Second award-winning vessel elevates ferry travel to new levels with an interior design combining Japanese traditions and new technology
Tokyo-based Mitsui OSK Lines’ (MOL) pair of groundbreaking ferries, operated by its group company Ferry Sunflower, have pushed the boundaries of ship design and eco-technology.
Providing passengers with a cruise ship experience, including suites with balconies and a grand atrium fitted with an LED ceiling, Sunflower Murasaki and Sunflower Kurenai are also Japan’s first LNG-fuelled ferries and the first in more than three decades to win the prestigious 2023 Good Design Award from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization.
A spokesperson for MOL Sunflower tells Passenger Ship Interior & Refurbishment Review, “This marks the first win in 33 years for a long-distance ferry. We believe it was highly regarded for successfully integrating responses to environmental issues, universal design, and the concept of casual cruising, which emphasises enjoying the journey itself. By further refining the ‘casual cruising concept’, we aim to create a new category of sea travel and become the leading brand representing it. Aiming to provide a high-quality cruise experience that can be enjoyed through regular ferry services is the fundamental concept of MOL ferry operations.”
17,114-gt, 200-m Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki respectively entered service in January and April last year and operate on routes including Osaka-Beppu, which are popular with locals and tourists alike. Carrying up to 716 passengers, 137 commercial vehicles and 100 cars, the new ferries offer a larger and enhanced experience in both passenger and cargo transport.
“In terms of interior design, they stand out from typical ferries,” continues the spokesperson.
The interior design project was handled by Flux Design, led by designer Tomoyuki Watanabe, who also worked on the interior design during the refurbishment of MOL’s cruise ship Nippon Maru.
Indeed, passengers could be forgiven for thinking they had walked onto a cruise ship when they enter the soaring three-storey atriums of Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, which have sweeping staircases and an LED ceiling installation. Elsewhere, interiors combine modern and traditional styles.
The spokesperson explains the interiors of the sister vessels - including art and carpet design - draw on a modern design based on a Japanese aesthetic. They incorporate designs relating to the Oita region which is renowned for its rich artistic, spiritual and natural heritage including an abundance of hot springs. The ferries have large Japanese onsen baths, based on thermal springs, with panoramic windows and ocean views.
“For example, digital art pieces inspired by bamboo weaving techniques are exhibited throughout the ship, and carpets feature motifs of bungo ume, a Japanese plum variety from Oita, and traditional bamboo crafts from Beppu, recreating the essence of Japan’s rich traditions,” says the spokesperson. “Natural materials such as bamboo art and old-fashioned lattice patterns have been used in the design of public spaces and cabins.
“In the central area of the ship, an atrium with an elliptical three-story open structure symbolises casual cruising. Guests can enjoy immersive projection mapping across a wide area using ceiling and wall-mounted screens, enhancing the atmosphere on board and allowing passengers to experience Japanese culture throughout the ship. Furthermore, passengers can enjoy the history of Sunflower and tourist information about Beppu using projection mapping and the onboard wifi service SSQ. It is a ferry that combines Japan’s rich traditions with the latest technology.”
Cabins, which include suites with balconies, are both Japanese-style and western-style to cater for domestic and overseas passengers.
“A Japanese-style room features tatami flooring with futon bedding, incorporating traditional elements such as tokonoma (alcove) and shoji (sliding paper doors),” explains the spokesperson. “A Western-style room, on the other hand, is furnished with Western-style furniture such as beds and sofas and flooring instead of tatami mats. Guests can enjoy views of the sea or the interior of the ship from the window. Rooms are available in a wide range of accommodations, from luxurious suites and deluxe rooms to more affordable options like superior and private rooms, featuring simple and comfortable designs.”
Accommodation also includes wheelchair-accessible rooms and pet-friendly cabins. Elsewhere, public spaces include a restaurant that is 1.5 times larger than previous ferries and a children’s play area.
Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki have evolved from the design of Sunflower Satsuma and Sunflower Kirishima which began service in 2018 and were MOL’s first-generation ships to introduce the casual cruise concept.
They are also Japan’s first LNG-fuelled ferries which is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by about 25%, and eliminate nearly all sulphur oxide emissions. This technology has led to further accolades including Ship of the Year 2022 - Large Passenger Ship Division, presented by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers. They have been awarded the top five star energy conservation rating for coastal ships from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and, most recently, the highest honour of the Grand Prize in the 2023 Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards.
MOL plans to operate four LNG-fuelled ferries, adding two in 2025 to replace current vessels in service on the Oarai-Tomakomai route in addition to Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki.
Summing up, the spokesperson concludes, “The ships are equipped with facilities and services where you can enjoy an extraordinary experience, such as the observation public bath, restaurants, and onboard events. The ferries contribute to improving the well-being of customers by providing a pleasant cruise experience. The travel time becomes part of the journey.”
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