?A new sea route that connects Sokcho in South Korea, Hunchun in China, Niigata in Japan, and Zarubino in Russia is expected to be launched on July 28, 2009.

Currently the Hunchun-Niigata route takes five or six days. After the launch of the new route, it will only take one to one and a half days.

The companies and local governments involved have been preparing to launch the new route since 2008. The Qingdao Queen ferry that can carry 750 passengers and 182 containers will be used for the route.

(China Hospitality News July 24, 2009)