North Khased Connection

North Khased Connection (NKC) is a binational transport company based in South Baba since 2020, operating passenger and freight services on routes to and from Jinju-do. NKC is a subsidiary of South Baban Lines (SBL).

Ports served by the company include: South Baba City Port, Naviera Veruport, Port of Anjeong, Port of Seosan, Gyeonsan Port, and Kaejung City Port for South Baba-Jinju-do services.

History

In 2020, the Government of the Republic of South Baba proposed the establishment of passenger and freight services on routes between the islands of South Baba and North Khased. South Baba suggested that a binational entity be created to operate the freight and passenger ferry service between ports in both islands, hoping that such deed would strengthen their relationship with the Kingdom of Wardency for the sake of peace and friendship in a troubled world. The shipbuilding was to start as soon as the necessary preparations were made and was to be largely funded by the South Baban government and private enterprise.

Wishing to extend economic developments to the North Khased Territory, the Royal Wardish Government agreed to the proposed South Baban transport system, hoping that new trade and passenger routes, would meet the travel demands of Baban minorities living in the Southeastern portion of said territory.

Agreements were promptly signed by the South Baban government with Varela Dry Dock and Construction (VDDC) on behalf of a future binational enterprise to build two cruise ferries, MV Wardency and MV South Baba, to operate the Wardency-South Baba routes.

Both ferries, which were to boast a wide geographic area of operation as well as state-of-the-art freight and passenger facilities, were delivered to North Khased Connection once it was incorporated as a legal entity.

_{NKC logo from the company's website}

Opening

On 5 October 2020, the North Khased Connection routes were officially opened, later than originally planned, by the President of the Republic of South Baba and the Prime Minister of the Autonomous North Khased Island, Ivaana Nielssen, in a ceremony held on the North Khased side. The South Baban president travelled to the island on the new MV South Baba ferry, one of the two new vessels that will unite the two islands on a daily basis. Following the initial ceremony, Prime Minister Nielssen and the South Baban president travelled on the MV Wardency ferry to a similar secondary ceremony in South Baba. A full freight and passenger service began the next day.

Closure and Revival

In a 31 December 2020 statement, NKC CEO Alma Larson announced the immediate suspension of the company’s transport operations citing “peculiar changes in our regular destinations” and affirmed that North Khased Connection will resume its regular routes “once circumstances allow it.”

By 30 May 2021, the Jinju-do Ministry of Maritime Trade and Transportation accepted an NKC proposal to open passenger and freight services on routes between the island of South Baba and their national territory. The agreement was reached after Ms. Larson explained the company’s expertise and binational nature to government officials, alongside her hopes that these renewed services would strengthen South Baba’s relationship with Jinju-do “for the sake of peace and friendship in a troubled world.” With a deal in place, NKC services will restart and the MV Wardency ferry will be renamed MV Jinju-Do as soon as the necessary preparations for a proper ceremony are made.

The NKC ferry service between South Baba and Jinju-do was ceremonially opened on 6 June by the South Baban and Jinjunese heads of state in a similar event to the original opening. The event featured the newly rechristened MV Jinju-Do ferry alongside its sister ship, the MV South Baba. As usual, the full freight and passenger connection service began a day later.