Kawasaki Wins Order for a “Kawasaki Jetfoil” High-speed Passenger Ship to Connect Hakata with Iki and Tsushima Islands

Tokyo, November 21, 2025 - Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced it has won a joint order from Kyushu Yusen Corporation and JRTT (Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency) to construct a “Kawasaki Jetfoil.” The Jetfoil will be constructed at the Kobe Works for delivery in June 2029 and is planned to go into service on the passenger route connecting Hakata with the islands of Iki and Tsushima.

After concluding a license agreement in 1987 to take over Jetfoil construction and sales rights from The Boeing Company in the United States, Kawasaki built 16 Jetfoils between 1989 and 2020. This latest order represents the first Kawasaki Jetfoil to be constructed in 8 years.

While keeping the proven existing design and functionality of the original, the Kawasaki Jetfoil constructed for this order will be equipped with new-type gas turbine engines and feature a new passenger cabin layout for improved safety.

Jetfoils are passenger ships that utilize fully submerged hydrofoils, achieving high-speed propulsion while providing an exceedingly smooth ride that minimizes seasickness among passengers. Waterjet propulsors driven by 2 gas turbine engines discharge 3 tons of seawater per second to propel the ship forward while the 2 submerged hydrofoils located at the fore and aft provide lift to elevate the hull off the water's surface, enabling super-high-speed travel at a maximum of 80 km/h or higher. The ship retains stability even in rough waves up to 3.5 meters, and banks into turns like an aircraft to smoothly change direction.

Kawasaki will continue to actively pursue the construction of Jetfoils to maintain and develop high-speed marine passenger transport to remote islands and other routes in Japan.

Specifications
Overall length	27.4 m (with hydrofoils down)
Width	8.5 m
Engines	VERICOR TF50B (x2)
Sea speed	43 knots
Passenger capacity	252 people