Vladivostok - Busan - Japan, RoRo service?

[gperkins]

To the best of my knowledge this service ceased to operate a couple of years ago. Does anyone have any information or knowledge of a replacement service that will cater for the carriage of both passengers and a motorbike. We are trying to firm up some plans. Assuming the world returns to some kind of normality next year. Oh, before anyone asks, yes I have done the usual google search. Thanks in advance.

[AnTyx]

There was a plan for a replacement before the pandemic, a specific ship was named, but IIRC it never launched.

Do not expect there to be one in 2022.

[gperkins]

Thanks AnTyx, I had read similar a couple of years ago. But serch as I might I could find no information. Covid has thrown everyone. Plan "B", might have to be enacted. Still I would love to ride Japan.

Maybe there is a reliable flight cargo service out of Vlad to Japan? That brings with it carnet issues though.

Cheers
Graeme

[GPZ]

I wanted to get to Japan in 2020 but obviously it was not possible. I an hoping to go in 2022. I am going to a specific event and I am increasingly resigned to leaving the bike in Vlad and flying to Japan.
There are RoRos but no passengers and the schedules are unpredictable. No doubt you have read the various threads about this problem.

Please let us know if you find a solution.

[AnTyx]

There is a brisk trade in used vehicles going from Japan to Vladivostok - those ships must be returning empty.

Try https://links-ltd.com/, I think these are the people that most HU people have used.

[gperkins]

Really appreciate your input AnTyx. I sent through a request to the link that you provided and got the following response from Yuri and I quote.

"in 2022 everything will be different. In 2020-21 years when Covid began no one traveller crossed to Japan with vehicle from here.
Currently ferry to Japan operates as cargo ship only. When it starts taking passengers nobody knows, they plan it after Covid will be over. Ferry and RO/RO's that belong to the same company as ferry will not take motorcycle to Japan due to problem in Japan with customs clearance. There must be agent which will arrange that, but currently there is no such agent because there are no passengers with vehicles".

Best Regards,
Yuri Melnikov

Clearly, curently there is no possiblity but in 2022 there would seem to be a chance of making this crossing as both a passenger with a motorbike as the debilitating effects of Covid-19 recede. Is my take on the situation. Watch this space I guess.

Again thanks for the assistance and input.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

There was a plan for a replacement before the pandemic, a specific ship was named, but IIRC it never launched.

Do not expect there to be one in 2022.

Here is a bit more detail on that news: Ferry from Vladik to Pohang (Korea) and on to Maizuru (Japan) if required

https://www.donga.com/en/article/all/20200915/2181717/1

Shipping company website is here, confirming a theoretical service once a week but if you go to the booking page, it says service suspended due to COVID Pandemic.

http://hklee.gabia.io/overview