The Star Ferry Company
TypeFerry services across Victoria Harbour
Founded1888 (1888)
FounderDorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala
HeadquartersHong Kong
RevenueHK$72 million (2006)
OwnerWharf REIC (100%)
ParentWharf REIC
Websitewww.starferry.com.hk
Star Ferry
The ferry Meridian Star
Traditional Chinese天星小輪
Star Ferry routes as of 2010
A Star Ferry in the 1920s
A Star Ferry in Asia's World City livery carries passengers across Victoria Harbour
A man at the front of a large boat throws a rope to another man on a nearby pier wearing a blue sailor uniform who is holding a long pole with a hook at the rear to catch it
Crew using billhook to moor ferry at Central pier, a method in use since the 19th century
Star Ferry Night Star

The Star Ferry (Chinese: 天星小輪) is a passenger ferry service operator and tourist attraction in Hong Kong.[1] Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island, and Kowloon. The service is operated by the Star Ferry Company, which was founded in 1888 as the Kowloon Ferry Company, and adopted its present name in 1898.

With a fleet of twelve ferries, the company operates two routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers per day, or 26 million per year. Even though the harbour is crossed by railway and road tunnels, the Star Ferry continues to provide a scenic yet inexpensive mode of harbour crossing. The company's main route runs between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.

History

Before the steam ferry service was first established, people would cross the harbour in sampans. In 1870, a man named Grant Smith brought a twin-screw wooden-hulled boat from England and started running it across the harbour at irregular intervals.[2]

In July 1873, an attempt was made to run steam ferries between Hong Kong and Kowloon. This was stopped at the request of the British consul in Canton, who feared it would enable visits to gambling houses in Kowloon.[2] It is thought that a service to the public was established in the mid-to-late 1870s, after the cession of Kowloon to the British in 1860.[3]

The company was founded by Parsee merchant Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala as the "Kowloon Ferry Company" in 1888. Naorojee bought Smith's boat,[2] and later acquired two steam vessels from a Mr Buxoo, naming them Morning Star and Evening Star.[3]

At the time regular service was initiated, ships were moored by having a sailor on the vessel toss the rope to another on the pier, who would then catch it with a long billhook. This is still done today.[4]

The popularity of this means of transport enabled him to increase his fleet to four vessels within 10 years: the Morning Star, Evening Star, Rising Star and Guiding Star. Each boat had a capacity of 100 passengers, and the boats averaged 147 crossings each day.[2] He incorporated the business into the "Star Ferry Co Ltd" in 1898.[3] The ship names and, subsequently, the company name was inspired by his love of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar", of which the first line reads "Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!".

On his retirement in 1898, Naorojee sold the company to The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company Limited, at that time owned by Jardine, Matheson & Co. and Sir Paul Chater.[2]

A pier constructed on the western end of Salisbury Road opened in 1906, it was a fine massive structure at that time and it also had a separate compartment for the first and second class.[5] However, it was destroyed by a typhoon in September 1906.

At the turn of the century, Hong Kong currency and Canton currency were both accepted as legal tender in Hong Kong. In the autumn of 1912, following a devaluation, the Star Ferry caused a controversy by insisting, together with the tramways, that payment had to be made in Hong Kong currency only. Canton coinage would no longer be accepted.[6]

In 1924, the Yaumati Ferry operated the route to Kowloon in a duopoly.[7] In 1933, the Star Ferry made history by building the Electric Star, the first diesel electric passenger ferry of its kind.[2]

By 1941, the company had six vessels. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, the competing Yaumati Ferry was allowed to continue, while the Japanese commandeered the Star Ferry for their own purposes. The Golden Star and the Meridian Star were used to transport prisoners of war from Sham Shui Po to Kai Tak Airport.[2] In 1943, the Golden Star was bombed and sunk in the Canton River by the Americans, and the Electric Star was sunk in the harbour. After the war, the ferries were recovered and returned to service.[2]

In the early 1950s, construction of the present twin-piered terminal commenced on both sides of Victoria Harbour, designed to handle 55 million passenger trips a year.[8] The structure was completed in 1957, concurrent with the Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier built on the island side.

The Star Ferry accepted the request by the government of operating the Hung Hom route in 1963. It almost failed to operate as the company thought it could not make profit from it.[9] But with the reconsideration by the Star Ferry, the route was confirmed to be operating starting from March 1965.[10]

Until the opening of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in 1972, the Star Ferry remained the main means of public transportation between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon side.

