Hankyu Ferry () is a Japanese shipping company headquartered Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The company operates ferry routes connecting the Hanshin Industrial Region and Kitakyushu, and is recognized as Japan’s first long-distance car ferry operator. Hankyu Ferry is part of the SHK Line Group, led by Kanko Kisen, and forms one of its core companies alongside Shin Nihonkai Ferry and Kampu Ferry. It is also a member of the Midori-kai Association and belongs to the Sanwa Group.
History In 1964, Japan’s coastal shipping industry faced several challenges, including the enactment of the Coastal Shipping Business Act and the Coastal Shipping Association Act, the increase in long-distance trucking following the opening of the Meishin Expressway, and rising labor costs and shortages among dockworkers. In response, Toyoshu Iriya, president of Kanko Kaiun (now Kanko Kisen), proposed modernizing maritime transport through the use of ferries, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ships, or container ships as part of a “sea bypass” concept.Creating Long-Distance Ferries: The Toyokuni Iriya Story – Coastal Shipping Journal Publishing
Since cargo handling costs were placing a strain on company operations, he chose ferries, which could significantly reduce handling expenses by allowing trucks to be loaded directly onto vessels. In November of the same year, a Long-Distance Ferry Research Department was established within the company.SHK Line, “50 Years of Long-Distance Ferry History – The Challenge of the SHK Line Group” – Diamond Publishing
At the time, no precedent existed for long-distance car ferry routes in Japan, and there was skepticism about the project’s feasibility. To verify profitability, the company conducted field surveys of truck traffic at Sumaura Park in Kobe and near the Kanmon Tunnel exit, supplemented by data from the Land Transport Bureau and Japanese National Railways. The survey results exceeded expectations, confirming sufficient demand for long-distance ferry service.
Hankyu Ferry began operations in 1968, initially using its own trucks to fill empty space on the car deck. With the launch of its second vessel, Dairoku Hankyu, the company established daily service between Kobe and Kokura. Truck traffic increased rapidly, and the company became profitable within six months of launching operations. In 1973, Meimon Car Ferry and Taiyo Ferry (later merged in 1984 to form Meimon Taiyo Ferry) opened a parallel route, beginning long-term competition that continues today.
Timeline Year Event 1965 Founding promoters’ meeting held. 1966 Kanko Kisen establishes Hankyu Ferry Co., Ltd. 1967 License obtained to operate regular passenger routes between Kobe and Kokura. 1968 August 10 – Kobe (Uozaki)–Kokura (Himei) route opens as Japan’s first long-distance car ferry route. The first ship, Ferry Hankyu, enters service. November – Second ship Dairoku Hankyu begins operation, enabling daily service. 1969 Kanko Kisen establishes Shin Nihonkai Ferry and Kanpu Ferry, forming the foundation of the SHK Line Group (Shin Nihonkai–Hankyu–Kanpu). 1970–1977 Expansion of the fleet with vessels such as Ferry Seto, Ferry Harima, Ferry Nagato, and Ferry Akashi. 1978 January 23 – Izumiotsu–Kokura route opens with 24th Hankyu and 32nd Hankyu. 1983–1984 Launch of New Yamato and New Miyako on the Izumiotsu–Kokura route; headquarters relocated from Shimonoseki to Kobe. 1988 New Harima and New Seto enter service; operations moved to the newly built Rokko Island Ferry Terminal. 1991 Terminal moved from Kokura to Shinmoji; New Nagato and New Akashi enter service. Headquarters functions transferred to Shinmoji. 1995 The Kobe earthquake severely damages Rokko Island Pier; routes temporarily diverted to Izumiotsu. 1995–1996 New ferries Settsu and Suou enter service; operations adjusted between Kobe and Izumiotsu routes. 2001 New terminal opens at Izumiotsu Port. 2003 Yamato (2003) and Tsukushi enter service on the Izumiotsu–Shinmoji route. 2005–2009 Fare adjustments introduced; reduction of daily sailings due to demand. 2014–2015 New ships Izumi and Hibiki launched on the Izumiotsu–Shinmoji route. 2019–2020 New vessels Settsu and Yamato (second generation) delivered, replacing older units. 2021 Tsukushi retired and sold to 2GO Group of the Philippines.
