Sokcho City: 113,000-Ton Cruise Ship 'Costa Serena' to Depart from Sokcho Port on May 12

About 2,700 People Onboard, Including 300 Residents and Citizens in the Experience Group

Costa Serena Departs from Sokcho Port on the 12th

Five-Night, Six-Day Cruise Voyage Begins

Response System Established for Large Cruise Homeport Operations

Strengthening Status as a Northeast Asia Cruise Hub City

Sokcho Port is once again demonstrating its status as a hub for cruise ships in Northeast Asia.

The Costa Serena ship entering Sokcho Port. Provided by Sokcho City

According to Sokcho City on May 10, the 113,000-ton class large cruise ship 'Costa Serena' will depart for Japan from Sokcho Port, which will serve as its home port, on May 12.

This itinerary is a homeport cruise schedule utilizing the Costa Serena, which belongs to Costa Cruises and is chartered and operated by Lotte Tour Development Co., Ltd. After arriving at Sokcho Port at 7 a.m. on May 12, the ship will depart at 4 p.m., make stops at Otaru and Hakodate in Japan, and then arrive at Busan Port on May 17, for a total of six days and five nights.

The Costa Serena is a large cruise ship with a gross tonnage of 114,261 tons, a length of 285 meters, a width of 32 meters, and a draft of 8 meters. It can accommodate up to 2,370 passengers and a maximum of 812 crew members. With this operation, cruise passengers from all over the country are expected to visit Sokcho, which is anticipated to have a positive effect on local businesses and tourism revitalization.

In particular, this departure will include a 'Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Sokcho Citizen Cruise Experience Group,' consisting of 300 people selected to enhance local understanding and interest in the cruise industry. The experience group is made up of 150 residents of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and 150 Sokcho citizens, and they will participate in onboard programs, excursions at ports of call, and satisfaction surveys during the voyage.

Meanwhile, Sokcho City is strengthening its on-site response system with relevant agencies to ensure a safe departure and minimize inconvenience to citizens, since a large number of passengers will be concentrated in the Sokcho Port area on the day of departure.

First, through a meeting with cruise terminal stakeholders, the city has completed advance checks on port operations, passenger movement routes, access for large charter buses, shuttle bus operations, traffic control, safety management, and emergency response systems.

Before and after arrival and departure, to reduce traffic congestion around the terminal, the flow of large charter buses and individual vehicles will be separated. If necessary, temporary parking lots and shuttle bus systems will be activated to ease traffic congestion in the Cheongho-dong and Abai Village areas.

The city plans to use this homeport departure of the Costa Serena as an opportunity to once again review Sokcho Port's capacity to accommodate large cruise ships and to strengthen the foundation for attracting more repeat and new cruise ship arrivals in the future.

The Costa Serena entering Sokcho Port. Provided by Sokcho City.

An official from Sokcho City stated, "This departure of the Costa Serena is a significant opportunity to confirm Sokcho Port's cruise handling capacity and its potential as a home port. We will do our utmost in on-site response, working closely with relevant agencies to ensure a safe and convenient departure for both passengers and citizens."

The official added, "We will continue to promote cruise tourism so that the expansion of cruise arrivals at Sokcho Port and the influx of tourists contribute meaningfully to the local economy."

Previously, the premium cruise ship Westerdam, weighing 82,862 tons and measuring 285 meters in length, entered Sokcho Port on April 18.

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