China and the Republic of Korea will be connected for the first time by ro-ro ferries that are scheduled to be operational in early July. The ferry will link Yantai in east China's Shandong Province with a port city of Pyeongtaek in Korea, some 70 km south of Seoul.
Roll-on/roll-off (or ro-ro) ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, trucks, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels.
According to the lease agreement the ferry will sail between Yantai and Pyeongtaek three times a week. It will take the vessel 15 hours for a one-way journey of 273 sea miles (506 km). The 186.5-meter ferry has 518 passenger spaces.