Work Boat World editorial – April 2008
Hong Kong is undoubtedly a paradise for ferry fanatics, "the anoraks", as the British call them, of the ferry world could find no better place to indulge in some "ferry spotting"!
Being lucky enough to visit Hong Kong quite frequently, I try very hard to get out on the harbour at least once on every visit.
I almost always manage a cross harbour trip on one of the venerable and magnificent Star Ferries. That has to be one of the most impressive ferry operations in the world. Slick, efficient and conveniently easy. It is also unbelievably inexpensive.
While Hong Kong's conventional ferries are impressive in their own way, it is the city's huge fleet of fast ferries that really astonishes. Almost everywhere you look around the Harbour and surrounding islands are fast ferries of almost every imaginable shape, size and configuration.
They epitomise practically the whole history of the fast ferry business. About the only thing missing is a vehicle carrying fast ferry. It probably won't be long before such a vessel materialises as cross border road traffic becomes impenetrably congested.
There are small (25-30 metre) older catamarans and there are modern cats of 45-53 metres. They compete with Boeing and Kawasaki Jetfoils, gas turbine powered FBMA built catamarans and a range of locally and foreign built monohulls.
Practically every well known fast ferry designer and builder is currently represented in the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta fleet, The variety and a number of their creations make for fascinating viewing.
Many boats in this hard working fleet are becoming elderly. This will gladden the hearts of current designers, builders, engine makers and seat manufacturers, among others. For them it is an exciting place with considerable potential.
Possibly inspired by the efficiency of the Star Ferries, pretty much all of the Hong Kong fleet is impressively quick in the turnaround department. Something that is not always achieved and rather negates the value of fast ferries in places like Singapore and Sydney among others.
All links in the turnaround chain including the Hong Kong, Chinese and Macau immigration and customs bureaucracies have entered into the spirit of this. They provide us with a world leading example of how things should be done.
Hong Kong provides us with a brilliant case study of fast ferries operated optimally. Many other cities could learn a lot from it.