By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
From 2012, Seoulites will be able to travel to the cities of Shanghai and Qingdao on cruise ships leaving from the Han River. They will make Seoul closer to the big Chinese cities, Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Monday.
In an interview with the Cantonese press in Hong Kong during a visit, Oh said the international cruise vessels will be around 5,000 tons in size, plying two routes: one from Yeouido through Qingdao to Shanghai and the other starting at Yeouido, laying over at Weihai, Yantai and Chinhwangdao, before ending in Dalian.
The boats will have 44 rooms accommodating up to 160 people, a duty free shop, a concert hall and an outdoor pool.
Two ferry docks will be constructed for cruise boats in Yeouido and Yongsan.
The Yeouido dock will also be used for cruise boats and domestic ferries for services to Saemangeum through Hongdo to Jeju Island, which will be ready by 2016.
Oh said there are additional plans to beef up logistics. The 12,280-square-meter Yongsan Terminal will be built near Yongsan international business complex.
Built midway between Wonhyo Bridge and Hangang Bridge across the Han River will be a water hotel with 150 rooms, a convention center, shopping center, banquet hall and other amenities. The hotel will also provide a venue for water sports, city officials said.
The officials will also link the Gyeongin Ara Waterway between Yeongjong Island off Incheon and the Han River south of Haengju Bridge by 2013. A water bus accommodating up to 150 passengers will be put in service along the waterway linking Incheon, Yeouido and Yongsan with Jamsil.
The mayor signed an MOU with Australia's Macquarie Group, an international provider of banking, financial, advisory and investment services Tuesday.