BOARDING A SHIP

The History of Our Ships

The ships have been connecting Sado and the mainland for over 100 years of our history.

For more than 100 years since its establishment, Sado Kisen has operated a regular route service, transporting passengers, automobiles, and cargo between Japan’s mainland and Sado Island. We have endeavored to serve as a highly public maritime transportation system, both as a lifeline for the residents of Sado Island and as a means of transportation for tourists. Here, we will look back on the various ships that have graced the Sado route, accompanied by photographs.

Taisho period (1912 - 1926)

Sadomaru No. 1
Sadomaru No. 1
Year 1914 (Taisho 3) - 1934 (Showa 9)
Speed 10.8 knots
Gross tonnage 173 tons
Total length 33.00m
Sadomaru No. 2
Sadomaru No. 2
Year 1914 (Taisho 3) - 1917 (Taisho 6)
Speed 10.7 knots
Gross tonnage 179 tons
Total length 33.00m
Sadomaru No. 8
Sadomaru No. 8
Year 1923 (Taisho 12) - 1954 (Showa 29)
Speed 11.5 knots
Gross tonnage 231 tons
Total length 34.59m

Showa period (1926 - 1989)

Okesamaru (1st generation)
Okesamaru (1st generation)
Year 1932 (Showa 7) - 1965 (Showa 40)
Speed 13 knots
Gross tonnage 488 tons
Total length 48.77m
Miyukimaru (cargo ship) (1st generation)
Miyukimaru (cargo ship) (1st generation)
Year 1938 (Showa 13) - 1967 (Showa 42)
Speed 11 knots
Gross tonnage 67 tons
Total length 24.99m
Ebisumaru (Cargo ship)
Ebisumaru (Cargo ship)
Year 1939 (Showa 14) - 1957 (Showa 32)
Speed 7.5 knots
Gross tonnage 78 tons
Total length 26.42m
Koganemaru (1st generation)
Koganemaru (1st generation)
Year 1948 (Showa 23) - 1971 (Showa 46)
Speed 14 knots
Gross tonnage 589 tons
Total length 55.89m
Otomemaru (1st generation)
Otomemaru (1st generation)
Year 1951 (Showa 26) - 1959 (Showa 34)
Speed N/A
Gross tonnage 91 tons
Total length 24.22m
Koshijimaru (1st generation)
Koshijimaru (1st generation)
Year 1952 (Showa 27) - 1961 (Showa 36)
Speed N/A
Gross tonnage 275 tons
Total length 44.24m
Yumejimaru
Yumejimaru
Year 1956 (Showa 31) - 1972 (Showa 47)
Speed 15 knots
Gross tonnage 781 tons
Total length 57.91m
Essamaru (1st generation)
Essamaru (1st generation)
Year 1958 (Showa 33) - 1971 (Showa 46)
Speed 9.5 knots
Gross tonnage 107 tons
Total length 26.35m
Minatomaru (Cargo ship)
Minatomaru (Cargo ship)
Year 1959 (Showa 34) - 1969 (Showa 44)
Speed 10 knots
Gross tonnage 92 tons
Total length 25.41m
Namijimaru
Namijimaru
Year 1961 (Showa 36) - 1974 (Showa 49)
Speed 16 knots
Gross tonnage 760 tons
Total length 57.49m
Okesamaru (2nd generation)
Okesamaru (2nd generation)
Year 1964 (Showa 39) - 1976 (Showa 51)
Speed 16.4 knots
Gross tonnage 919 tons
Total length 59.88m
Sadomaru
Sadomaru
Year 1967 (Showa 42) - 1992 (Heisei 4)
Speed 12.1 knots
Gross tonnage 578 tons
Total length 49.05m
Koshijimaru (2nd generation)
Koshijimaru (2nd generation)
Year 1968 (Showa 43) - 1974 (Showa 49)
Speed 11 knots
Gross tonnage 305 tons
Total length 37.73m
Oosadomaru (1st generation)
Oosadomaru (1st generation)
Year 1969 (Showa 44) - 1983 (Showa 58)
Speed 16.5 knots
Gross tonnage 1,865 tons
Total length 75.34m
Miyukimaru (2nd generation)
Miyukimaru (2nd generation)
Year 1970 (Showa 45) - 1983 (Showa 58)
Speed 14 knots
Gross tonnage 797 tons
Total length 55.55m
Koganemaru (2nd generation)
Koganemaru (2nd generation)
Year 1972 (Showa 47) - 1993 (Heisei 5)
Speed 19.6 knots
Gross tonnage 3,025 tons
Total length 94.00m
Otomemaru (2nd generation)
Otomemaru (2nd generation)
Year 1973 (Showa 48) - 1995 (Heisei 7)
Speed 19 knots
Gross tonnage 3,521 tons
Total length 101.00m
Essamaru (2nd generation)
Essamaru (2nd generation)
Year 1976 (Showa 51) - 1988 (Showa 63)
Speed 18.1 knots
Gross tonnage 2,072 tons
Total length 85.60m
Jetfoil Okesa
Jetfoil Okesa
Year 1977 (Showa 52) - 1990 (Heisei 2)
Speed 45 knots
Gross tonnage 296 tons
Total length 27.43m
Jetfoil Mikado
Jetfoil Mikado
Year 1979 (Showa 54) - 2003 (Heisei 15)
Speed 47 knots
Gross tonnage 281 tons
Total length 23.44m
Kosadomaru
Kosadomaru
Year 1983 (Showa 58) - 2008 (Heisei 20)
Speed 22.5 knots
Gross tonnage 8,754 tons
Total length 119.00m
Jetfoil Ginga
Jetfoil Ginga
Year 1986 (Showa 61) - Present
Speed 46 knots
Gross tonnage 277 tons
Total length 23.44m
Oosadomaru (2nd generation)
Oosadomaru (2nd generation)
Year 1988 (Showa 63) - 2014 (Heisei 26)
Speed 22.6 knots
Gross tonnage 5,373 tons
Total length 131.9m

