View source for Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal

{{short description|Ferry terminal and heliport in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{for|the ferry terminal in Sé District, Macau|Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal}}
{{Chinese
|title = Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal
|pic = Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier.jpg
|caption = Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in March 2008
|t = 港澳客輪碼頭
|s = 港澳客轮码头
|j = Gong2 ou3 haak3 leon4 maa5 tau4
|y = Góng ou haak lèuhn máh tàuh
|p = Gǎng Ào Kèlún Mǎtóu
|l = Hong Kong-[[Macau]] passenger ship pier
}}

The '''Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal''' 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 [[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO code]] of '''VHST'''.<ref name="ICAO">{{cite web | url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/hhp/departures | title=Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map }}</ref>

The terminal is one of the several in Hong Kong that provide ferry services to [[Macau]] and cities in [[northern and southern China|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 [[MTR|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 [[Western Market]].

In 1971, the Fat Shan sunk as the result of [[Typhoon Rose (1971)|Typhoon Rose]] while on its way to Macau. 92 out of 96 aboard died, with most of them being crew members. It was carrying no passengers.<ref name="rose">{{cite report|url=http://www.hko.gov.hk/informtc/no10/rose/rose.htm|title=Typhoon Rose August 10 – 17, 1971|date=18 December 2012|publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]]|access-date=16 July 2014|location=Hong Kong}}</ref>

The ferry terminal, including ferry routes, was temporarily suspended from 4 February 2020<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 February 2020 |title=港澳海上客運明晨暫停 港人急買船票返港 |newspaper=[[Oriental Daily News]] |url=https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/20200203/bkn-20200203185648018-0203_00822_001.html |access-date=5 June 2021}}</ref> until 8 January 2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-08 |title=HK-Macau ferries resume after three-year break - RTHK |url=https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1683009-20230108.htm? |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=RTHK |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chan |first=Pierce |date=2023-01-05 |title=Ferry operators ready to resume Hong Kong-Macau services immediately as hopes rise of a Sunday start |url=https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2023/01/05/ferry-operators-ready-to-resume-hong-kong-macau-services-immediately-as-hopes-rise-of-a-sunday-start/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=IAG |language=en-US}}</ref> due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

== Ferry facilities ==
[[File:Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal Concourse.jpg|thumb|Ferry Terminal Concourse in December 2007]]
[[File:Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal Ticket Office 2015.jpg|thumb|Ticket Office in October 2015]]
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.<ref name=hkvtcb>{{cite web |title=Vessel Traffic Centre |date=January 2007 |url=http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/pdf/vts_vtc_brochure.pdf |publisher=Marine Department – Hong Kong Special administrative Region |access-date=18 December 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206025007/http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/pub_services/ocean/pdf/vts_vtc_brochure.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2010 }}</ref>

The terminal is the main point of departure for ferries to Macau, although services also operate from the [[Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal|Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal]] in [[Tsim Sha Tsui]] and from [[Hong Kong International Airport]] (for transiting passengers only).<ref name=govhkfs>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/transport/crossboundary/ferryservices.htm |title=Ferry Services to Macau and the Mainland Ports |publisher=Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative region | access-date = 17 December 2009 }}</ref>

Ferry services are provided to Macau by two companies, both of which use a variety of designs of fast ferries, including [[catamaran]]s and [[Boeing 929|Boeing Jetfoils]]. [[TurboJET]] provides services to the [[Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Macau|Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal]] in central Macau. [[Cotai Water Jet]] operates to the [[Taipa Ferry Terminal]] on the [[Taipa]] island, 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.<ref name=govhkfs/><ref name=turbojet>{{cite web|title=Sailing Schedule & Fare |url=http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html |publisher=Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited |access-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217081409/http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html |archive-date=17 December 2009 }}</ref><ref name=cotaijet>{{cite web |title=Cotai Jet |url= http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx |publisher=Cotai Strip Cotai Jet |access-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212172159/http://cotaijet.com.mo/en/destinations/index.aspx |archive-date=12 December 2009 }}</ref>

Several companies also provide limited service to ports within China's [[Guangdong]], with destinations served including [[Shekou Industrial Zone|Shekou]] and [[Nansha, Guangzhou|Nansha]]. Other services to Guangdong destinations operate from the Hong Kong-China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong International Airport (for transiting passengers only).<ref name=govhkfs/>

=== Accident on 29 November 2013 ===
On 29 November 2013, a TurboJET double-decker ferry with 105 passengers crashed with an unknown object.<ref>[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/hong-kong-ferry-accident/904016.html Hong Kong ferry accident leaves 85 injured – Channel NewsAsia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202030651/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/hong-kong-ferry-accident/904016.html |date=2 December 2013 }} from 29. November 2013</ref> 85 people were injured in the crash. The ferry crashed on Friday morning at 1:15 AM, on the way to Macau.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/people-injured-in-hong-kong-highspeed-ferry-accident/story-e6frg6so-1226771281916 85 people injured in Hong Kong high-speed ferry accident] from 29. November 2013</ref>

==Heliport==
{{Infobox airport
| name = Shun Tak Heliport
| nativename = 
| nativename-a = 
| nativename-r = 
| image = HK Sheung Wan Shun Tak Centre HK-Macau Ferry Terminal Heliport.JPG
| image-width = 260 px
| caption = Shun Tak Heliport in January 2008
| IATA = HHP
| ICAO = VHST<ref name="ICAO" />
| type = Public
| owner = 
| operator = 
| city-served = 
| location = [[Sheung Wan]], [[Hong Kong Island]], Hong Kong
| elevation-f = 107
| elevation-m = 33
| coordinates = {{Coord|22|17|21.74|N|114|9|7.75|E|type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| website = 
| metric-elev = 
| metric-rwy = 
| stat-year = 
| stat1-header = 
| stat1-data = 
| stat2-header = 
| stat2-data = 
| footnotes = 
}}

