TurboJet_(company)
TurboJET
Hong Kong ferry operator
Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited, doing business as TurboJET (Chinese: 噴射飛航), is a ferry company based in Hong Kong. The company was established from the joint venture between Shun Tak Holdings and China Travel International Investment Hong Kong in July 1999.[1] It operates hydrofoil and high-speed ferry services between Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai in the Pearl River Delta area.
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| Founded | 1962 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 1962 | ||||||
| Hubs | Hong Kong International Airport (Skypier) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 30 | ||||||
| Destinations | 3 (routes to/from Hong Kong International Airport only) | ||||||
| Parent company | |||||||
| Headquarters | Hong Kong | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
| Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited | |||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 信德中旅船務管理有限公司 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 信德中旅船务管理有限公司 | ||||||||||||||
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| Portuguese name | |||||||||||||||
| Portuguese | Shun Tak China Travel – Companhia de Gestão de Embarcações, Limitada: "TurboJET" | ||||||||||||||
| English name | |||||||||||||||
| English | Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited: "TurboJET" | ||||||||||||||
| TurboJET | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 噴射飛航 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 喷射飞航 | ||||||||||||
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TurboJET is one of the two companies operating high-speed ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau – the other one being Cotai Water Jet. TurboJET uses the IATA two-letter airline code 8S only for routes to and from Hong Kong International Airport.
Shun Tak and China Travel had their own separate ferry business brands before merging as TurboJET on 1 July 1999. They were Far East Hydrofoil by Shun Tak, and Turbo Cat by CTS Parkview Company Ltd.
It acquired New Ferry – Transporte Marítimo de Passageiros Limitada (abbreviated New World First Ferry (Macau)) from NWS Holdings for HK$350 million on 11 August 2011,[2] and completed the transaction on 30 September.
Since the opening of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge in October 2018, passenger numbers have been falling sharply due to the direct competition. The ferry service was deemed too slow and expensive. Since 2019, TurboJET started gradually cutting frequencies adjusting to the passenger numbers. The second half of 2019 started the anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong, which further reduced movement between the two cities, as well as Mainland–Hong Kong routes.
TurboJET provides services between Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, Macau, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, all located around the Pearl River Delta in southern China. The route between Hong Kong and Macau is the busiest, operating 24 hours a day, taking approximately one hour to travel the 70 kilometres (43 mi) journey on TurboJET's high-speed vessels.
In the past, besides the inter-city routes, Turbo Cat operated Hong Kong out-lying routes during the years 1999 to 2000. The routes were Central to Tuen Mun (on weekdays), and Central to Tai O (on weekends). After the merger, the routes were operated under the TurboJET brand.
TurboJET is the world's largest operator of Boeing's Jetfoils; all used to belong to the former Far East Hydrofoil, which also used PS-30 and FoilCat. The former Turbo Cat used Flying Cat and TriCat.
TurboJET's fleet includes seven major types of vessels (and eight minor vessels), with one of the major types (and two minor types) rented from another company.
Bought vessels
- FoilCat: 35m length, 561 tonnes, 423 passengers catamaran hydrofoil. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin General Electric LM500 gas turbines. Maximum speed at 50 knots. Built by Kvaerner Fjellstrand of Norway.
- Flying Cat: 40m length, 479 tonnes, 303/406 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTU 16V 396 diesel engines, rated at 2000 kW each. Cruising speed at 35 knots. Built by Kvaerner Fjellstrand of Norway for Universal MK I and Universal MK III, and Damen Shipyard of the Netherlands for Universal MK V.
- TriCat: 45m length, 602 tonnes, 328/333 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin Caterpillar Solar Taurus gas turbines. Cruising speed at 45 knots, capable of 52 knots when empty. Built by FBM Marine of the United Kingdom for Universal MK 2001–2007, FBM–Aboitiz Shipyard of the Philippines for Universal MK 2008, and Pequot River Shipworks of the USA for Universal MK 2009–2010. (Note: Universal MK 2001–2005 are installed with 2 shorter chimneys at the back of the vessels, while Universal MK 2006–2010 are installed with 2 higher chimneys.)
