Water transportation in the Pokémon world
There are various methods of transportation by water in the Pokémon world. These methods include various ships and boats, as well as submarines.
Ships and boats
Ghost ship
- Main article: Ghost ship
The ghost ship is a 300-year-old ship whose captain won the Orange League, and his trophy is protected by his Gastly and Haunter. Until shortly before Ash and his friends arrived on Moro Island, it rested on the bottom of the ocean of the coast of the island.
Royal Unova
- Main article: Royal Unova
The Royal Unova is a luxury liner in the Unova region that sails up the river from Castelia City. It sails every evening and returns to Castelia City when it is officially night. Many Trainers ride the ship. The Royal Unova can sometimes be seen passing underneath the Skyarrow Bridge while the player crosses the bridge, even if it is not evening when the player does so.
S.S. Anne
- Main article: S.S. Anne
Depending on the canon, the S.S. Anne stops only once every four years, annually, or monthly in Vermilion City. The S.S. Ticket that is needed to board the ship is only given away to exclusive people, such as Bill and Professor Oak. However, they can give the ticket away to others.
S.S. Aqua
- Main article: S.S. Aqua
The S.S. Aqua is a boat that runs between Olivine City in Johto and Vermilion City in Kanto.
S.S. Cactus
- Main article: Abandoned Ship
The S.S. Cactus was a large ship from the Hoenn Region, that supposedly carried large amounts of passengers and cargo. However, for some reason, the ship was partially submerged along Route 108, where it currently remains ruined on a sandbar. It is not specifically known where the boat ran between, though based on its location, one could assume it might have stopped at either Slateport City or Dewford Town. In present day, many Pokémon live in it, and lots of Trainers enjoy exploring and training on the boat, known as the Abandoned Ship.
S.S. Libra
- Main article: S.S. Libra
The S.S. Libra runs from Orre to other regions and is used as a Pokémon cargo ship. During the events of Pokémon XD, it was destroyed by Shadow Lugia and all the Pokémon currently in it were transformed into Shadow Pokémon. Michael later found its remains near Phenac City.
S.S. Sinnoh
- Main article: S.S. Sinnoh
The S.S. Sinnoh is a boat in Sinnoh that runs from Snowpoint City to the Fight Area in the Battle Zone.
In Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the S.S. Sinnoh is a regular-looking ship. However, in Pokémon Platinum, it has been redesigned and renamed the S.S. Spiral, named after the two ice-breaking drills on its bow.
S.S. St. Flower
- Main article: S.S. St. Flower
The S.S. St. Flower is a luxury cruise liner that sails in the Hoenn region, often stopping at the site of the Hoenn Grand Festival. It was featured in The Ribbon Cup Caper, where it was headed to Slateport City. Its passengers are Coordinators who successfully collected five Contest Ribbons from Hoenn. The Ribbon Cup is displayed on board.
S.S. Tidal
- Main article: S.S. Tidal
The S.S. Tidal is a boat that mostly runs in the Hoenn region.
After the player has become the Champion, it will always run between Lilycove City and Slateport City, and to the Battle Tower in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. However, it will also run to other places if the player has a ticket. With the Battle Pass, it will run to the Battle Frontier (in Emerald); with the Eon Ticket, it will run to Southern Island; with the MysticTicket, it will run to Navel Rock; with the AuroraTicket, it will run to Birth Island; and with the Old Sea Map, it will run to Faraway Island.
Seagallop ferries
- Main article: Seagallop
The Seagallop ferries run between Vermilion City in Kanto and each of the nine Sevii Islands.
There are currently four known tickets that can be used to board a Seagallop ferry: The Tri-Pass allows the holder to travel to One, Two and Three Islands, the Rainbow Pass to the same three islands, as well as Four, Five, Six, and Seven Islands, the MysticTicket allows travel to Navel Rock, and the AuroraTicket allows travel to Birth Island.
The Union
- Main article: The Union
The Union was hand crafted by Booker and remains at the Ranger Union in Almia. Before retirement, Murph took it to the Oblivia region to assist Ben and Summer with their missions there.
Boats in Alola
In Pokémon Sun and Moon, ferries are the main mode of transportation used to travel between the islands of Alola, as well as to Aether Paradise. Hau'oli City, Heahea City and Malie City each have their own ferry terminals.
Seafolk Village also has four moored ships, including a restaurant and a ship that allows the player to travel to Exeggutor Island.