Routes For detailed and updated information, refer to the official website.
Service Departure Port Arrival Port Distance Vessels in Service Kobe (Downbound) No. 1 Port of Kobe (Rokko Island Ferry Terminal) Port of Shinmoji (Terminal 1) 454 km Settsu, Yamato Kobe (Upbound) No. 1 Shinmoji Port Kobe Port Izumiotsu (Downbound) No. 1 Izumiotsu Port Shinmoji Port (Terminal 2) 458 km Izumi, Hibiki Izumiotsu (Upbound) No. 1 Shinmoji Port Izumiotsu Port
Former routes Kobe Port – Kanda Port (1975–1980; inherited from Nishinihon Ferry)Shigeru Kimura, “Another Wave of Reorganization in the Ferry Industry,” *Kaiun*, April 1982.
Planned routes Kobe Port – Shimonoseki Port – Kokura Port (initial plan at company founding)Toyoshu Iriya, “On the Plan for a Seto Inland Sea Longitudinal Ferry,” *Port Cargo Handling*, June 1967. Osaka Nanko – Hakata Port (1970s proposal)“Pioneering Management: Hankyu Ferry Pursues the True Potential of Ferry Operations,” *Monthly Economy*, April 1976.
Vessels
The funnel mark features a thin line on top representing han (half) and a circle on the bottom representing kyu (ball), together symbolizing Hankyu.
The current livery is beige with light blue lines on the bow and stern of the hull, a single blue line on the front half, and a double blue line on the rear half that forms a U-shape when viewed from the port side. The blue Hankyu Ferry logo is placed at the center. This design has been used since theYamato (1st generation) and Tsukushi entered service in 2003.
Ship allocation by service is as follows (with exceptions during docking periods):
Izumiotsu departures and arrivals: Izumi and Hibiki Kobe departures and arrivals: Settsu and Yamato
Current Vessels
Ship name Completed Launched Gross tonnage (tons) Length (m) Beam (m) Service speed (knots) Passenger capacity Truck capacity Car capacity Builder Izumi 2014 January 22, 2015 15,897 195 29.6 23.5 643 191 184 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard Hibiki 2014 April 21, 2015 15,897 195 29.6 23.5 643 191 184 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard Settsu February 2020 March 10, 2020 16,300 195 29.6 23.5 663 277 188 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard Yamato (2nd generation) June 2020 June 30, 2020 16,300 195 29.6 23.5 663 277 188 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Shipyard
Former Vessels
Ship name Completed Launched Gross tonnage (tons) Length (m) Beam (m) Speed (knots) Passenger capacity Truck capacity Car capacity Builder Notes Ferry Hankyu 1968 June 11, 1968 5,201.8 127.7 22.4 16.8 1,195 80 60 Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki Entered service on Kokura–Kobe route (Aug 10, 1968); sold to Greece (1986) and scrapped in Aliağa, India (2007) Hankyu No. 6 1968 November 2, 1968 5,011.1 127.3 22.4 16.8 1,195 80 60 Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki Became Ferry Kampu (2nd gen), later Kibo Maru; sold to Greece and scrapped (1986)Car Ferries of Japan, p.128 Ferry Seto 1970 August 1970 6,523.2 149.1 22.8 20.0 1,193 92 120 Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki Sold to the Philippines as Nasipit Princess (Sulpicio Lines), scrapped Ferry Harima 1970 November 19, 1970 6,521.1 149.1 22.8 20.0 1,193 92 120 Hayashikane Shipbuilding, Shimonoseki Sold to the Philippines as Cotabato Princess (Sulpicio Lines); scrapped 2009 Ferry Nagato 1972 September 3, 1972 7,009.2 150.1 22.8 20.5 1,185 94 120 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to Greece as Grace M / Felicia; scrapped in Aliağa, Turkey (2003) Ferry Akashi 1972 November 20, 1972 6,987.0 150.1 22.8 20.5 1,185 