PACIFIC HIGHWAY was a large pure car and truck carrier built in Japan in 2000 for the international vehicle trade. Constructed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries at Sakaide, the vessel was designed to transport more than 5,000 cars and spent more than two decades operating under the PACIFIC HIGHWAY name before being renamed JASA MURNI in 2021. She remains active today under the Malaysian flag.
The ship measures 179.99 metres in overall length and 32.20 metres in beam, with a gross tonnage of 48,039 GT and deadweight of 15,127 tonnes. ClassNK records a vehicle capacity of 5,064 cars and space for up to 376 trucks. Propulsion is provided by a Kawasaki-built two-stroke main engine producing 13,240 kW, while sea-trial speed was recorded at 22.6 knots.
PACIFIC HIGHWAY also had a documented association with Piraeus and Drapetsona. Photographic records place the vessel at Drapetsona Bay and Keratsini on several occasions, including August 2014, February 2015 and April 2017. This makes her representative of the large vehicle carriers that regularly called at the Piraeus port complex during that period.
Vessel Details
Name at time of PiraeuShips recording: PACIFIC HIGHWAY
Current Name: JASA MURNI
IMO: 9206023
Current MMSI: 533132134
Current Call Sign: 9M2506
Former MMSI: 351173000
Former Call Sign: H3AK
Type: Pure Car / Vehicle Carrier
Current Flag: Malaysia
Former Flag: Panama
Port of Registry: Port Klang
Built: 2000
Date of Build: 21 February 2000
Builder: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Sakaide Shipyard, Japan
Hull Number: 1495
Current Registered Owner: K.K. Regional Navigation Sdn Bhd
Current Management: “K” Line RoRo Bulk Ship Management Co., Ltd.
Classification: ClassNK
Length Overall: 179.99 m
Beam: 32.20 m
Depth: 14.98 m moulded
Summer Draught: 9.417 m
Gross Tonnage: 48,039 GT
Net Tonnage: 14,412 NT
Deadweight: 15,127 t
Vehicle Capacity: 5,064 cars
Truck Capacity: 376
Main Engine: 1 × Kawasaki / MAN B&W 8-cylinder two-stroke diesel
Main Engine Power: 13,240 kW
Sea-Trial Maximum Continuous Speed: 22.6 knots
History
PACIFIC HIGHWAY was laid down on 25 June 1999, launched on 19 November 1999 and completed on 21 February 2000 at Kawasaki’s Sakaide shipyard. Kawasaki lists the vessel as hull H1495 and part of its long-running programme of specialised car carriers developed for the global automobile trade.
The vessel retained the PACIFIC HIGHWAY name for more than 21 years. In June 2021, she was renamed JASA MURNI, transferred to the Malaysian flag and registered at Port Klang. Current ClassNK records identify K.K. Regional Navigation as registered owner and “K” Line RoRo Bulk Ship Management as management company.
PACIFIC HIGHWAY and Piraeus
PACIFIC HIGHWAY was repeatedly recorded in the wider Piraeus area. One documented appearance shows her at Keratsini in August 2014, another at Drapetsona in February 2015, while a further photograph records her again at Drapetsona on 1 April 2017.
PiraeuShips Record
PACIFIC HIGHWAY was recorded at Piraeus by PiraeuShips during her long career under that name. The recording now has additional historical value, as IMO 9206023 has sailed since 2021 as JASA MURNI under the Malaysian flag. Her transformation preserves an interesting example of a Japanese-built vehicle carrier that remained in active service well beyond two decades.
Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.