Sunflower Satsuma ferry

Sunflower Satsuma ferry is a Ro-Pax/Ro-Ro passenger vessel operated by the Japan-based company MOL FERRIES (a subsidiary of Mitsui OSK Passenger Line). The ship has a maximum capacity of 709 passengers and a cargo capacity of 134 cars plus 121 lorries (semi-trailers/13-meter trucks). She was inaugurated in May 2018 and currently operates on the Honshu–Kyushu ferry route Osaka-Shibushi/Kagoshima City (route distance 360 mi / 580 km) with a crossing time of approximately 15 hours.

Ferry Sunflower Co Ltd has operated the Osaka–Shibushi route since 1991. Since 2018, the sister ship Sunflower Kirishima has also been deployed on the same route.

The vessel (IMO number 9797010) is currently Japan-flagged (MMSI 431010811) and registered in Osaka.

Sunflower Satsuma in Japanese is さんふらわあ さつま.

The new ferry's name honors the original Sunflower Satsuma (built in 1993, IMO 9035113), which had 9 decks, a maximum passenger capacity of 782, and cargo capacity for 140 vehicles plus 175 trucks. The original vessel was built for Blue Highway Line (in service 1993–2007) and was later acquired by Diamond Ferry (2007–2011), Sunflower Ferry (2011–2018), and DLU Ferry (since 2018). Since 2019, the former namesake operates as DHARMA FERRY VII (Indonesia-flagged / MMSI 525200723) and is homeported in Tanjung Perak.

Decks and Cabins

The cruise ferry Sunflower Satsuma has a total of 117 staterooms, including 94 private (80%), all fitted with individually controlled air-conditioning, TVs, refrigerators, kettles, and most with en-suite bathrooms.

Passenger accommodations include 12 Balcony Suites, 13 wheelchair-accessible cabins (adapted for disabled passengers), 10 Pet Cabins, and 89 Truck Driver cabins.

Cabin bathrooms are fitted with a WC (toilet), washbasin, shower, hairdryer, hangers, trash can, and cups. MOL Ferries provides bed linens, service towels, and toiletries (toothbrushes, hand soap).

On the new Satsuma ship, Ferry Sunflower introduced the fleet's first Balcony Suites (all with wheelchair-friendly bathrooms with bathtubs and private step-out terraces furnished with two deckchairs), the Whizpet Room ("Superior With Pet Room" category with linoleum flooring), Private Single cabins (targeted at truck drivers, with shared bathrooms / トラック乗務員様専用スタンダードシングル), Private Bed cabins (with indoor stair access to upper beds), and Premium Tourist Bed cabins (Japanese-style group rooms with floor bedding/folding mattresses).

4 Private Bed Group cabins (プライベートベッド（グループ）) accommodate up to 4 passengers each and are sized 37 m2.

Other fleet-first features include the Dog Run (outdoor dog exercise area) and the Bridge Camera (installed above the wheelhouse/navigation bridge), providing real-time voyage footage available on all onboard TVs (including in staterooms).

The vessel has 8 decks, of which 3 house public venues and staterooms, while 5 are garage decks for wheeled cargo, passenger vehicles, and trucks.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Onboard facilities include a large public bath, a restaurant (buffet-style dining venue), a cafe lounge (exclusive to passengers in top-tier suites on Deck 8), an indoor playground (Kids' Corner), baby changing room, public restrooms, and dedicated truck driver facilities (bathhouse).

Below is an overview of Sunflower Satsuma's staterooms, venues, and facilities by deck.

Forward on Deck 8 are all Balcony Suites (including 2 Barrier-Free Suites with large round windows), along with the bow-facing navigation bridge/wheelhouse and adjacent Captain's Suite and officers' quarters.

On Deck 7 are located the Observation Bathhouse, 24-hour shower room, Dog Run (ドッグラン / outdoor dog exercise area), Pet Cage Room (ペットケージルーム with cages and waste bins), Baby Care Room (ベビーケアルーム with water heater), and passenger accommodations (Deluxe, Superior, Private Single, Private Bed, Barrier-Free Tourist Rooms).

Pet Cage Rooms are chargeable and require advance reservation. The cages are medium-sized (55x53x72 cm).

On Deck 6 are the Boarding Hall (Atrium lobby level with Reception Desk, souvenir shop, and digital signage), Hayato Restaurant (with table seating, counter seating, and baby chairs), Buffet Restaurant (two serving lines offering Western, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine), Game Corner (arcade and claw machines), Kids' Room (indoor playground), and two Grand Baths (separate for men 紳士展望浴場 and women 婦人展望浴場, each with a sauna, spa pools, large windows, and changing facilities), as well as a dedicated Truck Driver Bathhouse (トラック乗務員様専用展望浴場). Passenger accommodations on this deck include Private Bed/Tourist Rooms and Standard Single/Truck Driver Rooms.

