Co., Ltd. SHK Line

Urgent shipping needs, BCP (Business Continuity Planning) measures
Special cargo (heavy, long, wide, tall, oversized cargo)
Self-propelled cargo (vehicles, construction machinery, etc.)
Cargo requiring temperature and vibration control
Cargo requiring stable supply of parts and products

Transport urgent cargo cheaper than air freight and faster than container ships.
Transport oversized or overweight cargo that doesn't fit in containers without the cost and time of disassembly or repackaging.
Reduce the labor, cost, and time of vanning for self-propelled cargo.
Safely transport cargo sensitive to temperature changes and vibration.
Support SCM with stable lead times and costs throughout the year.

Regular RO/RO ship service twice weekly from Shimonoseki Port to Suzhou Taicang Port, China. Voyage time is 35 hours.
The quay and ship are connected by a ramp, allowing horizontal movement. The ship's interior has a pillarless structure, enabling through transport of self-propelled cargo and some uncontainerized cargo without ever experiencing vertical vibration from crane operations.
For container cargo, since loading/unloading (horizontal movement) and sea transport are conducted with containers loaded on dedicated chassis, crane use is limited only to storage and pickup operations within the CY (Container Yard).
During sea transport, the ship's hold remains closed with hatch covers, completely sealed from outside air. This eliminates concerns about rain exposure for self-propelled or uncontainerized cargo, and temperature/humidity increases inside dry containers.

[Cargo Transport]
Recommended for companies handling cargo transport between Japan and Korea facing these challenges:
Need to ship cargo urgently.
Air freight is not cost-effective for their needs.
Need to transport cargo sensitive to temperature changes and vibration.
Have cargo that doesn't fit in containers or requires special vehicles.

[Passenger Transport]
Recommended for customers and travel agencies matching the following:

Find air travel dull, or feel uncomfortable flying.
Want to enjoy a relaxed voyage without being rushed by time.
Want affordable overseas travel, or want to create package tour products (for travel agencies).
Want to travel with elderly family members or small children.
Want to drive their own car, motorcycle, or bicycle abroad.

[Cargo]
Urgent shipping cases
Transport of high-precision cargo requiring high transport quality, such as precision machinery sensitive to vibration and temperature changes
Transport of cargo unsuitable for container shipping due to size or weight issues
[Passenger]
For those wanting to enjoy a relaxed voyage, group tours, shopping trips, etc.

[Cargo]
Operating ferry service from Shimonoseki Port to Busan Port, Korea, with high punctuality. For cargo transport, we offer flexible transport modes—including trucks and trailers—with reduced vibration through RO-RO cargo handling, at rates cheaper than air freight.
[Passenger]
For passenger transport, enjoy a relaxed voyage aboard a well-equipped ship. From families with children to elderly travelers, enjoy an overnight cruise experience.

Logistics service providers or logistics personnel who have issues such as the following:
- Want to reduce lead times in international logistics (Korea/China)
- Want to improve transportation quality
- Want to strengthen transportation capacity to ensure stable product supply
- Want to consider responses to various issues arising from the logistics industry’s 2024 problem
- Want to consider alternative transportation methods for BCP (Business Continuity Planning) measures
- Want to consider environmental measures such as reducing CO2 emissions and improving logistics efficiency
- Want to consider shifting transportation mode from land transport to sea transport
- Want to promote white logistics (such as modal shift to sea transport)

In recent years, the logistics industry has faced a variety of challenges in international logistics, including delays in container and air transport and rising freight rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In domestic logistics as well, there is concern over a further shortage of drivers caused by the 2024 problem.
International ferry and RO-RO vessel services are gaining attention as a transportation mode for imports and exports centered on Japan, Korea, and China. They are a middle option that is “faster than sea freight and cheaper than air freight,” meaning they are faster than container ships and cheaper than air transport. In addition, they offer stable operating days and arrival/departure times.
Domestic ferry services are also increasingly in demand because sea transport by 20-ton trailers can improve working conditions in response to the 2024 problem, while contributing not only to high transport capacity and quality but also to BCP measures in times of disaster, and to CO2 reduction that supports SDGs and white logistics.

