Sakaiminato, Tottori — MV Eastern Dream has returned to Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, marking the first time the liner has entered the port since 2019. The vessel connects Donghae in South Korea, Vladivostok in Russia, and Sakaiminato, boasting a gross tonnage of approximately 11,400 tons and a capacity for 530 passengers and 250 vehicles.
Currently, the Eastern Dream is scheduled to arrive in Sakaiminato every Saturday at 9 AM and depart the following day at 7 PM until the end of September 2024. In October 2024, the schedule will be updated for improved convenience. Under the new timetable, the ship will depart Donghae at 6 PM on Thursdays, arriving in Sakaiminato at 9 AM on Fridays. The return journey will then leave Sakaiminato at 6 PM on Saturdays, arriving back in Donghae at 10 AM on Sundays.
Operations were suspended for nearly five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the bankruptcy of its former owner, DBS Cruise Ferry. Now, under the new ownership of DuWon Shipping, the liner has resumed service, sparking hopes of revitalizing tourism in the San’in region, which includes Shimane and Tottori Prefectures. The vessel is expected to play a pivotal role in attracting visitors from South Korea to the area, thereby contributing to the local economy.
(Words by Takashi Saito)