The eco-friendly luxury passenger ship "Jianzhen" embarked on its maiden voyage from the North Bund on June 8, marking a new beginning for Sino-Japanese maritime transport and enhancing trade and cultural exchanges between the two nations.
The ship's horn sounded as the "Jianzhen" slowly departed from the North Bund International Passenger Terminal at 4pm on June 8.
The Jianzhen, measuring 167.2 meters in length and 25 meters in width, has a passenger capacity of 192 and a gross tonnage of approximately 20,000 tons. With a design speed of 21 knots, it can carry 338 TEUs (standard containers).
Captain Du Jianjun explained that the vessel, designed for the China-Japan route, integrates advanced concepts of safety, environmental protection, emission reduction, and intelligence.
It features optimized hull dimensions and design, and is equipped with energy-saving and eco-friendly devices to meet carbon control requirements.
It is the first domestically developed Ro-Ro passenger ship to meet the EEDI Phase III requirements, reducing carbon emissions by 30 percent from the baseline standard, and has received the G-ECO green eco-ship class notation from the China Classification Society (CCS).
In addition to carrying cars, heavy trucks, container trailers, Ro-Ro cargo, containers, and refrigerated containers, the "Jianzhen" can also accommodate passengers. The passenger areas on the second and third decks offer 192 seats in three different classes, with comprehensive dining and entertainment facilities.
Named after the renowned Tang Dynasty monk Jian Zhen, the ship symbolizes the transmission of history and the promotion of culture. The current vessel is the third-generation "Jianzhen" of the Sino-Japanese International Ferry Company.
The first "Jianzhen" set sail from the North Bund to Japan in 1985, inaugurating the first international passenger-cargo route between Shanghai and Japan, becoming a vital link between the two countries. Over its operational life, the route transported approximately 320,000 passengers and pioneered high-speed delivery services.
In 1994, the newly built luxury Ro-Ro passenger ship "New Jianzhen" replaced the original "Jianzhen" and continued operating the same route, regularly calling at Shanghai, Osaka, and Kobe.
The "New Jianzhen" left its mark on the China-Japan maritime route by assisting with the evacuation of stranded passengers during Typhoon Jebi in 2018 and transporting Jianzhen Master's relics for an exhibition in Shanghai in 2019.
Captain Du highlighted that the development of the three generations of "Jianzhen" ships reflects the evolution of Sino-Japanese maritime routes and symbolizes China's progress in high-end Ro-Ro passenger ship design and manufacturing.
The newly launched "Jianzhen" will regularly shuttle between Shanghai and the Japanese ports of Osaka and Kobe, continuing to build a prestigious maritime brand.
As the inaugural departure point for the "Jianzhen," Hongkou has seized the historic opportunity presented by the new phase of North Bund development, advancing the transformation of its shipping industry from high-speed growth to high-quality development.
The North Bund now hosts over 4,600 shipping companies and nearly 40 domestic and international functional organizations, making it one of the most densely populated areas for shipping enterprises and headquarters in mainland China.
On the same day, the China Post issued a postal meter stamp commemorating the maiden voyage of the "Jianzhen."