94 120 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to Greece as Dame M, later Salamis Star, Marrakech Express (Comanav), then became Bni Nsar, detained and later scrapped at Aliaga, TurkeyLe Monde; À Sète, le quai de la galère; 23 May 2012 Hankyu No. 16 1972 April 1973 5,687 135.5 22.0 20.25 770 84 109 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Ex-Tsukushi; sold to South Korea as Ferry Busan, later Panagia Krimniotissa (Greece), broken up at Aliaga, TurkeyCar Ferries of Japan, pp.54, 67, 135 Hankyu No. 17Car Ferries of Japan, pp.62, 67, 137–138 1973 December 18, 1973 5,748.3 135.5 22.0 20.25 770 84 109 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Ex-Hakata; renamed multiple times (Ferry Kampu, Ferry Pukwan, Eun Ha); ended as Panagia Agiasou (Greece), decommissioned in 2008 Hankyu No. 24 1976 January 24, 1976 6,936.2 151.5 22.8 21.7 950 114 38 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to the Philippines as St. Joseph the Worker (Negros Navigation and 2GO Group), scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh Hankyu No. 32 1976 1976 6,950.9 151.5 22.8 21.7 950 114 38 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to the Philippines as St. Peter the Apostle (Negros Navigation and 2GO Group), scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh New Yamato 1983 October 16, 1983 11,919.0 173.0 26.8 22.5 760 166 75 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to the Philippines as Princess of the Universe (Sulpicio Lines), scrapped New Miyako 1984 January 29, 1984 11,914.0 173.0 26.8 22.5 760 166 75 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to the Philippines as SuperFerry 12 (WG&A) then to 2GO Group as St. Pope John Paul II, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh (2021) New Harima 1984 March 18, 1984 12,589.0 174.5 26.8 22.6 921 166 75 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to Philippines as SuperFerry 17, later Huadong Pearl III (China–Korea), Isabel del Mar (Spain), scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey New Seto 1988 June 26, 1988 12,589.0 174.5 26.8 22.6 921 166 75 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to the Philippines as SuperFerry 18, then to China as Asia Pearl, later Huadong Pearl VI, later scrapped New Akashi 1990 Mar 19, 1991 14,988 185.5 26.8 22.9 895 180 110 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Built by Kanda Shipyard; sister ship to New Nagato, sold overseas as Daleela, in active service New Nagato 1990 Jan 22, 1991 14,988 185.5 26.8 22.9 895 180 110 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to South Korea as Star Cruise / Seastar Cruise, scrapped Ferry Suou 1995 Mar 15, 1996 15,188 189.0 27.0 23.0 810 219 77 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Later operated as Santa Lucino (South Korea) scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh Ferry Settsu 1995 Dec 21, 1995 15,188 189.0 27.0 23.0 810 219 77 Kanda Shipyard, Kawajiri Sold to South Korea as Gold Stella, scrapped at Chittagong, Bangladesh Yamato (1st gen) 2002 Mar 27, 2003 13,353 195.0 26.4 23.5 667 229 138 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Sold to Stena RoRo as Stena Nova (2019), then to 2GO Group as 2GO Maligaya (2021), in active service Tsukushi 2002 Jun 12, 2003 13,353 195.0 26.4 23.5 667 229 138 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki Sold to 2GO Group as 2GO Masagana (2021),Ship News Hankyu Ferry "Tsukushi" to be sold - Ships of the World (July 22, 2020) in active service
See also Shin Nihonkai Ferry List of ferry operators in Japan
References
External links