- Jetfoil: 24.44m length, 267 tonnes, 190/243 passengers monohull hydrofoil. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin Rolls-Royce Allison 501KF gas turbines. Maximum speed at 45 knots. Built by the Boeing Company of the USA.
- PS-30: 27.8m length, 303 tonnes, 260 passengers Jetfoil-like monohull hydrofoil. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin Rolls-Royce Allison 501KF gas turbines. Maximum speed at 45 knots. Built by Shanghai Simno Marine Limited under licenses from Boeing. (Note: This vessel is currently inactive as of September 2011.)
- Austal 48m: 47.5m length, 610 tonnes, 414/418 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by quadruple MTU 16V 4000 diesel engines, rated at 2320 kW each. Cruising speed at 43.5 knots, capable of 49 knots when empty. Built by Austal Shipyard of Australia.
Rented vessels (returned in December 2008)
- Wavemaster SuperFast 39m: 39m length, 300 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTU 8V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1580 kW each. Maximum speed at 36 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company of Australia.
- Wavemaster SuperFast 42m: 42m length, 385 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTU 16V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1960 kW each. Maximum speed at 48 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company of Australia.
Vessels information
| Name | IMO | Type | Year Built |
Seats | Builder | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terceira (錫星, 929-115-012) | 7910008 | Jetfoil | 1979 | 190 | Boeing Company | 2nd Premier Jetfoil in service since February 2010; repainted in modern livery in 2015 | |
| Horta (海皇星, 929-115-016) | 7923251 | Jetfoil | 1980 | 243 | Boeing Company | 3rd Premier Jetfoil in service since July 2012 | |
| Lilau (帝皇星, 929-115-014) | 8332332 | Jetfoil | 1979 | 243 | Boeing Company | Formerly served the Royal Navy as HMS Speedy (P296) | |
| Funchal (天皇星, 929-115-013) | 7923249 | Jetfoil | 1979 | 190 | Boeing Company | 1st Premier Jetfoil in service since March 2009 | |
| Taipa (帝后星, 929-115-021) | 8127701 | Jetfoil | 1981 | 243 | Boeing Company | 4th Premier Jetfoil in service since February 2013 | |
| Cacilhas (幸運星, 929-115-018) | 8019564 | Jetfoil | 1981 | 243 | Boeing Company | Premier Jetfoil | |
| São Jorge (銀星, 929-100-006) | 7933165 | Jetfoil | 1976 | 243 | Boeing Company | Premier Jetfoil since late 2014 | |
| Santa Maria (金星, 929-100-005) | 7523910 | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Boeing Company | ||
| Urzela (鐵星, 929-100-007) | 7932898 | Jetfoil | 1976 | 243 | Boeing Company | ||
| Penha (祥星) | 9101778 | FoilCat | 1995 | 419 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Upgraded to Premier Status | |
| Barca (日星) | 9101780 | FoilCat | 1995 | 419 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Upgraded to Premier Status | |
| Universal MK I (宇航壹號) | 9060376 | Flying Cat | 1992 | 303 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | ||
| Universal MK III (宇航叄號) | 9060390 | Flying Cat | 1993 | 303 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | ||
| Universal MK V (宇航五號) | 9236872 | Flying Cat | 2000 | 406 | Damen Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry V | |
| Universal MK 2001 (宇航2001) | 9087556 | TriCat | 1994 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2002 (宇航2002) | 9087568 | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2003 (宇航2003) | 9087570 | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | Vessel involved in collision with fishing vessel near Lung Sou Gok in August 2016[3] | |
| Universal MK 2004 (宇航2004) | 9087582 | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2005 (宇航2005) | 9087594 | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2006 (宇航2006) | 9139206 | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2007 (宇航2007) | 9139218 | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | FBM Marine Limited | ||
