Yeosu City Takes Steps to Stabilize the 'Yeosu~Geomun Route'

Conditions such as Departure from Yeosu, Resident Convenience, and Tourist Accessibility

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] Jeonnam Yeosu City (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong) announced on the 22nd that it will hold a public contest for passenger ferry operators to stabilize the 'Yeosu~Geomeun Route.'

According to the city, the 'Yeosu~Geomeun Route' has been operated only once a day (round trip) by an aging passenger ferry departing from Geomundo, causing inconvenience to island residents and tourists.

Yeosu City is inviting passenger ferry operators to stabilize the Yeosu~Geomun route.
Photo by Yeosu City

Accordingly, the city is recruiting passenger ferry operators to depart from Yeosu by March 9.

Applicants must own a high-speed or ultra-high-speed ferry with a tonnage of 250 tons or more, capable of carrying at least 300 passengers, and the vessel's age must be 20 years or less as of the proposal submission date.

Additionally, within six months from the selection date, applicants must obtain a license for inland passenger transport business on the route and be able to operate two round trips per day, among other conditions.

The city plans to support the selected ferry operator by covering part of the operating deficit for the first two years, and from the third year onward, provide depreciation costs support related to the deployment of newly built or secondhand passenger ferries aged 10 years or less.

A city official said, "In a situation where the inconvenience of island residents and tourists is prolonged, this public contest will be an alternative to attract excellent ferry operators," and added, "We will do our best to secure passenger ferries, the only public transportation means for island residents."

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon hss79@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.