Beetle (JR Kyushu)

Beetle (ビートル, Bītoru) was a high-speed ferry service that travelled between Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea.

The Queen Beetle first entered service in 2022, providing domestic trips between Okinoshima and Fukuoka during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[2] In August 2024, during the busy Obon holiday, the Queen Beetle abruptly suspended service following a surprise inspection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The inspection found that JR Kyushu Jet Ferry falsified its logbook by operating the Queen Beetle between February and May of that year, despite knowing that the ship had a water seepage problem.

An investigative panel assembled by JR Kyushu concluded that the cover-up was as the result of the ferry subsidiary prioritizing business interests.