Japan's Shinnihonkai Ferry christens new large Ro-Pax

Japan's Shinnihonkai Ferry and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding held a christening and launching ceremony for a new Ro-Pax ferry at Mitsubishi's Shimonoseki shipyard on Tuesday, April 29.

Keyaki is the first of two ferries to be built for Shinnihonkai Ferry and Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. It will be the ninth vessel to be built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for Shinnihonkai Ferry and is scheduled for delivery in December 2025.

Keyaki will be one of the first Japanese ferries to incorporate an energy-saving hull form consisting of an advanced bow and stern design. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said propulsion resistance will be suppressed by an energy-saving roll-damping system combining an anti-roll tank and fin stabilisers.

Together, these features will enable a five per cent reduction in energy consumption compared to earlier vessels.

Upon completion, Keyaki will have an LOA of 199.99 metres, a beam of 25.5 metres, a gross tonnage of approximately 14,300, and a service speed of 28.3 knots. The ferry will be able to transport 286 passengers plus 150 trucks and 30 passenger cars.