Back to News Menu                                Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional                                    September 2014

On August 26 the Chinese Taishan will mark its inaugural voyage for Bohai Ferry – and its entry into the cruise market.  The voyage will be from Yantai in Shandong (China) to Seoul and Jeju Island, with the ex-Costa Voyager flying the Bermuda flag off the stern.

Yantai is the birthplace of China’s modern wine industry and is the ship’s turnaround point through the fall.

Initially the line is offering five-day sailings, mixed with a three-day voyage just calling in Seoul.

“We were ready earlier but the first departure is delayed to late August due to issues at the port,” said Bohai Secretary (boss) Wu Ning. “The port needed to get ready with the supporting facilities and customs clearance."

The ship marks a significant milestone in the Chinese cruise market: a Chinese-owned and operated ship (HNA’s operations are run by Star Cruises) with decision making entirely localized.

According to Bohai Cruise’s Chairman Xinjian Yu, who is also the general manager of parent company Bohai Ferry, they have incorporated many Chinese features onboard, ranging from the service staff to entertainment, and all targeted at the Chinese source market.

The German-built, former Greek and Italian cruise ship should make a very attractive addition to the burgeoning Chinese cruise fleet.  Constructed by Blohm + Voss, it was the first new ship to be built for the defunct Royal Olympic Cruises and in addition to her attractive interior design is notable as being one of the fastest ships in the world.  In its current configuration it is capable of carrying 804 passengers.

Bohai Ferry Company, Ltd., is a publicly traded company on the Shanghai stock exchange based in Yanti, China.   Last year they established a Hong Kong subsidiary dedicated to entering the cruise business.  While this is their first foray into cruising, the company also runs a fleet of roll-on, roll-off passenger ferries including their latest group of four 35,000 gross ton ships newly built in 2012 and 2013.

The Costa Voyager's dimensions are 590 feet with an 84 foot beam.  Those measurements are very similar in size to the quartet of 300-vehicle ferries at 585 feet by 92 feet.  However that is where the similarities end, as those ships have a much higher air draft, significantly greater tonnage and carry 2.038 passengers on the route from Dalian to Yanti.   Bohai Ferry is the largest passenger-roro operator in China.

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