What is the History Behind Hong Kong’s Star Ferry – A Time-Honoured and Enthralling Mode of Travel

The famed Star Ferry may be regarded as an iconic feature of Hong Kong, having plied the waters of Victoria Harbour since the 19th century. Presently, as many as 50,000 passengers use this ferry service each day to traverse the waters of the harbour. Many locals use it to commute daily, thereby avoiding rush hour congestion and traffic, whilst foreign tourists often enjoy the experience and photograph the scenic waterfront. The Star Ferry inherits an interesting history which is described below.

img via flickr

Early years 

Prior to the creation of this ferry service, crossings of the harbour were made on individual sampans or traditional Chinese rowing boats. The history of the Star Ferry commenced in 1888 at which time, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, a Parsee trader, established the Kowloon Ferry Company. This company which eventually developed to feature a four-vessel fleet, was later purchased in 1898 by a businessman from Britain and became the Star Ferry Company. The four vessels’ names – the Evening Star, Morning Star, Guiding Star and Rising Star – drew inspiration from the Alfred Lord Tennyson poem ‘Crossing the Bar’. These four boats boasted a capacity of as many as 100 passengers in total. 

Later events and World War II 

Interestingly, the Star Ferry Company incited some controversy in 1912 when it refused to accept Canton coinage; this form of currency was legally valid at the time. Another noteworthy development was the launch of a passenger ferry using diesel-electric power in 1933. During World War II, when the Japanese occupied Hong Kong, their forces seized two of the ferries to convey prisoners of war. Both of these vessels capsized following combat with the American military in 1943. However, these boats were eventually recovered following the conclusion of hostilities and repaired. 

Development of the harbour and the company

A significant advancement at Victoria Harbour that was completed in 1957 was the construction of the dual-level piers on each of its sides which can be seen today. These sophisticated features were designed to facilitate as many as 55 million crossings each year. It should be noted that the Star Ferry was the sole available means of crossing the harbour till the inception of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel in 1972. Presently, the Star Ferry Company employs as many as 170 individuals to staff its fleet of nine boats; this includes 130 sailors and engineering personnel as well as 40 coxswains. 

Continued progress

The latest ferries to join the fleet, the World Star and Golden Star, have the capability to transport as many as 762 passengers. Further, land reclamation carried out on each of the harbour’s sides has shortened the trip to no more than seven to eight minutes. However, this ferry journey has been acknowledged even in recent times as one of the distinctive experiences in the world. One of the hotels near Happy Valley Hong Kong to consider for your trip from which you could easily take a ride on the Star Ferry via the Wan Chai Ferry Pier is Dorsett Wanchai Hong Kong. Also worth mentioning is that relatively recently, the government of Hong Kong has renewed the franchise rights of the company so that it could continue operating.

Recent developments 

A recent development at Star Ferry is free-of-charge Wi-Fi in the waiting areas which is an ideal service for passengers including tourists on sightseeing adventures. The company has further announced the revamp of the ferries’ power and exhaust mechanisms so as to achieve better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions leading to a more eco-friendly transport service. Although there are now alternative ways of crossing the harbour, around 26 million passengers use the Star Ferry each year and it is expected to remain in operation in the years to come.