Taiwan ro-ro passenger ship "Jinri Star" became the first Taiwan ship to directly sail from Pengpu to Xiamen on August 18. The "Jinri Star", which means "Star of the Day", carried 40 Taiwanese passengers and stopped at Xiamen port for one night.

Approved by China's Ministry of Transport, the ship was scheduled to start its voyage at the beginning of August, but various influencing factors including, Typhoon Morakot, delayed the plan.

Owned by Taiwan Zhonghe Marine Ltd, the "Jinri Star" is a three-layer flush-decked passenger and cargo ship with a passenger carrying capacity of more than 670 and is the third Taiwan-Xiamen ro-ro passenger ship after "Taihua" and "Ocean Lala".

"The opening of the new direct Xiamen-Penghu ship route offers new choices for Mainland citizens to travel in Taiwan [and] has a bright market prospect," an insider said.

Xiamen Frontier Defense and Inspection will work extra shifts to complete all verification procedures for passengers and workers at top speed, according to relevant officers.

"Jinri Star" is set to return to Penghu directly from Xiamen on August 19.

(China Daily August 21, 2009)