Passenger ferry “Sumire Maru” (すみれ丸) arriving at Takamatsu, November 1972
Owner: Kansai Lisen K.K. (Kansai Line), Osaka
Port of registry: Beppu
Builder: Uraga Heavy Industries, Yokosuka (Hull-837)
Gross tons: 2,693
Deadweight: 409
Length overall: 83.2 m
Max. draft: 3.71 m
Engines: 2 x 7-cylinder diesels, total 4,000 b.h.p., by Kobe Hatsudoki Seizosho, Kobe
Service speed: 18 knots
Capacity: 1,082 or 1,196 (sources differ)
Completed April 1963. Employed on Osaka/Takamatsu/Beppu route through the Inland Sea
Sold for scrapping August 1985
The contemporary LR book classed her as a “passenger ship”. One Japanese source classes her as a “ro/ro” but I have my doubts (from the photo there could only be a stern ramp but this would not be usable at the pier where she is berthing).