Promoting Modal Shift to Ships: Ferry and Coastal Vessel Load Factors
Overview
The Maritime Bureau surveyed load-factor trends for medium- and long-distance ferries, RORO vessels, and coastal container vessels based on actual results for January–March and April–June of Reiwa 8, and published the findings. Noting that some routes still have spare loading capacity, it encourages shippers and logistics operators to use the information when considering modal shift. It also published the Guide to Considering Modal Shift to Coastal Shipping and route information lists for ferries, RORO vessels, and container vessels.
Key points
- The Maritime Bureau surveyed load-factor trends for three vessel types and published the findings.
- The survey covered actual results for January–March and April–June of Reiwa 8.
- Shippers and logistics operators are encouraged to use the information when considering modal shift.
Overview
On August 31 of Reiwa 8, the Maritime Bureau surveyed load-factor trends for medium- and long-distance ferries, RORO vessels, and coastal container vessels and published the findings. The survey covered actual results for January–March and April–June of Reiwa 8. The Maritime Bureau has published survey findings since August of Reiwa 5 to promote further modal shift to coastal shipping by providing information to shippers and logistics operators.
Impact
Because some routes still have spare loading capacity, shippers and logistics operators are encouraged to use the survey findings when considering future modal shift initiatives.
Details
The survey covered load-factor trends for medium- and long-distance ferries, truck transportation by RORO vessels, and transportation by coastal container vessels. The Maritime Bureau has also published, since May of Reiwa 7, the Guide to Considering Modal Shift to Coastal Shipping, which covers coastal shipping services, usage methods, the steps for considering use, and the benefits of coastal vessels, as well as the Route Information List, which compiles route information from each company. The guide URL is https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/content/001891014.pdf. The route information lists are available at https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/content/001891115.xlsx for ferries and RORO vessels, and at https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/content/001891116.xlsx for container vessels.