TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A new apprentice ship operated by National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology set sail for Tokyo immediately after its launch Wednesday.

The “Wind Rider” serves to familiarize students with ocean studies, per CNA. The five-year project to have CSBC Corporation, Taiwan build the ship carried a price tag of NT$1.65 billion (US$50.30 million).

The vessel is 114 meters long, 21 m wide, and can carry 250 passengers. It is equipped with the latest international-standard safety and stability measures, the shipbuilder said.

As Taiwan is an ocean country, the ship will serve to train ocean specialists about to graduate and find work, Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao (鄭英耀) said at the launch in Kaohsiung Wednesday. He emphasized the importance of knowing scientific facts about the ocean.

Teaching staff and students of the university’s Departments of Marine Engineering and Shipping Technology boarded the ship for its maiden voyage to Japan. March 3 had been set as the expected time of arrival in Tokyo.

Simulation systems on board the Wind River allow the students to put their theoretical knowledge about steering a vessel into practice while observing a real-life crew at work, the university said. The plan is to conduct 10 sailings per year to allow as many students as possible to get acquainted with the handling of a large ship at sea.