New Ferry “Yaima Maru (YAIMAMARU)” Connecting Ishigaki and Taiwan｜Latest Information and History of Yaima Line
History of Yaima Maru (YAIMAMARU)
The vessel that is now referred to as Yaima Maru appears to have a long history.
It was originally known in Japan as “Sunflower Kuroshio”, sailing on the Osaka–Kochi–Beppu route as a domestic ferry. Later, it was transferred to Panstar Ferry in South Korea and renamed “Panstar Dream.” At that time, it seems to have operated as an international ferry connecting Busan and Osaka, carrying both passengers and cargo.
In November 2024, the company Shosen Yaima, established with the involvement of Ishigaki City, reportedly acquired the vessel. By June 2025, the handover was said to be completed, and the ship was renamed Yaima Maru (YAIMAMARU). In August of the same year, it was seen arriving at Keelung Port in Taiwan, where refurbishment work at CSBC (Taiwan International Shipbuilding) is believed to have begun.
The Meaning of the Name “Yaima Maru”
The word “Yaima” refers to the Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa. Locally, people also use the expression Yaima-muni for the Yaeyama dialect.
The name seems to reflect the idea of connecting the Yaeyama Islands. At the same time, expectations are growing that the ship may also serve as a new link between Taiwan and Japan.
If you are also interested in exploring the Yaeyama Islands, ferries from Ishigaki connect to nearby islands such as Iriomote, Taketomi, and Kohama.
See our guide to Ishigaki’s island-hopping ferries.
Onboard Facilities
When it was operating as Panstar Dream, the vessel was equipped with a range of facilities, including restaurants, large baths, a stage, and lounges. These facilities may still be present, suggesting that the ship could offer a comfortable and stable journey, making use of its large size and design as an international ferry.
For reference, footage from around August 2025 can be found here (still showing the vessel as Panstar Dream):
YouTube – Panstar Dream
Current Status and Outlook
The start of service was initially announced for September 2025. However, reports indicate that the vessel is currently in Taiwan, and considering that it has been nearly 28 years since construction, refurbishment and safety checks may be taking longer than expected. It is possible that this could result in some delays.
Once in operation, the Ishigaki–Keelung route may provide another option in addition to flights. Although travel time by sea is longer, the appeal of ferry travel lies in the comfort and slower pace that is difficult to experience by plane.
For information on traveling from Taiwan to Ishigaki by ferry, see this article
Details such as fares and sailing schedules have not yet been finalized, and it is expected that official announcements will be made on the company’s website when ready.
👉 Latest information: Yaima Line Official Website
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