Sado Steam Ship

Sado Steam Ship Co., Ltd. (佐渡汽船株式会社, Sado Kisen Kabushiki-gaisha) is a marine transportation company based in Sado, Niigata, Japan, it was founded as Sado Shosen on February 3, 1913. In 1932, the modern version of the company was established through the merger of three ferry companies; Sado Shosen, Etsusa Shosen and Niigata Kisen into Sado Kisen as a joint public-private venture. This was the first example of this kind of joint public-private venture in Japan.^[2] On March 31, 2022, 66.54% of this company's shares were transferred to Michinori Holdings, transferring overall ownership to that company.

Routes connecting the mainland to Sado Island

Sado Steam Ship Co., Ltd.

Native name	佐渡汽船株式会社
Company type	Corporation
Industry	Public Transportation
Founded	February 3, 1913 (1913-02-03)[1]
Headquarters	Sado , Japan
Area served	Niigata Prefecture
Parent	Michinori Holdings (66.54%) Niigata Prefecture (10.72%) Sado, Niigata (3.52%)
Website	www.sadokisen.co.jp/language/en/

Routes

Sado Steam Ship provide two regular timetabled services between Niigata Prefecture and Sado Island.^[3]

• Niigata – Ryōtsu
• Naoetsu – Ogi (Spring to Autumn)

Former routes

• Teradomari – Akadomari (ended 2018)

Terminals

Niigata port terminal

Sado Steam Ship operates from six terminals.^[4][5]

Niigata port terminal

Located in Chūō-ku, Niigata (37.9298°N 139.0622°E / 37.9298; 139.0622 (Sado Kisen Niigata Terminal))

Naoetsu port terminal

Located in Jōetsu (37.1825°N 138.2508°E / 37.1825; 138.2508 (Sado Kisen Naoetsu Terminal))

Teradomari port terminal

Located in Nagaoka (37.6404°N 138.7624°E / 37.6404; 138.7624 (Sado Kisen Teradomari Terminal))

Ryotsu port terminal

Located in Sado (38.0816°N 138.4382°E / 38.0816; 138.4382 (Sado Kisen Ryotsu Terminal))

Ogi port terminal

Located in Sado (37.8162°N 138.2824°E / 37.8162; 138.2824 (Sado Kisen Ogi Terminal))

Akadomari port terminal

Located in Sado (37.8666°N 138.4123°E / 37.8666; 138.4123 (Sado Kisen Akadomari Terminal))

• 
  Ryotsu port terminal
• 
  Naoetsu port terminal
• 
  Ogi port terminal

Fleet

As of December 2016^[update], the following ships are in service.^[6]

Name	Type	Gross tonnage	Speed	Passenger capacity	Route	In service from
Ginga	Jetfoil	-	47 kn	250	Niigata	1986
Tsubasa						1989
Suisei						1991
Tokiwa-maru	Car ferry	5,380 t	19.1 kn	1,500	Niigata	2014
Okesa-maru		5,862 t	23.4 kn	1,705	Niigata	1993
Akane	High-speed car ferry	5,702 t	30 kn	628	Naoetsu	2015
Aibisu	High-speed ferry	263 t	25 kn	216	Teradomari	2005

• 
  Ginga and Tsubasa
• 
  Suisei
• 
  Okesa-maru
• 
  Akane
• 
  Aibisu