Sun Ferry

## Sun Ferry Services Ltd

**Sun Ferry Services Ltd** (**新渡輪服務有限公司**), known as **Sun Ferry** (**新渡輪**), is a locally licensed ferry operator under Chu Kong Shipping (CKS), which operates both in-harbour and outlying island ferry services and is the largest local ferry operator in Hong Kong.

## History

Main article: 1999 Termination of HYF Franchise
On 1 April 1999, The Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited (HYF) had its franchise resumed by the Government, and some of its routes were licensed after tendering. However, the service standard of HYF fell short of the public's expectation, and the friction between the residents of the outlying islands and the ferry company continued to grow. The "Occupy the Ferry" incident that took place in the afternoon of 15 August of the same year on the Central-Peng Chau ferry route was the trigger.

On that day, dozens of Peng Chau residents boarded the HYF "Ming Lee 33" catamaran in Central and made noise on the pretext that the passengers could not get on board after purchasing tickets; the vessel even refused to disembark after arriving at Peng Chau, and caused disturbances from 10:00pm to 2:30pm the following day, during which the Peng Chau ferry service was suspended for a total of 16 hours. After the above incidents, HYF has lost interest in operating ferry services.

### New World First Ferry (NWFF)

New World Group, which established New World First Bus in 1998 and successfully took over the operating right of 88 Hong Kong Island franchised bus routes from China Motor Bus (CMB), was keen to develop diversified transport businesses and established **New World First Ferry Services Ltd** (NWFF) on 23 November 1999.

Subsequently, the Transport Department (TD) granted NWFF the right to operate HYF's eight outlying island and inner-harbour ferry routes, and on 15 January 2000, the company officially commenced service.

#### Network expansion

On 29 July 2002, the Lee Tat Passenger Service Tuen Mun, Sha Lo Wan and Tai O routes were suspended; NWFF then launched the Tuen Mun - Tai O Route, via Tung Chung and Sha Lo Wan, to serve tourists from Sha Lo Wan and Tai O.

In 2005, NWFF gave up operating this route, which was taken over by the Fortune Ferry.

#### NWFF Macau

Having established a strong foothold in the Hong Kong ferry market, NWFF has expanded its territory to Macau and has become involved in the cross-boundary ferry business between Tsim Sha Tsui and Macau through the establishment of "New World First Ferry Services (Macau) Limited" (NWFF (Macau)).

The entire shareholding of NWFF (Macau), including the high-speed passenger vessels and the concession of Hong Kong-Macau routes granted by the Macau SAR Government, was acquired by Shun Tak China Travel Service Management Limited in August 2011 at a cost of $350 million.

### Acquisition of shares by Chu Kong Shipping (CKS)

Chu Kong Shipping, a subsidiary of Guangdong Shipping Group, announced on 4 May 2020 that it has acquired 60% equity interest in New World First Ferry Services Limited, a subsidiary of NWS, at a consideration of $232.8 million. In order to ensure the stability of the company's daily operation, shareholders of both parties have undertaken to maintain the original management and structure of NWFF, with "no layoffs and no pay cuts" and increased transport benefits. The objective of this co-operation between Chu Kong Shipping and NWS is to further enhance the quality of ferry services, while NWS has indicated that it has been adjusting its development strategy since early 2019, and believes that this co-operation will help to enhance the service level of NWFF. Finally, the transaction process was completed on 18 May.

On 4 December 2020, Chu Kong Passenger Transport acquired the remaining 40% equity interest in NWFF . After the completion of the transaction, Chu Kong Shipping applied to the Trademark Registry for a change of NWFF's trade mark from its original colour scheme of orange, green and purple to blue. The registered name of the company was officially changed to "Sun Ferry Services Limited", deleting the original words "New World" and "First", but retaining its Chinese abbreviated name. The English abbreviated name was also changed from "**NWFF**" or "**First Ferry**" to "**Sun Ferry**".

According to the Companies Registry, the new name became effective on 21 December 2020. Starting from March of the following year, the new corporate logo of Sun Ferry was gradually applied to the ferry piers, vessel hulls and mobile phone applications. Starting from 2023, the corporate logo of Chu Kong Shipping (CKS) were also be applied to the ferry piers, vessel hulls and the mobile app, alongside the corporate logo of Sun Ferry.

In February 2022, Sun Ferry had a total of about 500 employees.