It was rated first in the "Top 10 Most Exciting Ferry Rides" poll by SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) in February 2009.[11][12]

The Star Ferry operates on a franchise from the Government, which was last renewed in March 2018.[13]

Public protests

In 1966, a fare increase of 5 cents (or 25%) of the ferry was a political milestone, as it caused a 27-year-old student to go on hunger strike in protest at the Edinburgh Place terminal. His arrest sparked the 1966 Hong Kong Riots.[3]

On 11 November 2006, the end of an era was marked when the third generation pier in Central, the Edinburgh Place Ferry Pier, ended its mission, along with the big clock tower. The pier was destroyed to make way for reclamation, amidst great controversy and peaceful but reasonable protests.

Services

Existing

An adult Star Ferry token or jeton

The Star Ferry operates the following cross-harbour routes (the fares (in HK$ below) are effective from 9 February 2021[14]):

  • Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. For lower deck, it costs $4 on Mondays to Fridays; $5.60 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. For upper deck, $5 on Mondays to Fridays; $6.50 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
  • Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui for $5 on Mondays to Fridays; $6.50 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
  • Harbour Tour: a tourist cruise, making an indirect, circular route to all the stops, namely Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and Wan Chai.

Passengers may use Octopus or tokens (Jeton) to pay for the ride. Tokens are available in the vending machines at the piers. Direct payment by coins at turnstile is no longer accepted.

The Tsim Sha Tsui – Central route does not accept cycles, but the Tsim Sha Tsui – Wan Chai route accepts cycles for an extra charge of $14, except during the evening peak hour from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui.[14]

Star Ferry has announced plans to provide sightseeing service between Tsim Sha Tsui and Disneyland Resort Pier, which has been empty since its opening. This route consists of two departures and the round trip fare is $180. Passengers can enjoy views of Tsing Ma Bridge during the 45-minute journey on the luxury ferry World Star.

Former

  • Central to Hung Hom for $6.30, terminated effective 1 April 2011.[15]
  • Wan Chai to Hung Hom for $6.30, terminated effective 1 April 2011.[15]

Charter and hire

The Star Ferry "Golden Star' is available for daily charter, for up to 300 people, having been refurbished for cruises and functions, with tables, larger sightseeing windows, an air-conditioned area, and a public address and music system.

Fleet

There are currently 9 diesel-electric ferries in the fleet,[16] together with a tug.[17]

Over the years, the fleet has included:

Star Ferry Fleet
Name IMO Reg Year
Built		 Builder  Seats   Notes  Image
(green and white livery)		 Image
(other colors)
Morning Star
(曉星號)		 1871 English-built steamboat app 100 The first "Star" Ferry,[17] served from 1871 to 1898 The first Morning Star
Evening Star
(夜星號)		 1888 English-built steamboat 100 The second "Star" Ferry,[17] served from 1888 to 1902
Rising Star
(高星號)		 1890 100 Served from 1890 to 1902
Guiding Star
(導星號)		 1896 100 Served from 1896 to 1904
Morning Star
(曉星號)		 Served from 1898 to 1903 The first Morning Star
Northern Star
(北星號)		 1900 Served from 1900 to 1959
Southern Star c. 1900
Polar Star
(極星號)		 1901 Served from 1901 to 1927
Morning Star
(曉星號)		 Served from 1904 to 1928 The first Morning Star
Electric Star
(電星號)		 1933 Served from 1933 to 1968, sunk in 1943 (and later recovered) and converted to diesel boat in 1948
Golden Star
(金星號)		 1928 Served from 1928 to 1968, sunk in 1943 (and later recovered) and converted to diesel boat in 1953. Available for daily charter
Celestial Star
(天星號)		 8951360 A2071 1956–2011 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 576 Currently the oldest vessel in service Celestial Star
Radiant Star
(耀星號)		 1956–1971[18] Likely Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Featured in the film The World of Suzie Wong
Meridian Star
(午星號)		 5232725 A2671 1958 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 484 Modified in 2012 as back-up vessel for Star Ferry Harbour Tour; subsequently re-modified to ordinary ferry standard in 2013 Meridian Star
Solar Star
(日星號)		 5333335 A2681 1958 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 547 Solar Star
Northern Star
(北星號)		 8951372 A2971 1959 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 547 Northern Star
Night Star
(夜星號)		 8891091 A3136 1963 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 576 Named for original Kowloon Ferry Company's Night Star Night Star Night Star
Day Star
(晨星號)		 8891120 A4041 1964 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 576 Day Star Day Star
Shining Star
(輝星號)		 8891118 A3841 1964 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 576 Now used for the Star Ferry Harbour Tour (top sections were opened up); reproduction of 3rd generation ferries c. 1920s Shining Star
Twinkling Star
(熒星號)		 8891132 A2961 1964 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 576 Twinkling Star Twinkling Star
Morning Star
(曉星號)		 8891144 A2801 1965 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 399 Named for original Kowloon Ferry Company's Morning Star; Retrofitted with Caterpillar diesel-electric propulsion system in 2020 Morning Star Morning Star
Silver Star
(銀星號)		 8891156 A4241 1965 Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock 399 Retrofitted with Caterpillar diesel-electric propulsion system in 2021 Silver Star
Golden Star
(金星號)		 8951384 A5153 1989–2011 Wang Tak Engineering & Shipbuilding Ltd 762 Sold to private owner in 2011 Golden Star
World Star
(世星號)		 8890968 A5243 1989–2011 Wang Tak Engineering & Shipbuilding Ltd 762 World Star
Glowing Star
(耀星號)		 Hong Kong Shipyard 288 ex-British Army vessel rented by Star Ferry between 2001 and 2005
Kowloon Tugboat
Pacific Princess 8624527 1971 Bought from Australia as Temeraire II, and in fleet from 1988 to 1994 as Lady Star (后星號); subsequently modified to corporate yacht of Kowloon Wharf Group Pacific Princess (ex Lady Star)

