Selection of Priority Negotiation Company for Large Passenger Ship Operation between Incheon and Baengnyeong

A new large passenger ship will be deployed on the Incheon?Baengnyeongdo route, where the operation of 2,000-ton roll-on/roll-off vessels has been suspended.

On the 21st, Ongjin County in Incheon announced that it has selected Goryeo Express Ferry as the preferred negotiation candidate to operate a large passenger ship on the Incheon?Baengnyeongdo route. The Ongjin County evaluation committee made this decision on the 18th after assessing two companies that applied for the related public offering, evaluating their ship acquisition plans and financing methods.

The county will proceed with negotiations regarding the shipping company and business methods and plans to decide on signing the business agreement in early next month. Afterward, following a passenger ship company public offering by the Incheon Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, once the company begins operating the large passenger ship, Ongjin County will support operating deficits for 20 years.

Previously, the company operating the 2,000-ton large roll-on/roll-off vessel (Harmony Flower) on this route suspended ship operations from November last year due to financial difficulties and filed for closure in March.

Currently, the Korea Pride (1,600 tons) and Korea Princess (534 tons) operate on the same route, but their smaller ship sizes and inability to carry vehicles cause inconvenience to passengers.

Due to worsening management, the operation of the Incheon?Baengnyeongdo route was suspended last year, including the Harmony Flower ship.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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