Heisei and onwards (1989 - )

Jetfoil Tsubasa
Jetfoil Tsubasa
Year 1989 (Heisei 1) - Present
Speed 46 knots
Gross tonnage 164 tons
Total length 22.26m
Jetfoil Suisei
Jetfoil Suisei
Year 1991 (Heisei 3) - Present
Speed 46 knots
Gross tonnage 169 tons
Total length 22.26m
Essamaru (3rd generation)
Essamaru (3rd generation)
Year 1992 (Heisei 4) – 2005 (Heisei 17)
Speed 14.7 knots
Gross tonnage 1,478 tons
Total length 60.00m
Okesamaru (3rd generation)
Okesamaru (3rd generation)
Year 1993 (Heisei 5) - Present
Speed 23.4 knots
Gross tonnage 5,855 tons
Total length 134.70m
Koganemaru (3rd generation)
Koganemaru (3rd generation)
Year 1995 (Heisei 7) – 2015 (Heisei 27)
Speed 22.2 knots
Gross tonnage 4,258 tons
Total length 120.50m
Jetfoil Falcon
Jetfoil Falcon
Year 1996 (Heisei 8) – 1999 (Heisei 11)
Speed 45.75 knots
Gross tonnage 163 tons
Total length 22.26m
High-speed ship Ibis
High-speed ship Ibis
Year 2005 (Heisei 17) – 2019 (Heisei 31)
Speed 25 knots
Gross tonnage 263 tons
Total length 47.08m
Tokiwamaru
Tokiwamaru
Year 2014 (Heisei 26) - Present
Speed 19.1 knots
Gross tonnage 5,380 tons
Total length 125m
Akane
Akane
Year 2015 (Heisei 27) – 2021 (Reiwa 3)
Speed 30 knots
Gross tonnage 5,702 tons
Total length 89.70m
Koganemaru (4th generation)
Koganemaru (4th generation)
Year 2023 (Reiwa 5) - Present
Speed 19 knots
Gross tonnage 2,483 tons
Total length 116.5m

MOVIE