Shipbucket

I return with More Japanese Ferries!

this time the little "Dogo Maru" of Utaka Kokudo Ferries, she was the first of their fleet to have the distinct Rounded Superstructure face and "Gazebo" structure as a feature, as all before her were more angular and lacked that feature

she is probably better known however as the plucky Thai Koh Samui Island Ferry "Wang Nok" which she served from 1981 to 2015

sadly she changed colors seemingly every year and there are nearly no photos at all from pre 2000s, so I was only able to really confirm and draw two major depictions of her during that time


Firstly, As built in 1964:



then many years late in 2008 (Note the removal of the glass windows in most of her superstructure and the remodelling of the bow, this was done for better airflow as the ship never had air conditioning in Japan (she didn't really need it) and I don't know if you Know this but...Southeast asia is pretty hot and humid haha:



in 2010 she had a livery change and (seemingly) an Ownership Change. She kept these colors until her sale to Sino-Thai operators in 20115



and Finally...the rebuild that made her among the ugliest ships I know of, there is video on you tube of her interiors as a Coastal Cruise Ship, they look bad, but not as bad as the exterior, additionally you may note how she has Large Chinese and English signage on her roof stating "ANDAMAN PRINCESS", however these were taken from another now scrapped ship, and she actually retained all the legal name plates and paperwork of "Wang nok" instead. She Currently Operates alongside a weird Chinese made Double-ender Ro-Ro also rebuilt as a Cruise ship.



I plan to do MANY more Utaka Kokudo Ferries as I quite like them, but Now I shall Focus on my main Projects that have been sitting on the Back-burner for a While

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Current Projects:

MV Sewol (1994-2014)
MV Sea Venture (1985-2004)
KMP Windu Karsa (1980-2011)
KMP Jatra I and II (1980-2021, 1980-)
MV Cassiopea (1972)

Future Projects:
Ferry Nankai No.1 (1972-)
Hayabusa No.1 and No.2 (1972)
MV Regent Sky (1989-2011)
MV Pride of al-Salam 95 (1996-2005)
MS Willem Ruys (1947-1965)
MS Royal Pacific (1992)
MV Sunflower 11 (1974-1998)
Awaji Ferry Classes (1968, 1970, 1974, and 1989 series)
MV Chrissi Avgi (1970-1983)

very nice and cute

Fantastic series! Keep up the great work!