## Anniversary celebrations

* NWFF 15th anniversary
* NWFF 20th anniversary

## Service scope

At present, Sun Ferry mainly operates the outlying island routes between Central Ferry Pier and Outlying Islands/Lantau, as well as two in-harbour routes between both sides of the Victoria Harbour.

### Discontinued/transferred routes

* NWFFCentral - Peng Chau Route
* NWFF Cheung Chau - Tsim Sha Tsui Route
* NWFFTuen Mun - Tai O Route
* NWFF Tuen Mun - Chek Lap Kok Route
* NWFF Tuen Mun - Tung Chung Route
* NWFF (Macau)Kowloon - Macau Route

## Vessel fleet

In 2000, NWFF invested more than HK$150 million in the purchase of 15 vessels and ancillary facilities, followed by a further investment of more than HK$130 million in 2001-2003 in the purchase of eight brand new high-speed, double-decker catamarans, each with a carrying capacity of more than 200 to 400 passengers and a maximum speed of 26 knots.

### Current fleet

At present, Sun Ferry has eight ordinary ferries, eight high-speed vessels, and two catamaran jet boats.

### Ordinary ferry

There are eight vessels in total, launched in the 1980s, during the HYF era, with their names starting with the word "Man" (民). In 2000, the licences were transferred and sold the purchased vessels to NWFF, with their names starting with the word "Xin" (新), and their names changed from Cantonese transliteration to Mandarin Pinyin, and two of them have been sold.

They are commonly known as "slow ferries" (慢船), which are equipped with a viewing sampan on the top aft of the three-decker vessel. See article Hong Kong Shipyard double-decker vessel for details.

#### Fast ferries

There are a total of 8 fast ferries within the fleet, namely First Ferry III to First Ferry IVI (First Ferry IV skipped due to numerical taboo).

### Ordered/planned fleets

Under the Government's programme to subsidise ferry companies to replace their fleets, Sun Ferry has ordered 13 new vessels, including 300-seat, 400-seat, 500-seat and 1,000-seat ferries, between 2023 and 2025.

* Ordinary ferries
	+ The two 1,000-seat double-ended aluminium ferries, measuring 64.8 metres in length and 13.6 metres in width, with a design speed of 16 knots, will be manufactured by Ya Guang Technology Group and will mainly serve the Central - Cheung Chau Route. The first vessel will be diesel-electric propelled and is expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2024, while the second vessel will be hybrid-propelled and is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.
	+ A 300-seater aluminium ferry, 35m long and 9.7m wide, with a design speed of 14 knots and diesel-electric hybrid power, manufactured by A Fai Southern Shipbuilding.
	+ A 400-seater carbon fibre ferry, 35m long, battery-powered, with cabin designed by Wuhan Ship Design & Research Institute, will mainly serve the in-harbour routes.
* Fast ferries
	+ Six 500-seat aluminium ferries, 44.1 metres in length and 11.1 metres in breadth, with a design speed of 26 knots and twin engine waterjet propulsion, manufactured by A Fai Southern Shipbuilding. The first vessel, named "Xin Ming Zhu VIII" (新明珠8) was launched in October 2023.
	+ Two 500-seat carbon fibre ferries, 42.8 metres in length and 11.1 metres in width, with a design speed of 26 knots, manufactured by Guangdong Sinoway Composite Materials. The first one, named "Xin Ming Zhu II" (新明珠2), was launched in November 2023.
	+ A 500-seat diesel-electric hybrid carbon fibre ferry with a design speed of 10 knots in electric mode and 26 knots in diesel mode, produced by Guangdong Sinoway Composite Materials.
	+ 1 x 400-seat Carbon Fibre Ferry, produced by Guangdong Sinoway Composite Materials.

### Retired fleets

#### Own fleets

* Ordinary ferry

* Fast ferries

* Cataraman

* Tour ships

* Supporting vessel

#### Leased fleets

* HM527-type hovercraft

* Fast ferries

* Monohulls

* Small ferries

## Shipyard/facilities

* Cheung Sha Wan Shipyard
	+ Provision of a two-storey office building, a workshop and two pontoons (New Ferry XXXIII and New Ferry XXXVIII)
* Pontoons
	+ Wan Chai Pontoon (New Ferry XXV)
		- Near Wan Chai (HKCEC New Wing) Bus Terminus and Golden Bauhinia Square, this pontoon used to be the pick-up point for the Pearl of the Orient Harbour Tour, but now it is only used for resting and overnight stay of the waiting vessels.
		- During the Tin Hau Festival, the pontoon will be relocated to the Joss House Bay Public Pier for berthing of vessels on the North Point - Joss House Bay route.
	+ Hei Ling Chau Pontoon (New Ferry XI, New Ferry XII and New Ferry XVI)
		- Three pontoons for resting and overnight staying vessels.

