Japanese ferry operator to end service to South Korea due to leaking ship

JR Kyushu unable to solve seepage that its subsidiary was found to have concealed

20241224 Queen Beetle

Before services were suspended in August over a water leak issue, the Queen Beetle high-speed ferry operated daily return services from Japan to the South Korean city of Busan.    

FUKUOKA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Kyushu Railway said Monday it will terminate its ferry service between Fukuoka in southwestern Japan and South Korea's Busan as it was unable to resolve a water seepage issue affecting its Queen Beetle vessel that its subsidiary was found to have concealed.    

JR Kyushu will withdraw from on-water transport completely and liquidate the wholly owned JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Inc., as it deemed it "cannot ensure operational safety" and due to questions over "the sustainability of future business activities," the parent company said in a statement.    

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