Nan Bei Zhi Xing 2 Faces Seakeeping Concerns; Yinting Township Council Raises Issues

Yinting Township Council members and Township Mayor Lin Dejian inspect passenger conditions at Zhongzhu Harbor.

The inter-island ferry route between Nangan and Yinting has long relied on large vessels such as the 'Xin Tai Ma Lun' and 'Tai Ma Zhi Xing.' However, starting in June this year, Lienchiang County introduced a new operational model, replacing some services during the peak season (June to September) with the smaller vessel 'Nan Bei Zhi Xing 2.'

According to the contract between the county and the shipping company, the service will switch to 'Tai Ma Zhi Xing' if wave height exceeds 1.7 meters on a given day.

Chen Zi-Lin, Chairman of the Yinting Township Council, highlighted local concerns that the smaller vessel has poor seakeeping performance and causes seasickness. Yesterday, he visited Zhongzhu Harbor with the full council and Township Mayor Lin Dejian to assess passenger experiences.

On that day, wave heights were approximately 1.6 to 1.8 meters, with around 101 passengers on board. Among 70 surveyed by the council, 14 reported discomfort, seasickness, or vomiting.

Chen emphasized that many passengers complained about the rough and uncomfortable ride during arrival, with some even stating they would not return to Yinting for tourism, damaging the island's tourism image.

Additionally, passengers suffering from seasickness often needed to rest upon arrival, disrupting their travel plans.

Chen stressed that while safety is paramount, passenger comfort, route stability, and overall tourism experience must also be prioritized. He urged Lienchiang County to revise the sailing threshold for 'Nan Bei Zhi Xing 2' from the current 1.7 meters down to 1.5 meters, and to evaluate the feasibility of deploying larger vessels based on sea conditions, passenger volume, and transport demand.

In a phone interview with Central News Agency today, Chen also raised concerns about frequent mechanical failures of 'Tai Ma Zhi Xing,' which is currently undergoing repairs. He suggested that during periods of high waves, the 'Dong Ma Dong Tai' route (from Keelung to Yinting, Nangan, Yinting, and back to Keelung) should be served by the 'Xin Tai Ma Lun' to ensure reliability.

Chen Ru-Lan, Director of Lienchiang County's Transportation and Tourism Bureau, stated today that while there are no current plans to adjust the sailing standard for 'Nan Bei Zhi Xing 2' due to its broad implications, the council's feedback will be considered in future evaluations.

Regarding rerouting 'Xin Tai Ma Lun,' she noted that the travel rights of residents from Nangan and Juguang must also be considered, and such adjustments would only be made under exceptional circumstances, such as extreme wave conditions or significant passenger backlog in Yinting.