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WAKO ・ わこう Coastal Car Carrier 内航自動車運搬船

WAKO is the 100th Entry!!! Yay!!! While this RoRo coastal car carrier has been seen sailing thru the Kanmon Straits many times, it is the first time to photograph it. Seeing the HONDA logo on the side brings The Beach Boys song 'Little Honda' to mind. 

WAKO わこう 内航自動車運搬船

Wako's home port is Fukuoka and the car carrier appears to exclusively transport autos to and from Japanese ports like Yokkaichi, Funabashi, etc. One can't help but wonder what models of HONDA vehicles it is carrying. Please let me wonder while I listen to Little Honda and pick up some good vibrations. Musical ship spotting.


Built by Shinkochi Heavy Industries in 2016, Wako has a loading capacity of 508 cars. Stealing the ship when it is fully loaded would be more efficient than stealing 508 cars individually. Plus, the keys would probably be in the cars. Somehow, this occurring seems highly unlikely. Japan is very safety.

Wako is a Japanese RoRo car carrier for Honda - Kanmon Strait 2024
Wako is a Japanese RoRo car carrier for Honda - Kanmon Strait 2024  

Vessel Name: WAKO ・ わこう
Length: 118.03 meters
Width: 16.6 meters
IMO: 9774044
Flag: Japan
MMSI: 431008817
Type: Vehicles Carrier / RoRo / Coastal Car Carrier
Loading Capacity: 508 vehicles
Call Sign: JD4065
Gross Tonnage: 2992 tons
Deadweight: 2329 tons
Home Port: Fukuoka
Built: 2016.11.01.
Builder: Shin Kurushima Kochijyuko Co., Ltd. / 新高知重工㈱
Owner: Saito Shipping Co., Ltd. / 斎藤海運 (株)、 福岡県

Since this is a "coastal" car carrier, perhaps its construction and specs are different from other automobile carrier cargo ships? Oh, the questions that arise just from watching at a cool ship like Wako as it sails thru the Kanmon Straits of Japan...

Photographed by Ship Freakazoid on October 20, 2024 with an Olympus E520 DSLR equipped with Zuiko 150mm lens. 

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