Cruiseship in the Decolore Islands
In the anime, a cruiseship traveling between Unova and Kanto allow Trainers to visit the Decolore Islands. Porter are guides on these cruiseships. Ash and his friends traveled on these ships to journey through the Decolore Islands, starting from Nuvema Town in Farewell, Unova! Setting Sail for New Adventures! and finishing at Vermilion City in Best Wishes Until We Meet Again!.
Other ships and boats
A variety of other unnamed boats are known to exist, for example:
- In Mewtwo Strikes Back, the ferry services out of Old Shore Wharf were canceled due to stormy conditions. Ash and his friends reach New Island thanks in part to Team Rocket and their Viking ship.
- The Pokémon Showboat is a floating theater that operates in the Orange Islands.
- The Nurse Joy of an unnamed island uses a rowboat to access and treat Pokémon across many of the Orange Islands' most isolated locations.
- Maren escorts Ash and his friends to Shamouti Island in The Power of One. They later travel between Shamouti and the Ice, Fire and Lightning islands to retrieve three elemental orbs to restore the world's order.
- Mr. White takes Ash and his friends to Arborville on his flying boat in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.
- Numerous services charter between Johto's Olivine City, the Whirl Islands, and Cianwood City.
- In Hatch Me If You Can, Delia and Professor Oak arrive at New Bark Town's ports from Kanto via boat.
- In Gotta Catch Ya Later!, Ash takes a ferry from Seafoam Island in Kanto to Hoenn's Littleroot Town.
- Rustboro City's ports operate various ferry services. After missing their service, Mr. Briney escorted Ash and his friends from Rustboro to Dewford Island on his personal boat in On a Wingull and a Prayer!.
- Ferry services run between Lilycove City and Mossdeep City. Bomba Island and Muscle Island also have connecting services between these two cities.
- Ash and his friends dock in Oldale Town from Ever Grande City in The Scheme Team. Ash and Brock later take a ship from Littleroot Town to somewhere north of Viridian City.
- A ferry from somewhere in Kanto to Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh appeared in Home Is Where the Start Is!. Ash and Brock took a return service to Kanto in Memories are Made of Bliss!.
- May travels on a ship from Snowpoint City to the Valor Lakefront community in A Full Course Tag Battle!. She later leaves for Johto from the Lakefront using the same service in Strategy with a Smile!.
- Twinleaf Town receives ferries from Lily of the Valley Island, as shown in The Brockster Is In!.
- Several ferry services operate between Canalave City and its neighboring islands, Iron Island, Fullmoon Island, and Newmoon Island. As seen in Leading a Stray!, these services also go to Chocovine Town.
- Unova is said to be accessible by boat, due to it being far away from all other regions.
- In The Lost World of Gothitelle, it was revealed that a water taxi once operated between the outskirts of Pinwheel Forest to Castelia City before the Skyarrow Bridge was built.
- Like in Pokémon Sun and Moon, the sea is the easiest way to get around the Alola region. In I Choose Paradise!, Ash and his friends take a boat to the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
Gondolas
Gondolas have featured a few times in the anime. It is the major mode of transport in Alto Mare, a city of canals. Ash and his friends toured around Alto Mare in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias using Ross's gondola. A gondola also appeared in Jumping Rocket Ship, where Croagunk is seen passing by Team Rocket after they crash-landed into a canal.
Jet skis
Jet skis featured in the anime opening theme, We Will Be Heroes. In Pokémon Adventures, Norman also used a jet ski in On the Loose and Hyper With Zangoose and Seviper I.
Kayaks and canoes
Kayaks and canoes are used by a Nurse Joy in The Joy of Pokémon and by Ash and his friends in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
Steam boats
Ash and his friends went on a Wailord-shaped steam boat in Steamboat Willies!.
Team Rocket's boats
Team Rocket has used many different boats in the anime.
Submarines
In the games
In Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire, the Submarine Explorer 1, a submarine made by Captain Stern, is stolen by Team Magma or Team Aqua (depending on version) to reach Seafloor Cavern, where either Groudon or Kyogre is.
In Pokémon Ranger, the Aquamole is a submarine that the player uses to travel underwater. It has an autopilot system which allows the Aquamole to reach its destination by itself. In Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs, Submarine is a submarine that is owned by the Pokémon Pinchers. It is later crashed.
In the anime
In the anime, submarines are often used by Team Rocket, mainly to spy on Ash and his friends.
Ash and his friends have also traveled in submarines, such as in Relicanth Really Can!, Hold the Phione! and in Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea.