## Gallery

More **pictures**, **photos** and **related information** about this article are available in the following **Gallery Page**:
Sun Ferry(Edit)

## Related Articles

* Fortune Ferry
* Chu Kong Shipping
* 2011 NWFF vessel and parking barge collision

## Notes and References

1. ↑ https://webb-site.com/dbpub/orgdata.asp?p=23213
2. ↑ 香港特別行政區政府運輸署，Cessation of Ferry Service "Tuen Mun – Sha Lo Wan – Tai O" and Commencement of Ferry Service "Tuen Mun – Tung Chung – Sha Lo Wan – Tai O" Licensed Ferry Services [Traffic Notice], 29 July 2002.
3. ↑ 新渡輪開辦新航線：屯門 － 東涌 － 沙螺灣 － 大澳 (First Ferry Launches New Ferry Service Tuen Mun - Tung Chung - Sha Lo Wan - Tai O), NWFF News Flash, 26 July 2002.
4. ↑ DISCLOSEABLE AND CONNECTED TRANSACTION IN RELATION TO THE ACQUISITION OF PASSENGER FERRY BUSINESS FROM NWFH, 11 August 2011.
5. ↑ Acquisition of New Ferry (Macau) by Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited, TurboJET Press Release, 11 August 2011.
6. ↑ [1]
7. ↑ https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0504/2020050401448.pdf
8. ↑ https://bsbmpwebcontent.megahubhk.com/Web/bsbmp/tc/News/ShowNewsContent?source=5&news\_id=HLNE458694
9. ↑ https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-1190000-1-1.html
10. ↑ https://www.hk01.com/%E7%A4%BE%E6%9C%83%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E/575573/%E6%96%B0%E6%B8%A1%E8%BC%AA%E6%93%AC%E6%94%B9%E6%A8%99%E8%AA%8C%E4%B8%A6%E9%85%8D%E4%BB%A5%E8%97%8D%E8%89%B2%E8%88%B9%E9%9A%BB%E5%9C%96%E6%A1%88-%E8%8B%B1%E6%96%87%E5%90%8D%E6%94%B9%E7%82%BAsun-ferry
11. ↑ https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-1200393-1-1.html
12. ↑ https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-1199262-1-1.html
13. ↑ https://www.hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-1199503-1-1.html
14. ↑ 已加紅logo 新超 (Xin Chao with the red logo), hkitalk.net
15. ↑ 中環―梅窩航線縮減航班事宜 (On the matter of service reduction of Central - Mui Wo Ferry Service), 2022-2-24
16. ↑ Former name Man Chung (民忠)
17. ↑ Former name Man Ying (民英)
18. ↑ Former name Man Kit (民傑)
19. ↑ With the exception of Xin Fa, all other vessels actually have four decks, but the top deck is designed as a VIP cabin and is not accessible to ordinary passengers.
20. ↑ Former name Man Fat (民發)
21. ↑ Former name Man Chiu (民超)
22. ↑ Former name Man Kwong (民光)
23. ↑ Former name Man Fei (民飛)
24. ↑ Former name Man Kwok (民國)
25. ↑ Including 5 crew
26. ↑ Max. capacity 408 before demolition of upper deck gangplank in 2018
27. ↑ Built by Guang Dong Hong Shen Ship Building & Engineering Co. Ltd. under Wang Tak at the Huangpu Shipyard.
28. ↑ Including 4 crew
29. ↑ Including 5 crew
30. ↑ Max. capacity 433 before demolition of VIP cabin
31. ↑ Bought from Yaumati Ferry, former name HKF II (HKF II), designated vessel for Cheung Chau - Central Route fast ferry sailing at 7:55am during Mondays to Saturdays
32. ↑ Including 5 crew
33. ↑ Acquired from Chu Kong Shipping, former name "SHUN JING" (順景)
34. ↑ Leased since 20 May 2002 , owned by Fortune Ferry
35. ↑ Manufactured by Zhuhai Shipbuilding Industry Corporation on 4 April 1998, owned by Best Sonic Industrial
36. ↑ Manufactured by Zhuhai Shipbuilding Industry Corporation on 8 January 1999, owned by Yun Lee Marine
37. ↑ Used for Victoria Harbour sightseeing purposes during daily evenings
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Owned by Fortune Ferry
39. ↑ Used for Victoria Harbour sightseeing purposes during daily evenings, and operates on North Point - Kowloon City and
North Point - Hung Hom routes
40. ↑ 2023 Sun Ferry Passengers Liaison Group (Central-Cheung Chau ferry route) Held Successfully with Collective Intelligence Contributes to the Betterment of Ferry Service, Sun Ferry, 24 April 2023
