The high-speed vessel that connected Ulleungdo and Pohang for 25 years resumes operations in Argentina as the 'Montevideo Express.'

The Sunflower, a high-speed passenger vessel that connected Ulleungdo and the mainland for 25 years, is drawing keen attention from Ulleung residents as it resumes operations under a new name on the other side of the globe in South America.

This is because the vessel, which once led an innovation in Ulleungdo’s maritime transportation, was retired domestically due to vessel age limits, but has returned to navigating the seas abroad following remodeling.

The Sunflower started its new voyage in Argentina last October under the new name "Montevideo Express." It is known to have been modified to fit local operational conditions, such as reducing passenger capacity while expanding vehicle transport capabilities.

Upon hearing this news, Ulleung residents expressed a mix of joy and bitterness. While it is heartwarming to see the vessel—which once took charge of residents' mainland trips, emergency patient transport, and tourist transit—operating overseas again, it feels bittersweet that it could no longer operate domestically.

## Daeah Express Shipping Chairman Hwang In-chan’s Decisive Move Transformed Ulleungdo’s Sea Routes

The Sunflower began operations on August 15, 1995, when Daeah Express Shipping deployed it on the Ulleung-Pohang route. At the time, it drastically cut the voyage time—which previously took over six hours—down to around 2 hours and 50 minutes, bringing a major transformation to Ulleungdo’s maritime transportation.

Behind this change was the bold investment and proactive vessel introduction by Daeah Express Shipping Chairman Hwang In-chan. Deploying an aluminum catamaran high-speed passenger vessel built by Australia's Incat shipyard onto the Ulleung route was no small challenge at the time.

Although introducing the vessel involved enormous costs and operational risks, the Sunflower dramatically reduced travel times to the mainland for Ulleung residents and set a new standard for maritime transportation.

The impact went beyond merely shortening travel times. Traveling to mainland hospitals became much easier, and the vessel influenced overall community life by facilitating emergency patient transport, the supply of daily necessities, and the attraction of tourists. For island residents, the passenger ship meant more than just a means of transportation; it was an essential infrastructure connecting their daily lives and livelihoods.

The Sunflower subsequently contributed to revitalizing tourism in Ulleungdo and improving conditions for visiting Dokdo, establishing itself as a symbol of regional maritime transportation.

Chairman Hwang In-chan’s decision to introduce the vessel is evaluated as a choice that successfully transformed Ulleungdo's transportation conditions and tourism industry. Its footprint on the local community is significant in that it improved residents' right to mobility and narrowed the physical distance between the island and the mainland.

## Retired Domestically, Operating Again Overseas

The Sunflower concluded its 25 years of domestic service with its final voyage to Pohang on February 28, 2020. The primary background for its retirement was the vessel age limit applied to domestic coastal passenger ships.

After moving abroad, the ship was remodeled to fit local route conditions. Reports indicate that its existing passenger capacity was reduced from 920 to 600 people, while the first-floor space was converted into a cargo area, expanding vehicle transport capacity from 16 to 70 vehicles. A stern ramp for vehicle unloading and passenger convenience facilities were also reinforced.

The fact that a ship retired domestically due to age limits is operating again abroad after structural modifications and maintenance has sparked discussions surrounding vessel management and safety standards.

Of course, the resumption of overseas operations alone does not prove that domestic regulations were excessive. Given that inspection standards and operating environments vary by country, actual safety must be comprehensively assessed based on hull condition, maintenance history, and inspection results.

At the same time, criticisms suggest that realistic system improvements are needed to consider rigorous inspections and maintenance status together, rather than judging a vessel's operational viability solely by its age.

## Balancing Safety and Residents' Right to Mobility

Ulleungdo is an island without a terrestrial transportation network. Passenger ship operating conditions directly affect not only residents' mobility rights, but also medical accessibility, the tourism industry, and the local economy.

The retirement and resumed overseas operation of the Sunflower highlight tasks that Ulleungdo's maritime transportation policy must solve. The core challenge is to ensure transport conditions so that island residents can travel safely and steadily to the mainland while prioritizing safety above all else.

One resident said, "The Sunflower was not just a boat to Ulleung residents, but an important lifeline connecting us to the mainland. Hearing that it is operating again overseas is delightful, but it feels regrettable that we had to let go of a vessel that ran for Ulleungdo for so many years."

The Sunflower shared the joys and sorrows of residents while traveling between Ulleungdo and the mainland for 25 years. Although it now continues its new voyage in the seas of South America, the changes and footsteps of Ulleungdo’s maritime transportation—initiated by Chairman Hwang In-chan’s resolution—still remain alive in the memories of the residents.

Attention is focused on whether the Sunflower's overseas resumption of operations will go beyond the reappearance of an old ship, serving as an opportunity to look back on island passenger ship policies and residents' right to mobility together.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]