Passengers, crew bid emotional farewell to Tai Hwa ferry

Passengers, crew bid emotional farewell to Tai Hwa ferry

2023-08-22

The Tai Hwa ferry is about to retire, after 34 years on the Penghu-Kaohsiung route. The iconic ship made its final trip from Kaohsiung to Penghu on Tuesday, one day before its decommissioning. Some of its former passengers flew in to join that last voyage. It was an emotional occasion, with passengers and crew sharing their memories of the ship.

The ramp goes up at 9 a.m. before the Tai Hwa departs from Terminal No. 1 in Kaohsiung Port. Passengers onboard wave goodbye as the ferry leaves Kaohsiung for the last time. It’s scheduled for decommissioning on Wednesday.

Passenger
I can’t bear to say goodbye. It’s not because of the ship itself, but because of the spiritual connection I have with it.

For 34 years, the Tai Hwa has ferried passengers between Kaohsiung and Penghu. It’s brought Penghu locals home and carried them to work, becoming an indelible part of their memories. On the eve of its retirement, some former passengers flew into Kaohsiung to send it off.

Passenger
This is a very important moment for me. I worked in Penghu for five or six years. So I would often take the Friday night service to Penghu. The Tai Hwa is part of many of my memories, so I wanted to be on its last voyage.

The Tai Hwa was built in 1989. It’s 120 meters long and 19.30 meters wide, with a displacement of 8,134 tons, a cruising speed of 22 knots, and a capacity of 1,150 passengers. It has berths where passengers can sleep on overnight trips. It also has dining and shopping venues, as well as an arcade that left a deep impression on many.

Hsu Cheng-kai
Penghu resident
The journey lasted four to five hours. I would ask my parents for a bunch of NT$10 coins so I could play video games in the arcade.

Passengers are sad to see it go, and crew even more so. Some spent most of their younger years on the vessel.

Crew member
Tai Hwa
I’m sad, and I can’t bear to say goodbye. Yesterday when I was making the announcements, I cried. I’ve spent basically two-thirds of my life on this ship, so I’m very emotional.

The Tai Hwa will set sail one last time from Penghu Wednesday at noon. It will be replaced with the new Penghu Ferry, which will take over this crucial route between Kaohsiung and the island county.

乘載澎湖人34年記憶台華輪除役退場

2023-08-22

往返高雄與澎湖之間的海上客輪-臺華輪，即將在明天除役，今天上午最後一次從高雄開往澎湖。由於它承載著不少澎湖人青春的記憶，有人專程從澎湖搭飛機到高雄，特地來搭最後一趟。而在船上工作三十多年的員工更是依依不捨。

收起船板，上午九點，臺華輪緩緩開出高雄港第一碼頭，船上乘客揮手告別，興奮中帶點感傷，因為這是臺華輪最後一次出現在高雄港，23日它就要除役。

[[旅客]]
“真的是非常的不捨，這個倒不是船體的問題，而是整體的一種精神的聯繫”

走過34個年頭，臺華輪肩負著往返高雄和澎湖之間重要航運，不少澎湖遊子回家和工作都要搭乘它，承載著無數人的青春記憶，如今走入歷史，還有人專程搭機到高雄，說什麼也要來送它最後一程。

[[旅客]]
“它對我來講意義非凡，我曾經在澎湖工作五、六年，然後我常常坐禮拜五的夜航到澎湖，所以臺華輪有太多的回憶，所以最後一趟一定要坐”

臺華輪1989年建造，船長120公尺、船寬19.30公尺，總噸位8134噸、航速22節、載客量可達1150人。內部設施有臥舖床位，夜航時可以睡覺，還有餐飲和販賣部，以及讓不少人印象深刻的電動遊戲間。

[[澎湖民眾許政凱]]
“四五個小時的航程，幾乎都是(跟父母)要一大堆十塊，然後在電動間裡面一直打電動一直打電動”

旅客都這麼不捨了，更別說是在船上工作的船務人員，大半青春歲月都在船上渡過。

[[臺華輪員工]]
“很難過很捨不得，我昨天廣播都廣播到哭了，因為我的人生差不多三分之二都在上面，所以特別有感情”

臺華輪23日中午十二點從澎湖開出末班船後，正式劃下句點。將改由全新的澎湖輪接手，接續著台澎之間航行的重要任務。

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This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

2023-08-22