Keelung-Ishigaki ferry to make maiden voyage Thursday

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) The first-ever direct ferry service between Taiwan's Keelung City and Okinawa's Ishigaki Island will launch its maiden voyage Thursday night, carrying about 200 passengers -- roughly 40 percent of capacity -- according to operator Wagon Group.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the launch ceremony, Wagon Group General Manager Hung Yu-hang (洪郁航) attributed the relatively low bookings to the short sales period, noting that tickets only went on sale on May 15.

The ferry, the Yaima Maru, has a gross tonnage of 21,688 and features 122 rooms with a total of 493 beds, offering accommodations ranging from suites to dormitory-style rooms for four to 15 passengers.

During the trial operation period from May 28 through the end of June, the ferry will depart Keelung every Thursday night and return from Ishigaki every Monday.

The overnight service is scheduled to leave Keelung at 11 p.m. and arrive in Ishigaki at 8 a.m. the following day, while return trips will depart Ishigaki at 9 p.m. and arrive in Keelung at 8 a.m.

However, bookings for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival long weekend have already sold out, he said.

Hung described the ferry as offering travelers a slower-paced and more affordable transportation option.

He added that freight services are expected to begin after another four to five months of preparation, while a possible route linking Yilan County's Su'ao Township and Ishigaki Island is also under discussion with Japanese authorities.

At the launch ceremony, Maritime and Port Bureau Director-General Yeh Hsieh-lung (葉協隆) expressed hope that the new route would attract more international visitors to Taiwan, noting that Ishigaki saw a record number of overseas tourists last year.

He added that the Yaima Maru, which can carry up to 90 forty-foot cargo containers, could also expand maritime freight services between Taiwan and Japan once cargo operations begin.

Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama, also speaking at the ceremony, said the route finally became a reality after overcoming multiple challenges.

Nakayama told reporters that Taiwanese visitors had previously mainly traveled to Ishigaki by cruise ship, and expressed hope that the ferry service would boost local tourism and related industries such as accommodation.

Once freight services begin, products including Ishigaki beef could also be exported to Taiwan, he added.