Currently, Taiwan has cruise services between Okinawa, Japan, and Keelung, Taiwan, and opened a weekly cargo service from Kaohsiung to Naha in June 2014, which is operated by Ryukyu Shipping’s cargo carrier.
To further enhance new opportunities for shipping services between Japan and Taiwan TIPC signed the agreement – it’s first MOU with a Japanese port.
TIPC’s seven ports (Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taipei, Su’ao, and Anping) have handled a total of 740 million tonnes of cargo in 2014 – up 6.97% compared to 2013. Total container throughput reached 15.05 million TEU – of which 10.59 million TEU was handled by Kaohsiung Port alone – up 6.6% compared to the previous year.
Passenger volume of the seven ports reached 1.38 million passengers – an increase of 40% in 2014. Around 0.72 million people were cruise passengers – an increase of more than 30% compared to 2013.
Okinawa prefecture’s Naha port, is located 600km southwest of Japan’s main island and in the middle of the East China Sea. It is close to Shanghai and in between the ports of Busan and Kaohsiung. It is the gateway to Okinawa prefecture, supporting the economic activities of more than 40 surrounding islands. The port operates 50 routes including international container services for North America and Asia.