Service to Mt.Paekdu finally opened on April 28

Dong Chun Ferry Co. finally opened on April 28, based on a 1993 Korea
n/Chinese trade agreement to open service bewteen Sokcho, South Korea
and Hunchun, China. Dong Chun Ferry Co. got conditional approval as an
ocean going carrier from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheri
es (MOMAF) in December, 1999 providing they build complete car ferry
and passenger terminals and solve the visa problem of passengers going
through Russia. Originally, this service was scheduled to depart from
Sokcho, South Korea and run to Hunchun, China via Posyet, Russia. Po
syet, however is expected to expand as a freight port so that it will
not be suitable for passenger ferrys. Zarubino was chosen to replace P
osyet.
The opening of service to Mt. Paekdu is very meaningful in that it con
nects Korea, Russia and China. China has been very aggressive about op
ening the service to develop the sea route on the Sea of Japan but Rus
sia took a more reluctant attitude. Sokcho, as the port of departure,
is expected to experience local economic growth.
Meanwhile, the fate of Najin, North Korea which was proposed to be inc
luded in this service depends on the result of the Inter-Korean Summi
t Talks this June. Japan also proposed that this service be extended
to Sakkai.
The distance from Sokcho to Zarubino is 316 miles ( equivalent to 585
Km) and will take 17 hours and Zarubino to Hunchun will take 1 hour, o
ver a distance of 63 Km. The vessel, named 「Dong Chun Ferry」with a g
ross tonnage (G/T) of 12,023 provides round trip service 3 times a wee
k and 126 times a year. It hopes to carry 80,000 passengers and 5,040
teus of cargo per year.