Piers

The Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier for Star Ferry
The façade of the fourth-generation Star Ferry Pier in Central, Hong Kong

Financial problems

Since the Central Star Ferry Pier was moved from its old pier next to City Hall to the new location outside International Finance Centre, passenger numbers have fallen drastically to mainly tourists and a small number of commuters. This has meant the Star Ferry company has lost many millions of dollars since the relocation. Therefore, it decided not to re-tender for the loss-making Hung Hom-Central and Hung Hom-Wan Chai routes and stopped operating these routes and the relevant piers at Hung Hom Ferry Pier on 31 March 2011.[15][20]

Filmography

The Star Ferry appears in the 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong. In the beginning of the film, Robert Lomax (played by William Holden) disembarks from the SS President Wilson (an old American President Lines transpacific passenger vessel) and takes the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, and on the ferry meets Suzie Wong (played by Nancy Kwan), who scorns his attentions.

Several brief scenes in the 1988 TV miniseries Noble House are set aboard the ferry. It also appears in the French films Les Anges gardiens (1995) and The Moustache (2005).

See also

References

  1. ↑ DeWolf, Christopher "9 Hong Kong tourist traps – for better or worse" CNN Go. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2012
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Eric Cavaliero, Star of the harbour Archived 22 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 6 February 1997
  3. 1 2 3 4 EIA: A survey report of Historical Buildings and Structures within the Project Area of the Central Reclamation Phase III, Chan Sui San Peter for the HK Government, February 2001
  4. ↑ Chen, Piera (13 August 2010). "24 Hours in Hong Kong". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Star Ferry Wharf". The China Mail. 2 April 1906. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Richard Frost, History floats aboard Star ferries Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 1 May 1998
  7. ↑ Wiltshire, Trea. [First published 1987] (republished & reduced 2003). Old Hong Kong – Volume One. Central, Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd. Page 71. ISBN Volume One 962-7283-59-2
  8. ↑ Steven Ribet and Amy Tse, Making the connection Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 1 September 1999
  9. ↑ "天星小輪公司慌蝕本不願開中環紅磡航綫". The Kung Sheung Evening News. 22 August 1964. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  10. ↑ "天星小輪公司打通算盤之後 決定開辦紅磡綫 預料明年三月間可正式開航". The Kung Sheung Evening News. 1 December 1964. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  11. ↑ SATW Society of American Travel Writers: SATW's Top Ten Ferry Rides Archived 28 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "The Star Ferry Company Limited: The "Star" Ferry Ranks First in the World's "Top 10 Most Exciting Ferry Rides"".
  13. ↑ Mok, Danny; Kang-chung, Ng. "Star Ferry granted rights to continue operations for next 15 years". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  14. 1 2 https://www.starferry.com.hk/en/service
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Final sailings or the End of the Star Ferry Services from Hung Hom – NextStopHongKong Travel Guide". 31 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "Company profile" Star Ferry Co. Retrieved 2012-0-3-04
  17. 1 2 3 "History". The "Star" Ferry Co. Ltd. 2001. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ↑ "c.1955 Star Ferry – Gwulo: Old Hong Kong". gwulo.com.
  19. 1 2 "Goodbye, Wan Chai (East) Star Ferry Pier". www.nextstophongkong.com. 12 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "Cancellation of Ferry Services between Hunghom and Central/Wanchai" Archived 3 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine Star Ferry Co. 15 March 2011. Retrieved 30 March 2011

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