Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal

Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal
Traditional Chinese	港澳碼頭
Literal meaning	Hong Kong-Macau pier
Transcriptions Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping gong2 ou3 maa5 tau4

The Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal (Chinese: 港澳碼頭) is a ferry terminal and heliport, centrally located in Hong Kong. It is also known as the Macau Ferry Terminal, the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier or the Shun Tak Heliport, and has an ICAO code of VHST.

The terminal is one of the several in Hong Kong that provide ferry services to Macau and cities in southern China. Scheduled helicopter service is provided to Macau, with charter services to other regional destinations.

The terminal is located in Sheung Wan, immediately to the west of Hong Kong's main business district, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island. It is connected to the territory's Mass Transit Railway, and well served by other forms of public transport. The terminal forms part of the Shun Tak Centre, a commercial and transport complex.

History

Scheduled ferries have run between Hong Kong and Macau since the earliest days of the Hong Kong colony. Ferries to Macau departed from the old Macau Ferry Piers at this location from at least the mid-20th century, although in the 1960s the steamships - Tak Sing, Dai Loy, Fat Shan and the (more luxurious) Macao - would take around four hours for the trip. Also part of the present site was the famous Sheung Wan night market.

Ferry facilities

TurboJET ferry at the terminal

Cotai Jet ferry departing

The terminal utilises two island piers, each with several ferry docks, linked by enclosed pedestrian bridges to the ticketing and departure/arrival hall facilities in the lower levels of the Shun Tak Centre on the shore. The heliport is located above the inner pier, whilst the Hong Kong Vessel Traffic Centre, which monitors and regulates vessels navigating in the waters of Hong Kong, is located above the outer pier.

The terminal is the main point of departure for ferries to Macau, although services also operate from the Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and from Hong Kong International Airport (for transiting passengers only).

Ferry services are provided to Macau by two companies, both of which use a variety of designs of fast ferries, including catamarans and Boeing Jetfoils. TurboJET provides service to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, in central Macau. Cotai Jet operate to the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal on the island of Taipa, which enables easy access to The Venetian Macao casino and Macau International Airport. Both operators run services every 30 minutes, or more frequently, during the day, with TurboJET providing a limited overnight service. The journey time is approximately one hour.

Several companies also provide limited service to ports within China's Guangdong province, with destinations served including Shekou and Nansha. Other services to Guangdong destinations operate from the Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Tuen Mun Ferry Pier in Tuen Mun and Hong Kong International Airport (for transiting passengers only).

Heliport

Shun Tak Heliport
IATA: HHP – ICAO: VHST
Summary
Airport type		Public
Location		Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
Elevation AMSL		107 ft / 33 m
Coordinates		22°17′21.74″N 114°9′7.75″E

The heliport is formally known as the Shun Tak Heliport (IATA: HHP, ICAO: VHST). It is located above the inner pier of the ferry terminal, at an elevation of 107 feet (33 m) above sea level, and provides two helipads and a customer lounge. Use of the heliport is restricted to multi-engined helicopters, with a maximum overall length, including rotor disk, of 16 metres (52 ft) and a maximum all up weight not exceeding 5,350 kilograms (11,800 lb).

The original heliport at the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal was built in 1990, and provided a single helipad situated over the western end of the inner pier. The Hong Kong Heliport Expansion Project commenced in April 2008, when a new helipad was built over the eastern end of the same pier linked to a new passenger lounge. Once this was operational, the original helipad was replaced and two helipads linked, with project completion in October 2009.

Macau based Sky Shuttle Helicopters use the heliport to provide a scheduled service to a corresponding heliport above the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal in Macau. Services operate between 0900 and 2300, with flights departing every 30 minutes or more frequently if traffic demands it, using AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters. The journey time is approximately 16 minutes.

Sky Shuttle also provide charter services on the same route, and from the heliport to other locations in neighbouring region, including Macau International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Improvement fee

Each ferry passenger is charged for 19 HKD regardless of their age. Each helicopter passenger aged 12 or above is charged for 120 HKD for improvement fee and 30 MOP for aviation service fee. Starting from April 1, 1999, the improvement fee for airport transiting passengers who arrive or depart on the same day is waived.

Ground transport

Apart from ferry and helicopter, the ferry terminal is a public transport hub to various parts of Hong Kong. Adjacent to the terminal is the Sheung Wan MTR station. A bus terminus is next to the Shun Tak Centre, together with a minibus and taxi pick up area. The Hong Kong Tramway has tram stops in either direction across the Street.

The following buses terminate at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier:

• To other parts of Hong Kong Island
  • 2, 720 to Aldrich Bay, Shau Kei Wan
  • 788, N8X to Island Resort, Siu Sai Wan
  • N90 to South Horizons, Ap Lei Chau
• To Kowloon and New Territories
  • 109 to Ho Man Tin
  • 111 to Ping Shek
  • 115 to Kowloon City Ferry
  • 115P from Laguna Verde (morning single-way service)
  • 182 to Yu Chui Court, Sha Tin
  • 619, N619 to Shun Lee
  • 641 to Kai Yip (peak time service)
  • 680X Lee On (peak time service)
  • N11 to Hong Kong International Airport via Tung Chung, Cross Harbour Tunnel
  • N121 to Ngau Tau Kok
  • N182 to Kwong Yuen, Sha Tin
  • N368 to Yuen Long West via Cross Harbour Tunnel
  • N680 to Kam Ying Court, Ma On Shan
  • N691 to King Leng Road, Tiu Keng Leng
  • N89R to City One Shatin

The other bus routes that serve the pier include:

• 1, 5B, 18 to and from Kennedy Town
• 3A, 4, 7, 30X, 37B, 43X, 71, 90B, 91, M47 from Southern District
• 26 to Hollywood Road, to and from Lai Tak Tsuen
• 113 to and from Choi Hung
• 905 to and from Lai Chi Kok (former Lai Yuen Amusement Centre)
• 914 to and from West Kowloon reclamation area
• 930 to and from Kwai Chung and Tsuen Wan
• 960, 961, 962, N962 to and from Tuen Mun
• 967, 969, N969 to and from Tin Shui Wai
• 968 to and from Yuen Long
• A11, E11 to Hong Kong International Airport
• E11 to and from Tung Chung

See also

• Transport in Hong Kong

External links

• Macau Ferry Information