I received that message from js_kikaku(@)dbsferry(.)com yesterday night, about 12 hours ago, after sending emails to all email addresses I found in their website. This email seems to be written by Japan Branch Office President Lee Jun-Man.

I thought exactly like you: maybe it's just temporary and they are waiting until May or June to resume service. It seemed weird that if the company was really out of business, they would continue email service like that.

I found this message in a lonelyplanet topic:

I found an article about this from the NHK (in Japanese):

www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/tottori/20200131/4040004236.html

It's nothing to do with the virus. The backdrop is poor Japan/Korea relations at the moment (Korean tourism in Japan is down some 50% this year), and perhaps the worldwide problem of ferry routes disappearing. Anyway. The company originally planned to restart ferries at the start of March, but is now saying they're considering cancelling the service entirely. So things are not looking too rosy.


I also translated parts of the NHK article about DBS with Google Translator. They say they still maintain the ferry to sail again, and in Sakaiminato the local council was even building a new passenger terminal for this ferry service. I'm sure they are negotiating better fares or something like that and they will return on service again before summer. All three countries, Japan, Russia and Korea, are interested in this service.

Today I also received this mail from Yuri:

Yes, DBS ferry stopped service. It is possible to ship to Japan in a container or on RO/RO. We can ship, but we don't arrange service in Japan. Now we don't have an agent in Japan whom we can recommend. DBS announced just few days ago. We'll explore details of other shipping options later.

My plan was like yours: taking the Vlad - Sakaiminato ferry this June, driving my car through Japan for about 60 days and taking the ferry again. But unlike you I can't leave the car in Vladivostok, because it is an integral part of the planning.

Like you said, if there still is a ro-ro service for vehicles there is hope for an alternative plan, but not having any schedules is driving me crazy. I wanted to make the reservations for hotels as soon as possible, but now I can't.

I'm now hoping for one of two things:

That DBS run a ferry this Summer from Vlad to Donghae with a scheduled departure time and I ride down to Busan and take Camellia Lines to Fukuoaka,

Or,

depending on price and schedule, the bike goes on a roro to Busan, I fly, and then take Camellia lines to Fukuoaka.

Most likely: leave the bike with Yuri and get a return flight to Japan.

Overshadowing all of this is the corona virus of course. Olympic qualifying has already been hit by it.

Hello guys
I’m in same situation
I need a ferry from Vladivostok to japan for me and my motorcycle

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Please add my contact and keep all in touch guys
I will travel anyway from Italy to Vladivostok from 19th May
Fabrizio

buscagliafabrizio@hotmail.com

+393458702742

Instagram FABRYROCK

Let's hope it is controlled in a few moths globally, we can do nothing more than wait and be prepared for further cancellations.

We'll have to wait untill march-april to know what will happen to our trips. Until then if I have more information I will post it here.

I'm sure if not DBS another ferry line will be operating this route Vlad-Korea-Japan. As they said, during summer is still profitable and neither Sakaiminato or Donghae want this service to disappear. Having to enter Korea without wanting to spend time there for me is a problem. But anyway if I have to go there to arrive to Japan I'll go there.

Guess we are all in the same boat..... sorry!

Like wise, any news I'll post.

Yesterday I recieved a new message from Tatiana, another DBS member:

"Thank you for the email.

I am sorry to inform you that ferry line Vladivostok-Donghae-Sakaiminato is stopped. At the moment there is no information on further sailing.

If you want to get updates on sailing, please, inform me.

There is some information from our customer, I hope, you find it useful for your trip.
https://www.madornomad.com/the-overlanders-guide-to-japan/"

Of course I replied asking for updates or alternatives, but still no answer.
Also the website she sent me explains how to arrive to Japan by ferry... using the DBS Ferry.

If they still answer probably there is a hope, seems like they want keep the customers


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

in “ Mad or Nomad “ you can find how to get ferry from Busan to Japan with Kampu Ferry

Someone told me there is a ferry from Nakhodka ( close to Vladivostok ) to S Korea ... do you know guys if is it true ?

As far as I know, and not counting the DBS ferry, there was another one from Russia to Japan between Sakhalin and Wakkanai during summer. But in their website there is almost no information, and the most part is outdated and not for passengers, it's for companies and cargo.

I read in another website that back to the URSS times entering Vladivostok as a foreigner was forbidden, so a similar ferry went from Japan to Nahodka.

This is the website of the Korean Touristic International Ferries, and there is no other ferry to Russia.
https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TRP/TP_ENG_3_1.jsp

Finally, I found some news about a regular ferry that was announced in 2018 from Pohang to Vladivostok, but it seems it has never operated.
https://www.rt.com/business/443426-r...ea-ferry-line/

As of today, we don't have any passenger ferry alternatives.


EDIT:

This picture shows the pop-up that opens when you enter DBS Korean website. It says it is suspended until 29/02, but nothing more.

Also in google LTD Links result as closed permanently

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It doesn't look good does it?

Have you tried to contact Yuri? There could be many reasons for this. Maybe they are setting up as another company.

I will write again to Yuri next week

Brief message from Yuri:

"Hi Gus,

no we are not closed. We work.

Best Regards,
Melnikov Yuri
Links, Ltd."