Discover the Cosco-Star: Ratings & Maritime News

On the evening of November 27, 2019, the 'Cosco Star' was involved in a notable collision with a port tug while departing from Taichung port. The vessel, carrying 52 passengers en route to Xiamen, sustained damage to its portside bow above the waterline. Meanwhile, the tugboat endured extensive damage, including hull breaches, a broken mast, and a destroyed funnel. After thorough inspections were completed, the 'Cosco Star' continued her journey into the Taiwan Strait. For more pictures and details, refer to the Greek report: https://e-nautilia.gr/sigkroush-epivathgou-ploiou-me-rumoulko/

In an exciting development for maritime travel, Taipei Harbor is set to inaugurate a direct passenger service connecting Taiwan and the southeastern coast of China on May 13, as announced by the Taiwan International Ports Corp. (TIPC) yesterday. This service will utilize a passenger-cargo dual-purpose vessel operated by Wagon Shipping Co., a Taiwan-based company. The ship is scheduled to depart daily from Taipei to Pingtan in Fujian province, running five days a week. With a capacity for 800 passengers, the journey is expected to take approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes each way. In contrast, the Cosco Star, managed by the China-based Cosco Group, currently operates on a weekly basis, linking Xiamen with Taichung and Keelung. Unlike the new high-speed service from Taipei, the Cosco Star functions more like a traditional cruise liner, accommodating around 680 passengers and traveling at a much slower pace of about 13 hours for the same route. For further details, visit http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2013/04/28/377211/Taipei-Harbor.htm.

A significant milestone has been reached with the commencement of the first roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping service connecting Taiwan and mainland China, marking a progressive step towards enhanced transportation flexibility across the Taiwan Straits. According to the Journal of Commerce, the inaugural voyage of the Cosco Star departed from the Port of Xiamen in Fujian province last Thursday, loaded with heavy industrial vehicles, including a Caterpillar excavator. Since 2008, the transportation of direct cargo flights and shipping between Taiwan and the mainland had been restricted due to security concerns, forcing many shipments to reroute through Hong Kong or Japan. Andrew Hu, deputy general manager at Cosco Xiamen International Freight, hailed the launch as a "major breakthrough for vehicle transportation across the Taiwan Straits". He expressed optimism regarding future operations, anticipating that Taiwan authorities will extend the range of transportable vehicles via this new shipping line, which may soon include private cars.