Sunflower-Furano Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

In an exciting development, Japan Marine United (JMU) has successfully completed sea trials for the Sunflower Furano, a state-of-the-art ferry being built for MOL Ferry, a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). This new vessel is set to replace its predecessor, also named Sunflower Furano, which is currently in operational service. The ferry's official maiden voyage is slated for May 13, 2017, and will navigate the route from Oarai Port to Tomakomai Port. The Sunflower Furano marks the first of two environmentally friendly ferries, each weighing 14,000 gross tons, ordered by MOL from JMU in 2014. These vessels will serve a crucial role in connecting the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido along the Oarai-Tomakomai route. Measuring an impressive 199.7 meters in length and 27.2 meters in width, each ferry is designed to accommodate up to 590 passengers, in addition to providing space for 160 large trucks and 100 cars. As part of MOL's commitment to modernizing its fleet, these new ferries are expected to significantly enhance transportation efficiency across Japan’s island routes.