By
Laura Hyde |
Incat Crowther has delivered the first of six new passenger ferries to Hong Kong operator, Sun Ferry. Xin Ming Xhu VIII has begun transporting commuters from the Central Ferry Pier to the town of Mui Wo and the island of Cheung Chau.
The ship, which was built by Guangzhou-based AFAI Southern Shipyard, can accommodate up to 500 passengers, with space for 299 on the main deck and an additional 201 on the upper deck. The main deck has six wheelchair spaces, pushchair storage and two dedicated areas for customers travelling with pets, as well as luggage storage.
“The delivery of this vessel is the culmination of a collaborative design and construction process between our team of naval architects and the teams at Sun Ferry and AFAI Southern Shipyard,” said Sam Mackay, technical manager at Incat Crowther. “Not only has this vessel been delivered on time, but it has exceeded performance expectations and met Sun Ferry’s brief of providing the people of Hong Kong with a world-class, mass transit customer experience.”
The vessel features Incat Crowther’s latest generation hull form
The low-draft vessel features Incat Crowther’s latest generation hull form, which allows Xin Ming Xhu VIII to reach a top speed of 30 knots. The vessel features three passenger boarding locations on both the port and starboard sides of the main deck. A large, elevated wheelhouse on the upper deck provides crew with a 360-degree view. The roof has been installed with 140 solar panels, which provide the vessel with 14 kilowatts of onboard power.
Construction is underway on the second phase of new vessels to be added to the Sun Ferry fleet, with the final vessel expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.