FERRY I

Nankai Ferry to go out of business in 2028

FerryNankai Electric Railway announced on 30 March 2026, that its 100%-owned subsidiary, Nankai Ferry, will withdraw from the ferry business by the end of March 2028.

Nankai Ferry was founded in 1975 and has operated the Wakayama–Tokushima route. Currently, the vessels FERRY KATSURAGI and FERRY I serve the route between Honshu and Shikoku.

According to Nankai Ferry, the sharp rise in fuel costs and commodity prices has severely pressured its management, making it difficult to replace the aging FERRY KATSURAGI.

In 1995, approximately 970,000 passengers used Nankai Ferry. However, passenger numbers have been declining in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2024, the company carried only about 357,000 passengers.

Nankai Ferry also stated that the withdrawal date could be brought forward due to the aging of the ferries or facilities, or difficulties in retaining staff.

apr 02 2026