The city’s first electic ferry service will run between North Point and either Hung Hom or Kowloon City and offer 52 single trips daily without recharging
Sun Ferry’s Xin Ming Zhu XXXIX, Hong Kong’s first ever passenger ferry powered by electricity, on Cheung Sha Wan waters. Photo: Eugene LeeBefore you read: Hong Kong has launched its first electric ferry as part of a government initiative to promote greener transportation in the city. This new vessel offers benefits such as a quieter ride, no diesel fumes, and increased passenger capacity compared to existing ferries.
Think about it: How might the introduction of electric ferries change your experience of crossing Victoria Harbour? What other sustainable steps could Hong Kong take to help the environment?
Hong Kong’s first electric ferry is expected to run three days a week between North Point and Hung Hom or Kowloon City and can offer 52 single trips daily without recharging at full operation, environmental authorities have said.
Principal environmental protection officer Benny So King-lung said on Wednesday that the HK$65 million (US$8.4 million) vessel, named Xin Ming Zhu XXXIX and operated by Sun Ferry Services Company, had carried passengers in trial runs.
He added that services would be increased gradually following the successful completion of the test runs on Monday and March 31, which involved four single trips each day.
“Passengers gave positive feedback … The journey is quiet and has no diesel smell,” So said. “The ferry is made of carbon fibre, which is lighter than a steel ferry by 70 per cent. The lighter weight can save the power needed and is more environmentally friendly.”
He added that the electric vessel would carry passengers during non-rush hours and soon step up its service to three days a week. So did not indicate when it would go into full operation.
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Equipped with 360 sets of batteries, the ferry could run 52 single trips daily at full operation and would only need to charge overnight for eight to 10 hours at North Point, he said.
With an exterior design featuring the outline of a dolphin, the ferry has two cockpits that allow captains to pilot the vessel flexibly from both sides. Solar panels installed on deck help to provide electricity for the interior lighting.
The 35-metre-long (115 foot) ferry can accommodate up to 400 passengers, around 25 per cent more than the company’s existing vessels.
It is also equipped with toilets and mobile charging facilities, as well as luggage and bicycle racks.
The craft is the first under a government pilot scheme for electric ferries that launched in 2021, with HK$350 million earmarked to fully subsidise the construction of four vessels and their charging facilities, as well as covering operational, maintenance and repair expenditures for two years.
According to environmental authorities, a second electric ferry, operated by Fortune Ferry Company, will soon be available. Trial runs are planned in the second quarter of this year for captains and pilots to familiarise themselves with its operation.
The second ferry will operate between East Tsim Sha Tsui, West Kowloon, Wan Chai and Central.
A third electric ferry, operated by Coral Sea Ferry Service Company, will take passengers between Sai Wan Ho and Kwun Tong. It is currently still under construction and is expected to be ready in the first half of 2026 for test runs.
The Star Ferry Company is in charge of a fourth electric vessel set to operate between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. The firm plans to launch a tender to secure a manufacturer.