Ferries between Taiwan, outer islands and China suspended

Fourteen ferry routes connecting Taiwan proper with its outlying islands and China were today suspended due to Typhoon Bavi, affecting 114 ferry trips, the Maritime and Port Bureau said.

The suspended routes were Keelung-Matsu, Nangan Fuao (南竿福澳港)-Fuzhou Langqi, Beigan Baisha (北竿白沙港)-Fuzhou Huangqi, Kinmen-Shijing, Kinmen-Wutong, Fugang(富岡)-Green Island (綠島), Green Island-Chenggong (成功), Fugang (富岡)-Orchid Island (Lanyu, 蘭嶼), Orchid Island-Green Island, Houbihu (後壁湖)-Orchid Island, Kaohsiung-Magong (馬公), Budai(布袋)-Magong, Donggang (東港)-Siaoliouciou (小琉球) and Yanpu (鹽埔)-Siaoliouciou.

The bureau advised people not to travel to islands during the typhoon to avoid becoming stranded due to further ferry cancellations.

Photo courtesy of the Maritime and Port Bureau

In a separate statement, the Penghu County Government said that all ferry services between the county and other destinations on Taiwan proper, including Kaohsiung, Chiayi and Tainan, were suspended today.

Although Penghu was outside Bavi’s storm radius, northeasterly winds had strengthened due to a channeling effect caused by the typhoon, the Penghu Fire Bureau said.

Winds and rainfall are expected to intensify later tonight, it said.

All flights between Penghu and Taiwan proper scheduled to depart after 3pm today would be canceled, the county government said.