Gunsan-Qingdao launches streamliner route this April

The regular service line between Gunsan, North Cholla Province and Qingdao will open April 15.

Gunsan City and Soojeong Co., Ltd, a Korean shipping company in the car ferry business, said March 13 that Soojeong and its Chinese partner shipping company agreed to launch an international car ferry trade between Gunsan and Qingdao on April 15 through an agreement to establish a joint-venture company.

The joint venture company will be called ?Crystal Ferry Line?with an initial capitalization of 1.5 million dollars, of which Soojeong invested 90% and Qingdao Asia-Pacific International Transportation Co. Ltd the rest.

The Yujinxiang, which has used the trade between Busan and Yantai, will be chartered from China Shipping Line. The 12,000 ton vessel will accommodate 348 passengers and 228 TEU.

The service will be offered three times weekly and take 16 hours. The fare will be decided on by the Korea-China Maritime Operation Agreementat a later date.

An Gunsan City official said that the new service route will help trade volumes and lessen logistic costs.