41. ↑ Two Urban Sprinter 1000 for Hong Kong，CoCo Yachts
42. ↑ 英輝南方承建香港渡輪項目簽約 (A Fai Southern Signs Contract for Hong Kong Ferry Project), A Fai Southern Shipbuilding, 31 July 2022.
43. ↑ 又上新啦 | 新船型牽手新材料，新能源再拓新市場 (New Ship Types and New Materials, New Energy Sources Expanding New Markets), Wuhan Ship Design & Research Institute, 4 August 2023.
44. ↑ 英輝南方承建香港渡輪項目簽約 (A Fai Southern Signs Contract for Hong Kong Ferry Project), A Fai Southern Shipbuilding, 31 July 2022.
45. ↑ 英輝南方承建香港渡輪500客位鋁合金高速客船項目首製船順利吉水 (1st 500-seater HK fast ferry vessel built by A Fai Southern launched), A Fai Southern Shipbuilding, 13 October 2023.
46. ↑ 我國最大載客量碳纖維高速客船來了 (Our country's largest capacity carbon fibre high speed passenger ship is coming), China Shipping News 9 November 2023.
47. ↑ 新能源牽手新材料 香港首艘碳纖維混動船誕生 (Hong Kong's first carbon fibre hybrid ship is born as new energy joins hands with new materials), CSSC 712, 7 April 2023.
48. ↑ 又一艘CCS級碳纖維複合材料高速客船開工 (Another CCS-Class Carbon Fibre Composite High Speed Passenger Ship Commences Construction), China Classification Society, 2022-11-7
49. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name Man Hing (民興), sold to Huizhou in 2010 after retirement [2]
50. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name Man Heen (民顯), sold to Glenn Marine Group in 2009 after retirement and was renamed GLENN VICTORY
51. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name 英輝壹號（Aquan one）, 退役後於2011售往越南, 其後再被售往菲律賓
52. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name Aquan Two (英輝貳號), sold to Vietnam in 2011 after retirement, and was later sold again to the Philippines
53. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name HKF I (港輪壹號), sold to Turkiye in 2004
54. ↑ Bought from HYF, former name HKF III (港輪叄號), sold to Indonesia in 2012
55. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and renamed as Universal MK V
56. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011, and was later resold to Taiwan in 2013
57. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and was renamed as Universal MK 2013
58. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and was renamed as Universal MK 2014
59. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and was renamed as Universal MK 2015
60. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and was renamed as Universal MK 2016
61. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2011 and was renamed as Universal MK 2017
62. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2008 and was renamed as Universal MK 2011
63. ↑ Resold to TurboJET in 2008 and was renamed as Universal MK 2011
64. ↑ Sold to Tianjin in 2007
65. ↑ Sold to Indonesia in 2012
66. ↑ Formerly HYF Water Taxi "HYF11", resold to a private ship rental operator in Hong Kong in 2002
67. ↑ Former name Ming Lee 33 (名利33), returned to Laissez Faire Limited in 2003; later resold to Hoi You Ferries and renamed Hoi You 36 (海佑36), and was later renamed again as HKMT 201
68. ↑ Returned in 2002, later resold to Lamma Rainbow and renamed Rainbow Star
69. ↑ Returned in 2003, resold to Hoi You Ferries and renamed Hoi You 29 (海佑29), later renamed again as HKMT 202
70. ↑ Returned in 2003, later resold to Lamma Rainbow and renamed Rainbow Star II
71. ↑ Continued to be rented by Fortune Ferry after taking over Tuen Mun - Tai O Route in 2005
72. ↑ Replaced by Plenty River in 2002 and was returned to original owner, later resold to a security company in 2009 and renamed GLENN JUMBO

## External Links

* Sun Ferry website
	+ Fleet information

Template:Ferry companies

To facilitate quoting and enquiries, the following redirect page(s) will direct to this page:

**New World First Ferry**,**NWFF**and**Sun Ferry Services Limited**