The “Star” Ferry's Water Tour by World Star Steering Beyond Victoria Harbour
(Hong Kong, 15th November, 2016) The “Star” Ferry today announces the launch of a brand new distinctive service, World Star Water Tour, for tourists and locals to explore the beauty and adventure of Hong Kong’s waters on its newly transformed water ferry.
Officiating the inaugural voyage ceremony were Miss Cathy Chu, JP, Commissioner for Tourism, Tourism Commission, HKSAR; Mr Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board; Directors of The “Star” Ferry Company including The Hon Frankie Yick, JP, and Dr the Hon Allan Zeman, GBM, GBS, JP.
“The “Star” Ferry’s popular Harbour Tour is one of the best sight-seeing boat trips in the world, it gives our visitors an immediate experience of the colour and vibrancy of Hong Kong as an international metropolitan city,” said Miss Cathy Chu, Commissioner for Tourism, “I am delighted to see the maiden sailing of the World Star Ferry today, it is a new service making use of the latest generation smoke-free and environmentally friendly ferry. I am sure it will become another appealing tourism attraction for our guests and give them a unique harbour tour experience. And that it will soon become another recognisable symbol of our city.” She added.
Frankie Yick, Director of The “Star” Ferry said, “The “Star” Ferry’s distinctive tourist service is no longer restricted to plying within Victoria Harbour. World Star will ply beyond Victoria Harbour and bring tourists and locals to different destinations in Hong Kong’s waters via an unprecedented route.”
The World Star was originally the ferry boat running the Wanchai-Hunghom route. Co-funded by the Pilot Green Transport Fund of the Environmental Protection Department, it has been given a new life and become Hong Kong’s first diesel-electric powered ferry. World Star is now an eco-ferry after the successful transformation, bringing about substantial reduction in emission but higher propulsion efficiency.
The transformation reduces substantial smoke values and 95% sulphur dioxide, and its diesel power generators meet the requirements of US EPA Tier 3 standards of which their NOx emission are 112% lower than the tier 2 models.
The “Star” Ferry has long been acclaimed as one of the icons of Hong Kong. It has received numerous awards and recognitions from authorities and international media for its unique style and experience - TripAdvisor, has awarded a certificate of excellence to Star Ferry for two consecutive years, National Geographic listed it as one of the “50 places of a lifetime” and it was named among the “31 Reasons We Should All be Living in Hong Kong”.
Mr Yick added, “Harbour Tour was first launched in July 2003, since then, it has become a popular, must-do sight-seeing option for tourists all over the world with a daily patronage of about 350 since its launch. With this proven track record, we are confident that we will be able to bring another brand new, refreshing and memorable water tour experience to tourists.”