Ise-wan Ferry
Passenger-car ferry in Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ise-wan Ferry (伊勢湾フェリー), or Ise Bay Ferry is a passenger-car ferry between Toba, Mie Prefecture and Irago, Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.[1] The ferry route serves as the sea section of National Route 42 and National Route 259.[2]
Route
The ferry service links Toba Port in Toba and Irago Port at Cape Irago in Tahara.[3][4] A distance of 23.2 kilometres (14.4 mi),[5] crossing the mouth of the eponymous Ise Bay takes around 55[4] to 60 minutes.[5] The ferry passes a number of islands (including Kamishima, Sakatejima, Sugashima and Tōshijima) and dolphins and finless porpoises are often seen.[5] As of 2022, there were eight round trips per day most of the year, and thirteen at peak times.[5] The Toba-Irago sea route is also known as the Shiosai Kaidō.[6]
History
The service was begun in 1964[5] by the Isewan Car Shipping Company, a joint venture of Nagoya Railroad and Kintetsu Railway companies. In 1974 the operator's name was changed to the Isewan Ferry Company.[7]
In March 2010, the Isewan Ferry Company announced that, due to worsening business performance and other constraints, the service would terminate in September of that year.[8] In recognition of the importance of the service for tourism and the fishing industry, the two prefectures and two cities came together to develop a programme of support and a revitalization council was formed, with the additional involvement of the Chūbu Regional Transport Bureau, local businesses, and academic advisers.[5][8][9]