The Grand Baths are complimentary. However, passengers with tattoos, body art, or those under the influence of alcohol are not permitted to use these facilities.

The Promenade (midship on Deck 6) is an indoor lounge space with ocean views through large round windows, furnished with comfortable seating (leather sofas, armchairs, poufs) and featuring two grand staircases.

Next to the Atrium staircase is the Photo Corner, where passengers can take themed photos upon boarding. Sailor uniforms and hats are provided complimentary for both adults and children.

The shop offers a wide selection of Sunflower-branded merchandise (including toys and puzzles), as well as food, beverages (including alcohol), clothing, and daily necessities.

Deck 6 provides direct access via stairs and elevators to the vehicle decks below.

Hayato Restaurant pricing (updated 2023) is as follows: Breakfast (JPY 750 per adult / 500 per school student / 300 per toddler), Dinner (JPY 1,800 adult / 1,000 school student / 500 toddler). Beverages include draft beer (JPY 500), sake (JPY 250), shochu (JPY 250), and Sunflower Kobe Wine (JPY 1,570 per bottle / 940 half bottle).

The menu includes salads, seafood (fried squid, shumai dumplings, amberjack sushi/sashimi), Neapolitan pasta, chicken, steak, rice dishes, vegan curry, soups (oden, miso), desserts, and fruits. Complimentary drinks (soft drinks, coffee, tea, juices) are available via the Drink Bar, while alcoholic beverages are chargeable.

Buffet tickets are purchased via a ticket machine at the restaurant entrance. Dinner service begins at 6:00 PM. Menu items vary seasonally.

The ship offers coin lockers, PIN-secured lockers for valuables, refrigerated lockers for food and beverages, coin-operated laundry (3 washing machines at JPY 300, 3 dryers at JPY 100, detergent included), massage chairs, a smartphone charging station (JPY 100), and a payphone.

The vehicle decks span five levels (Decks 1–5), with Deck 4 serving as the boarding deck (portside access).

Deck 8 forms the top level of the 3-deck-high Atrium (アトリウム), where UHD projection mapping is displayed on the ceiling using an Epson EB-L30000U (3LCD laser projector). The Atrium spans Decks 6–8 and features large windows on both sides.

Vending machines on Decks 6 and 7 sell canned beverages (soft drinks and alcohol), cup noodles, and packaged snacks.

The passenger boarding gate is on Deck 4, with elevator access to the Lobby/Reception on Deck 6.

Boarding begins approximately 2 hours prior to departure. Priority boarding is granted to vehicle drivers. For online reservations, check-in is automated via self-service machines.

All onboard emergency instructions are displayed in staterooms, on TV screens, and at the ship's assembly (muster) stations located aft on Deck 8 (portside and starboard).

Life jackets are issued at the emergency assembly stations (非常集合場所).

In case of emergency, the use of elevators/passenger lifts is prohibited.

The ship's top deck serves as a helipad for emergency helicopter landings.

Car decks

The Sunflower Satsuma has a total of five garage decks for wheeled cargo. Decks 4 and 5 are designated for trucks (13 m semi-trailers), while Decks 1–3 are for passenger vehicles (cars and vans).

Disabled passengers or those requiring special assistance should contact the ship's Reception on Deck 6 (open 24 hours).

After parking, apply the handbrake and place the vehicle in park or 1st gear, then switch off the ignition, alarm, electrical equipment, and headlights. Lock the vehicle.

Take only valuables and essential hand luggage from your vehicle.

Make a note of your vehicle's location and garage deck number/stairway before leaving the car deck.

Access to the cargo decks during the voyage is prohibited.

Smoking is not allowed shipwide (including on observation decks), except in designated smoking areas located near the passenger cabins midship on Decks 6–8.

When disembarking, do not start the engine until instructed, in order to avoid air pollution.

The shipowner MOL Ferries (founded in 2023, headquartered in Oita City Japan) is a cargo and passenger company operating a fleet of six large vessels (three pairs of sister ships) on the Japanese island routes Osaka–Beppu, Osaka–Shibushi, and Kobe–Oita. MOL Ferries (operational since October 1, 2023) consolidates the fleets of the MOL Group's subsidiaries Ferry Sunflower Ltd (founded in 2009) and MOL Ferry Co Ltd (founded in 1969).