Mashu Maru was a operated by JNR, and shortly, JR Hokkaido, before finally being taken out of service on March 13, 1988 with the opening of the undersea Seikan Tunnel.
Background The train ferry Mashu Maru gets its name from Lake Mashū, a caldera lake in Hokkaido, Japan. Built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Kobe Shipyard, she was the fifth vessel constructed of the .
Construction and career Mashu Maru was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at its Kobe shipyard. It was launched on June 15, 1965, and entered service on June 30, 1965. As the fifth Tsugaru Maru-class train ferry for Japanese National Railways, it sailed the high-density Seikan Ferry route between Aomori and Hakodate across the Tsugaru Strait. The vessel carried both passengers and loaded railcars on its lower deck. This design provided reliable transit and cut travel times compared to older ferries. Ownership moved to Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in April 1987 after the privatization of the national railway.
Retirement The ship stayed in active service until March 13, 1988. It retired because the new undersea Seikan Tunnel opened and replaced the train ferry system with direct rail travel. Workers modified the ship into an exhibition vessel after its retirement. It sits permanently at Pier 2 near Hakodate Station. It reopened in 2003 as the Hakodate City Seikan Ferry Memorial Ship Mashu Maru. Today, it operates as a public museum showing the bridge, wireless room, and vehicle deck.
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