Author Topic: Japan, yet again...  (Read 6001 times)

Offline lappino

  • Home away from home
  • ****
  • Posts: 390
    • View Profile
Japan, yet again...
« on: February 19, 2018, 01:50:19 PM »
It was Chinese New Year around my parts, so I had some time to spare, and have decided to make a short trip to Japan.

The itinerary was planned to be Onomichi - Mihara - Kure - Nagasaki - Sasebo - Kanmon Strait, and was completed as planned.

First, a new tug spotted at Onomichi port:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814241

Onomichi Dockyard had some newbuildings in various stages of completion:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814282

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814279

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814258

Above photos were taken from a ferry to Tsuneishi, where there were also some new ships to be seen:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814284

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814286

Then, on to Mihara, only to realize that otherwise ideal boat ride to Okunoshima, that passes by Imabari shipyard operates only on weekends. So, plan B was to take a ferry to Setoda, and then take a cab ride around the island Takaneshima overlooking Imabari shipyard, which was the next best thing, even if a bit expensive one.

There was that usual set of K Line container vessels, together with a glimpse of the first magenta-colored one of Imabari design.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2813830

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814156

Something lost, something gained: boat trip to Setoda gave me the opportunity to check out whatever was going on at the local Naikai shipyard:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814304

There I also saw one ferry that so far hasn't been seen here on site:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814295

Then, a fast train ride to Hiroshima, followed by a tram to Ujina port, and a ferry ride to Kure, where there are always some vehicle carriers to be seen along the way, like this one:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814158

And, of course, those smart looking Japanese coasters:

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2814302

New pink/magenta container vessels for ONE were obviously the main reason why I wanted to go to Kure in the first place.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2813857

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2813845

I was so excited to take as many photos as possible of the first magenta one, that I forgot that there was yet another one under construction in a dry dock right next to it; but I remembered to check the other dock, where the "One Aquila" was being assembled.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2813854

Then, a train ride back to Hiroshima, followed by a shinkansen to Hakata. My pass ticket covered my trip only to Hakata, so I proceeded to Nagasaki by bus. Where there is no ultra-high-speed train network in Japan, it makes sense to travel by bus, as the prices are roughly half of the train ticket, and travel times are same.

So, this was Day 1. Next day, it was Nagasaki and Sasebo.


Offline lappino

  • Home away from home
  • ****
  • Posts: 390
    • View Profile
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2018, 02:42:05 AM »
Now, day two, starting with morning at Nagasaki, and LNG carrier

Offline husni

  • Quite a regular
  • **
  • Posts: 63
    • View Profile
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2018, 05:40:29 AM »
That's great Mr Vlad
Hard life of Shipspotter 8)

thanks for keep us regularly post

Offline pieter melissen

  • Webmaster
  • Top Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 669
    • View Profile
    • ultimatecarpage.com
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2018, 06:53:14 AM »
Is the SPP closure permanent or are the yards mothballed for better times?

Offline lappino

  • Home away from home
  • ****
  • Posts: 390
    • View Profile
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2018, 07:07:35 AM »
That's a good question. Yards are obviously major industrial facilities that are neither easy nor quick to set up; therefore, infrastructure may remain in place for some time after yard's closing.
As for SPP specifically, their outfitting facility at Tongyeong is completely dismantled (cranes and floating piers are gone); Sacheon and Goseong yards look just mothballed.

It's not like Sungdong, whose block fabrication facility in Masan was mostly eradicated and the area redeveloped, with its 700-ton crane sold for scrapping at a fraction of its original price.

Anyway, the people I mention SPP to tell me just that "it's gone..."

Offline pieter melissen

  • Webmaster
  • Top Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 669
    • View Profile
    • ultimatecarpage.com
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2018, 08:31:48 PM »
Thanks Vlad, obviously these relative newcomers in Korean shipbuilding did not get the suppport that the big three (Daewoo, Hyundai and Samsung) always seem to have enjoyed. STX will also probably go down permanently.

Offline pspott

  • Not too shy to talk
  • *
  • Posts: 20
    • View Profile
Re: Japan, yet again...
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2018, 12:46:09 PM »
Thanks Vlad, obviously these relative newcomers in Korean shipbuilding did not get the suppport that the big three (Daewoo, Hyundai and Samsung) always seem to have enjoyed. STX will also probably go down permanently.
I agree with you. I think so too

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk