As the 228 Peace Memorial Day holiday began, the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB), Ministry of Transportation and Communications, delivered encouraging news. On February 27, the 2025 iF Design Awards, announced in Hamburg, Germany, honored the Penghu Ferry, which operates on the Kaohsiung–Magong route, with the iF Product Design Award. It is the first domestically operated roll-on/roll-off (RORO) passenger-cargo vessel in Taiwan to receive this prestigious international award. This recognition follows its earlier accolades—the 2023 Taiwan Design BEST100 Award and the 2024 Golden Pin Design Award—marking a significant milestone in the enhancement and modernization of Taiwan’s Blue Highway. The award ceremony will be held on April 28 in Berlin, Germany.

Director–General Hsieh-Lung Yeh of the MPB stated that the iF Design Award is one of the most influential international design honors and is widely regarded as the “Oscars of the design world.” Organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH in Germany since its inception in 1953, the award has been a symbol of excellence in design. It is ranked among the world’s top three design awards, alongside the Red Dot Design Award and the IDEA Design Award. The Penghu Ferry is a 10,000-ton RORO passenger-cargo vessel jointly developed by the MPB and its operator, Taiwan Navigation Co., Ltd., and built by Japan’s Naikai Zosen Corporation. From the early design stage through to the construction process, the MPB sought to enhance the vessel’s design aesthetics by inviting collaboration with the Taiwan Design Research Institute, JC. Architecture & Design, and Japan’s NSS Nagasaki Sempaku Sobi Co., Ltd. This design team conducted thorough and in-depth investigations into all aspects of the vessel—from exterior styling and interior furnishings to the wayfinding and signage system.

The MPB further stated that beyond the integration of aesthetic design, it placed particular emphasis on the implementation of human-centered transportation principles. The Penghu Ferry is equipped with universal accessibility features, including tactile Braille signage for visually impaired passengers, and other thoughtful services for those with limited mobility. These features break away from the conventional design of public vessels and provide passengers with a renewed travel experience. In addition, the ferry was classified under the CR Classification Society to enhance its safety and comfort standards. Since the commencement of its operation in September 2023, the Penghu Ferry has received widespread public acclaim, achieving an average passenger load factor exceeding 50 percent and doubling passenger numbers compared to its predecessor, the Taihua Ferry.

The MPB highlighted its ongoing efforts to establish the Taiwan Blue Highway brand, TAIWAN Hi, with the aim of enhancing the quality of maritime passenger transport through four key strategies: shipping service upgrades, port facility optimization, vessel performance improvements, and marine tourism promotion. As part of this initiative, the MPB has also developed design standards and guidelines for terminals and vessels, marking a new era of aesthetics in maritime public transportation. The consecutive award wins of the Penghu Ferry affirm the achievements of the MPB, Taiwan Navigation Co., Ltd., the Taiwan Design Research Institute, and JC. Architecture & Design. The MPB will continue enhancing the surrounding maritime environment and related services, striving to realize the goal of building a high-quality Taiwan Blue Highway.