| Universal MK 2008 (宇航2008) | 9139220 | TriCat | 1997 | 333 | FBM–Aboitiz Shipyard, Philippines | ||
| Universal MK 2009 (宇航2009) | 9160188 | TriCat | 1998 | 328 | Pequot River Shipworks, New London, CT, USA | Second hand (joined in 2005); painted in MGM Macau livery | |
| Universal MK 2011 (宇航2011) | 9444209 | Austal 48m | 2008 | 418 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXVII; sold to TurboJET before the launch of First Ferry (Macau) | |
| Universal MK 2012 (宇航2012) | 9433676 | Austal 48m | 2008 | 418 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXVIII; sold to TurboJET before the launch of First Ferry (Macau) | |
| Universal MK 2013 (宇航2013) | 9259525 | Austal 48m | 2002 | 414 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXI | |
| Universal MK 2014 (宇航2014) | 9259537 | Austal 48m | 2002 | 414 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXII | |
| Universal MK 2015 (宇航2015) | 9259549 | Austal 48m | 2002 | 414 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXIII | |
| Universal MK 2016 (宇航2016) | 9323209 | Austal 48m | 2004 | 418 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXV | |
| Universal MK 2017 (宇航2017) | 9323211 | Austal 48m | 2004 | 418 | Austal Shipyard | Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXVI |
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| Name | IMO | Type | Year Built |
Seats | Builder | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Açores (恆星, 929-100-008) | 7933189 | Jetfoil | 1977 | 262 | Boeing Company | Sold to South Korea in 2004 (renamed as Kobee III) | |
| Guia (東星, 929-100-009) | 7932848 | Jetfoil | 1977 | 243 | Boeing Company | Repainted in modern livery; retired in 2018 | |
| Corvo (火星, 929-100-003) | 7731555 | Jetfoil | 1975 | 242 | Boeing Company | Originally as Kamehameha for SeaFlite (Pacific Sea Transportation Ltd.) in 1975; sold to South Korea in 2006 (renamed as Hijet) | |
| Pico (土星, 929-100-004) | 7737391 | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Boeing Company | Retired in 2018 | |
| Madeira (木星, 929-100-002) | 7523881 | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Boeing Company | Crashed in November 2013 injuring 87 and has since been retired[4] | |
| Flores (水星, 929-100-001) | 7737389 | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Boeing Company | Formerly Jetfoil One; currently inactive (possibly retired) | |
| Ponta Delgada (銅星, 929-100-008) | 7932903 | Jetfoil | 1978 | 242 | Boeing Company | Sold to South Korea in 2004 (renamed as Kobee V) | |
| Balsa (北星) | 8878362 | PS-30 | 1994 | 270 | Shanghai Simno Marine Limited | Scrapped in September 2020 | |
| Praia (南星) | 9143960 | PS-30 | 1994 | 242 | Shanghai Simno Marine Limited | Sold to South Korea in 2002 (renamed as Kobee) | |
| Universal MK IV (宇航肆號) | 9086655 | Flying Cat | 1994 | 303 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Sold to South Korea in August 2011 | |
| Universal MK II (宇航貳號) | 9060388 | Flying Cat | 1993 | 303 | Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Sold to Indonesia in 2010 (renamed as Prima Oasis) | |
| Universal MK 2010 (宇航2010) | 9182538 | TriCat | 1999 | 328 | Pequot River Shipworks, New London, CT, USA | Second hand (joined in 2005); currently inactive (parked at Tsing Yi) |
- "TurboJET". Shun Tak. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- "Shun Tak–China Travel Shipping Investments Limited Acquiring First Ferry (Macau)" (PDF). 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- Yeung, Raymond (28 August 2016). "One hurt and hundreds left stranded in high-speed ferry crash off Hong Kong's Lantau Island". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- Lo, Clifford; Chan, Thomas (29 November 2013). "Macau jetfoil passengers tell of 'crash like thunder' that left 87 injured". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
