JAKARTA - A ferry on the Yangtze River, China, is back in operation with a new face. However, what is maintained is not only the route and the number of the ship, but also its role as a mainstay of local farmers.
China Daily reported on Friday, April 10, that the Yu Zhong Ke 2180 ship began its maiden voyage on March 31 from Yangdu Wharf, Zhongxian. This new ship replaces the old fleet that has served residents for 13 years.
The ship is 38.5 meters long and 6.4 meters wide. Its capacity is 150 passengers and is designed to withstand winds of up to level 8 to travel 30 kilometers.
What makes this ship important is not just its size. The new ship has a wider storage space and can accommodate almost 100 bamboo baskets, tools commonly used by farmers to carry their merchandise. Inside the ship, there are panoramic windows, air conditioning, more comfortable chairs, non-slip decks, and reinforced handrails. These facilities are prepared mainly for elderly passengers who often use the route.
Initially, the first generation of Yu Zhong Ke 2180 was only a regular passenger ship serving the route between the Zhongxian Center and Yangdu District. However, after the highway was built along the river, the number of passengers dropped sharply.
Even so, the ship did not lose its function. With a fixed tariff of 12 yuan or about 1.75 US dollars for more than a decade, the ship actually became a "water bus" that local farmers needed to transport goods. From there came the nickname "basket ferry".
This service also had a difficult time. There was a time when every voyage was a loss. At that time, Captain Qin Dayi thought about quitting. However, he still ran the ship after seeing the farmers still coming with their baskets.
Later, the video of the old ship's farewell went viral and attracted public attention. The support that emerged helped keep the service running.
Now the old ship has retired, but the number Yu Zhong Ke 2180 is still used. The new ship continues the service that has been attached to the lives of local farmers.
When approaching Xishan Wharf on the last day of March, the ship was not only carrying passengers. The ship also continued the services that residents along the banks of the Yangtze River still needed.
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