The heliport is formally known as the '''Shun Tak Heliport''' {{airport codes|HHP|VHST}}.<ref name="ICAO" /> It is located above the inner pier of the ferry terminal, at an elevation of {{convert|107|ft}} above sea level, and provides two [[Helipad|helipads]] and a customer lounge. There is no refuelling service available. Use of the heliport is restricted to multi-engine helicopters with a maximum overall length, including [[rotor disk]], of {{convert|16|m}} and a maximum all up weight not exceeding {{convert|5350|kg}}.<ref name=hkatcvhst>{{cite web |title=VHST – Shun Tak Heliport |url=http://www.hkatc.gov.hk/HK_AIP/AIP/AD/HK_AD3-VHST-1%20to%208.pdf |publisher=Civil Aviation Department – Hong Kong |date=5 June 2008 |access-date=17 December 2009 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030614/http://www.hkatc.gov.hk/HK_AIP/AIP/AD/HK_AD3-VHST-1%20to%208.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=sscfp>{{cite web |title=The completion of the Final phase of the Hong Kong Heliport Expansion Project at the HK-Macau Ferry Terminal |url= http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/?structure=007&content=20&articleid=159 |publisher=Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited |date=2 October 2009 |access-date=17 December 2009 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=sscfp />

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 09:00 and 23:00, with flights departing every 30 minutes or more frequently if traffic demands it, using [[AgustaWestland]] [[AgustaWestland AW139|AW139]] helicopters. The journey time is approximately 16 minutes.<ref name=sstt>{{cite web |title=Sky Shuttle Macau Hong Kong |url=http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/?structure=003 |publisher=Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited |access-date=17 December 2009 }}</ref><ref name=sshf>{{cite web |title=Sky Shuttle Helicopter Fleet |url=http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/?structure=001&content=8 |publisher=Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited |access-date=17 December 2009 }}</ref>

Sky Shuttle also provides charter services on the same route, and from the heliport to other locations in neighbouring regions, including Macau International Airport, [[Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport]], and [[Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport]].<ref name=sscs>{{cite web | title = Sky Shuttle Charter Services | url = http://www.skyshuttlehk.com/?structure=002&content=5 | publisher = Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited | access-date = 17 December 2009 }}</ref>

== Destinations ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="width:250pt;"| {{center|'''Destination'''}}
| style="width:150pt;"| {{center|'''Terminal Name'''<br/><small>English (Chinese)</small>}}
|- style = "background:#{{rcr|SZM|shekou}}; height: 2pt"
| colspan = "7" |
|-
|[[Shenzhen]]
|[[Shekou Cruise Center]] (蛇口客运码头)
|-
|[[Macau]]
|[[Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal]] (外港客運碼頭)
|-
|[[Macau]]
|[[Taipa Ferry Terminal]] (氹仔客運碼頭)
|-
|[[Zhuhai]]
|[[Jiuzhou Port (Zhuhai)|Zhuhai Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal]] (珠海港)
|}

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

== Ground transport ==
Apart from being a ferry terminal and heliport, it is also a public transport hub to various parts of Hong Kong. Adjacent to the terminal is the [[Sheung Wan station|Sheung Wan MTR station]], several [[bus terminus|bus termini]] are nearby the ferry terminal together with a minibus and taxi pick-up area at Shun Tak Centre. The [[Hong Kong Tramways|Hong Kong Tramway]] has tram stops in either direction across the street.

Buses terminate at Hong Kong-Macau Ferry, Rumsey Street, Man Kat Street and Sheung Wan, nearby Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal:
*Buses go to parts of [[Hong Kong Island]] such as [[Aldrich Bay]], [[Island Resort]] and South Horizons

*Buses go to parts of [[Kowloon]] and [[New Territories]] such as [[City One|City One Shatin]], [[Ho Man Tin]], [[Ping Shek Estate]], [[Choi Fook Estate]], [[Kowloon City Ferry Pier|Kowloon City Ferry]]

*Buses also go to and from: [[Yu Chui Court]], [[Cross-Harbour Tunnel]] Toll Plaza, [[Tsz Wan Shan]], [[Wan Tau Tong Estate]], [[Luen Wo Hui]], [[Po Tat Estate]], [[Shun Lee]], [[Kai Ching Estate]], [[Ma On Shan (town)|Ma On Shan]], [[Hong Kong International Airport]], [[Ngau Tau Kok]], [[Yuen Long]], [[Tiu Keng Leng]].

== See also ==
* [[Transport in Hong Kong]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Pier, Hong Kong|Hong Kong – Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong}}
* [http://www.macaocenter.com/macau-ferry/ Macau Ferry Information]
* [https://www.cotaiwaterjet.com/ Cotai Water Jet Website]
* [https://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/ TurboJET Website]
{{Central and Western District}}
{{Piers in Hong Kong}}
{{Eastern Guangdong & Hong Kong transit}}
{{Immigration Control Stations in Hong Kong}}
{{China–Hong Kong border crossings}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal}}
[[Category:Sheung Wan]]
[[Category:Heliports in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Piers in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Ferry terminals in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Bus stations in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Hong Kong–Macau relations]]