TurboJET

This article is about the Hong Kong-based ferry company. For the type of jet engine, see Turbojet.

TurboJET
噴射飛航
IATA ICAO Call sign
8S — —
Founded1962
Commenced operations1962
HubsHong Kong International Airport (Skypier)
Fleet size30
Destinations3 (routes to/from Hong Kong International Airport only)
Parent company
HeadquartersHong Kong
Websitewww.turbojet.com.hk
TurboJET's Universal MK 2004 TriCat
Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited
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
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXìndé zhōnglǚ chuánwù guǎnlǐ yǒuxiàn gōngsī
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSeundāk jūngléuih syùnmouh gúnléih yáuhhaahn gūngsī
JyutpingSeon3dak1 zung1leoi5 syun4mou6 gun2lei5 jau5haan6 gung1si1
IPA[sɵ̄n tɐ́k̚ tsóŋ lɵ̬y sy̏ːn mòu kǔːn le̬i jɐ̬u hàːn kóŋ síː]
Portuguese name
PortugueseShun Tak China Travel – Companhia de Gestão de Embarcações, Limitada: "TurboJET"
English name
EnglishShun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited: "TurboJET"
TurboJET
Traditional Chinese噴射飛航
Simplified Chinese喷射飞航
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinPēnshè Fēiháng
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationPanseh fēihòng
Jyutpingpan3 se6 fei1 hong4

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.

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.

History

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 with the anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Fleet

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

Active TurboJET Fleet
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 Terceira
Horta (海皇星, 929-115-016) 7923251 Jetfoil 1980 243 Boeing Company 3rd Premier Jetfoil in service since July 2012 Horta
Lilau (帝皇星, 929-115-014) 8332332 Jetfoil 1979 243 Boeing Company Formerly served the Royal Navy as HMS Speedy (P296) Lilau
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 Cacilhas
São Jorge (銀星, 929-100-006) 7933165 Jetfoil 1976 243 Boeing Company Premier Jetfoil since late 2014 São Jorge
Santa Maria (金星, 929-100-005) 7523910 Jetfoil 1975 243 Boeing Company Santa Maria
Urzela (鐵星, 929-100-007) 7932898 Jetfoil 1976 243 Boeing Company Urzela
Penha (祥星) 9101778 FoilCat 1995 419 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard Upgraded to Premier Status Penha
Barca (日星) 9101780 FoilCat 1995 419 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard Upgraded to Premier Status Barca
Universal MK I (宇航壹號) 9060376 Flying Cat 1992 303 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard Universal MK I
Universal MK III (宇航叄號) 9060390 Flying Cat 1993 303 Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard Universal MK III
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 V
Universal MK 2001 (宇航2001) 9087556 TriCat 1994 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2001
Universal MK 2002 (宇航2002) 9087568 TriCat 1995 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2002
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 2003
Universal MK 2004 (宇航2004) 9087582 TriCat 1995 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2004
Universal MK 2005 (宇航2005) 9087594 TriCat 1996 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2005
Universal MK 2006 (宇航2006) 9139206 TriCat 1996 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2006
Universal MK 2007 (宇航2007) 9139218 TriCat 1996 333 FBM Marine Limited Universal MK 2007
Universal MK 2008 (宇航2008) 9139220 TriCat 1997 333 FBM–Aboitiz Shipyard, Philippines Universal MK 2008
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 2009
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 2011
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 2012
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 2013
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 2014
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 2015
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 2016
Universal MK 2017 (宇航2017) 9323211 Austal 48m 2004 418 Austal Shipyard Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as New Ferry LXXXVI Universal MK 2017
Inactive or former TurboJET Fleet
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 Guia
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 Pico
Madeira (木星, 929-100-002) 7523881 Jetfoil 1975 243 Boeing Company Crashed in November 2013 injuring 87 and has since been retired[4] Madeira
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) Universal MK 2010

References

  1. ^ "TurboJET". Shun Tak. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Shun Tak–China Travel Shipping Investments Limited Acquiring First Ferry (Macau)" (PDF). 11 August 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
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