The Taiheiyō Ferry (太平洋フェリー, Taiheiyō-Ferii, literally Pacific Ferry) is a privately-owned cruiseferry operator connecting Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai in Japan. It is a subsidiary of the Nagoya-based Meitetsu Group, a group of companies that focuses primarily on rail transport in the Chūkyō metropolitan area.
History
The Taiheiyō Ferry was first founded as the Taiheiyō Enkai Ferry (太平洋沿海フェリー, Pacific Coastal Ferry) in 1970, operating a line between Nagoya and Ōita City with the Arkas, with a stop at Nachikatsuura, Wakayama added in May 3rd, 1975.[1] The current route between Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai soon began in 1973.[2]
In 1982, the Meitetsu Group acquired the Taiheiyō Enkai Ferry and renamed it to its current name.[3]
Routes
The Taiheiyō Ferry operates a single regular route between Nagoya, Sendai, and Tomakomai. Ships operate every day between Sendai and Tomakomai, and every other day between Nagoya and Sendai. Out of the three ships the company operates, only the Kiso and Ishikari stop at Nagoya. The company also operates seasonal routes to Ise Bay, Kōchi, Okinawa, and the Bonin Islands.[4]
Fleet
Current fleet
The Taiheiyō Ferry has operated a total of twelve ships, three of which are in operation: the Kiso, Ishikari, and Kitakami, which are named after the Kiso, Ishikari, and Kitakami rivers, respectively. The names are chosen to represent each region (Chūbu, Hokkaido, and Tōhoku) that the ferry serves.[2]
All ships can carry a certain number of cars as well as passengers. Additionally, all ships are equipped with dining rooms and rooms for lodging.[2]
During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, the Kitakami (1st generation) was moored at Sendai. The Kitakami managed to escape to sea before the ensuing tsunami, but Taiheiyō Ferry's terminal was heavily damaged along with the rest of the Port of Sendai. 123 cars belonging to the company and most of the equipment on shore were lost. Regular services to Sendai resumed on June 5, and repairs to the terminal building were completed on July 8.[10]
^"８：太平洋フェリー／苫小牧－仙台－名古屋航路、今後も３隻体制維持。社内外でのコスト削減進める" [8.Taiheiyō Ferry/ Tomakomai - Sendai - Nagoya route continue maintain 3 fleets , promote cost reduction inside and outside the company] (in Japanese). Japan Maritime Daily. February 13, 2002. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
^ abc"「いしかり」で行く北海道航路、充実の船内でデイクルーズ" [Sailing to the Hokkaido route by "Ishikari" , Day cruise in fulfilling shipboard]. Web Cruise (in Japanese). Kaiji Press. p. 3.
^"会社沿革" [Corporate history]. Taiheiyō Ferry (in Japanese). Retrieved November 12, 2019.
^"運航日程表 ２０１９年１２月～２０２０年３月まで" [Sailing schedule December 2019 - March 2020] (PDF). Taiheiyō Ferry (in Japanese). Retrieved November 13, 2019.
^国内最大クラス クルーズフェリー 新 "いしかり"の紹介 [Introduction of Japan's largest class cruise ferry new "Ishikari"]. Vol. 47. Journal of the JIME. p. 2.
^"三菱造船 下関で太平洋フェリー向け大型フェリーの命名・進水式を実施名古屋～仙台～苫小牧定期航路に就航する新「きたかみ」" [Mitsubishi Shipbuilding hold christening & launching ceremony at Shimonoseki ship yard, New "Kitakami" put in to Nagoya - Sendai - Tomakomai route]. プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
,_JAPAN.jpg)
