? ゆうかり )

Class: JG

Signal: JRHY (Radio station license information)

IMO number: 9257424

MMSI number: 431301606 (no Inmarsat)

History

Laid down: 27 June 2001

Launched: 20 September 2001

Completed: 29 March 2002

Entered service: 5 April 2002

Specifications

Gross tonnage: 18,229 tons

Length: 199.90 m

Length between perpendiculars: 188.0 m

Width: 26.50 m

Depth: 14.50m

Draft 6.93m

Number of decks 5

Engine type Diesel

Main engine DU-SEMT Pielstick 8PC40×2

Propulsion Controllable pitch propeller 2-shaft

Power output 21,200kW

Maximum speed 25.09 knots

Sail speed 22.7 knots

Passenger capacity 892 (at completion)

846 (remodeled in 2017)

Crew 58

Vehicle capacity 146 trucks, 58 cars

A SUWA - Brand New Container Ship in the Kanmon Strait

The brand spanking new container ship A SUWA (Flag of Hong Kong) sailed thru the Kanmon Straits of Japan on a lovely Japanese autumn day (November 11, 2024) and was filmed with an antique JVC Everio video camera (Konica Minolta 54x lens) by a sissy sicko with no credentials known as Ship Freakazoid. More footage from ship spotting the vessels passing by Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki Japan can be seen on this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ShipFreakazoid Like, subscribe, and comment should you so please... A SUWA It was nice to see such a new and colorful container ship pass by the glorious coastline of Garden Paradise Kitakyushu. The vessel A SUWA sails under the Flag of Hong Kong and was built in 2024 (also known as the year DJT won his 3rd str8 prez elexion ( ^)o(^ )). General cargo ship, container ship and tanker in Kanmon Straits The Kanmon Straits are always busy and provide a beautiful sight when several vessels can be seen entering the strait from the west side. Th...

FATA MORGANA - Ship sailing in the sky near Kitakyushu Japan

Alright, so check this out! FATA MORGANA is this wild optical illusion that happens when you're standing on land, looking out over the ocean, and you see a ship that looks like it's floating above the horizon. It's not magic, though—it’s science at work. Fata Morgana - Ship sailing in the sky as viewed from Kitakyushu Here’s the lowdown. The air above the ocean is usually colder than the air higher up in the atmosphere. But sometimes, you get a temperature inversion where the air closer to the water is actually warmer than the air above it. This temperature difference makes light bend or "refract." So instead of light traveling in a straight line, it curves and can make things appear in places where they shouldn’t be. Kind of like when you’re staring into a glass of water and the spoon looks all weird. It’s the same principle. Fata Morgana - Cargo ship appears to be sailing in the sky Now, when you're on land looking out at the ocean, and you spot a ship tha...

JS SUZUNAMI・すずなみ DD-114

a Takanami-class destroyer of Japan Maritime Self Defense Force sailed thru the Kanmon Straits on the morning of March 10, 2025. JS SUZUNAMI すずなみ DD-114 Ship Freakazoid was about to call it a day after a cold morning of shooting ships with cameras when a dodgy looking ship caught his eye. It sort of looked like a gray colored tugboat at first. Chinese Navy doesn't like this Japanese Destroyer Just goes to show military designs and paint schemes work. Especially considering the badass armaments and destructive capabilities it possesses. The CCP's People's Liberation Army Navy doesn't like this Japanese Destroyer. They (the Chinese Navy) unsuccessfully tried to scare Japan by flying a helicopter dangerously close to the JS Suzunami some years ago. They obviously were intimidated by the superior JMSDF vessel. JMSDF Destroyer SUZUNAMI (DD-114) sailing the Kanmon Straits 関門海峡を通るJS SUZUNAMI（すずなみ）海上自衛隊の護衛艦 The video camera battery ran out during shooting, but there was just ...

Ships of Kanmon Strait

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