In international logistics, our company operates regular weekly services to Korea and China from Shimonoseki Port in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the westernmost port on Honshu(Japan’s main island), and also provides combined transport services via Korea. In international logistics, which requires advanced expertise and know-how, we have established fast transportation unmatched by other ports through smooth coordination of customs clearance, cargo handling, and transportation based on our extensive experience and proven results.
In domestic logistics, by making use of the network centered on the SHK Line Group ferries and providing integrated sea-land transport, it is possible to build a sustainable logistics system that improves logistics efficiency, reduces labor requirements, and lowers CO2 emissions.
Our proposed “ferry transportation” service delivers not only shorter total lead times and lower logistics costs in both domestic and international operations, but also high-quality transport that leverages the characteristics of ferries, convenience through regular scheduled operations, and high-value-added logistics services such as CO2 reduction and inventory improvement.

Those considering countermeasures for the logistics 2024 problem
Those who place importance on reducing CO2 emissions (Scope 3) related to transportation
Those considering alternative transportation routes as part of BCP measures
Those who want to stabilize import/export schedules
Those engaged in import/export between the Tokyo metropolitan area and China and looking for an alternative to air transport
Those considering logistics plans other than container ships or air transport
Those who want to build a transportation mode utilizing modal shift
Those who want to build a transportation mode suitable for the semiconductor business

The SHK Line Group operates domestic routes on Shin Nihonkai Ferry, Hankyu Ferry, and Tokyo Kyushu Ferry, as well as China and Korea routes from Shimonoseki Port. Since each route and port has different sailing schedules, customers often need to coordinate separately with each operator when using ferry transport. Marinex, as a forwarder specializing in ferry-to-door transport, acts as a cross-group logistics coordinator within the SHK Line Group. By consulting us, customers can use not only point-to-point transport but also ferry-to-ferry connections across our network, allowing us to provide integrated sea-land transport services on the optimal route, both domestically and internationally. Ferry transport helps reduce CO2 emissions and supports Scope 3 goals, with emissions estimated at about one-fortieth of air transport and one-fifth of trucking. It also offers a cost-effective alternative to air freight while maintaining speed, and is suitable for safely transporting large cargo with high punctuality. For customers seeking a reliable and economical small-lot consolidated cargo service between the Tokyo area and China, our “3E-EXPRESS” service is a valuable option.

High punctuality, minimal temperature and humidity fluctuations, low vibration, and no exposure to seawater during transit enable high transport quality, making the service suitable for precision machinery such as semiconductor equipment.
Switching from land transport to modal shift between Tokyo and Kitakyushu can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 68%.
By connecting ferries with high schedule adherence from the Tokyo metropolitan area to East China, transport schedules become highly stable.
A robust backup system using multiple routes within the SHK Line Group ensures reliable delivery of cargo.

[Cargo]
Cargo transport between Tohoku/Kanto and Kyushu regions
Companies affected by the "2024 Problem" (logistics labor regulations)
Those wanting urgent sea transport with the same lead time as land trucking
Those seeking transport efficiency and reduced driver workload (working hour reduction)
Those wanting to diversify transport modes (risk avoidance)
Those wanting to reduce CO2 emissions for environmental considerations
[Passenger]
Customers traveling between Tohoku/Kanto and Kyushu
Customers traveling with pets
Those traveling with their own car, motorcycle, or bicycle
Customers traveling with children

[Cargo]
Cargo transport between Tohoku/Kanto and Kyushu
Modal shift to high-speed ferry service
[Passenger]
Shifting from long-distance driving/touring to a relaxed ferry voyage
Sports team away trips
Family car travel
Traveling with pets

[Cargo]Two large high-speed ferries(in 21 hours), each over 200m in length, operate daily from Monday to Saturday. During dry-docking periods, alternative ferries are used, resulting in approximately 300 voyages annually. The route boasts excellent punctuality and stability, with cancellations occurring almost exclusively during major typhoon landfalls. This represents a groundbreaking transport mode capable of resolving most current logistics challenges. We are also improving service to bring costs closer to total land transport costs—please make use of our service. Additionally, starting April 2026, high-speed ferry Wi-Fi (paid service) will be available in all cabins, allowing truck drivers to enjoy a comfortable onboard experience.

[Passenger]Starting April 2026, high-speed ferry Wi-Fi (paid service) will be available in all cabins, ensuring a comfortable onboard experience. Enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Fuji, the Kii Peninsula, and the waters off Shikoku, and share these views on social media like Instagram! Fully immerse yourself in an extraordinary experience onboard, featuring a large bath with an open-air section and Japan's only ferry-based planetarium.