TurboJET
Encyclopedia
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
for the operations of the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
-headquartered Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited (信德中旅船務管理有限公司), which was established from the joint venture between Shun Tak Holdings Limited (信德集團有限公司) and China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Limited (香港中旅國際投資有限公司) in July 1999. It operates hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
services in southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Shun Tak and China Travel had their own separate ferry business brands before merging together as TurboJET, on 1 July, 1999. They were Far East Jetfoil (遠東噴射船) by Shun Tak, and Turbo Cat (港澳飛航船) by CTS Parkview Company Ltd.
Routes
TurboJET provides services between Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport , being built on the island of Chek Lap Kok by land reclamation, and also to distinguish it from its predecessor, the closed Kai Tak Airport.The airport opened for commercial...
, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, all located around the Pearl River Delta
Pearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
in southern China. The route between Hong Kong and Macau is the busiest and it operates 24 hours a day. It takes approximately one hour to travel the 70-km 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
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
to Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun
Tuen Mun is a town near the mouth of Tuen Mun River and Castle Peak Bay in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It was one of the earliest settlements in Hong Kong which can be dated back to the Neolithic period. In the more recent past, it was home to many Tanka fishermen who gathered at the Castle...
(on weekdays), and Central
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
to Tai O
Tai O
Tai O is a fishing town, partly located on an island of the same name, on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong.-Geography:On the main part of Lantau Island, a river splits to the north and west and at this fork lies the island referred to as Tai O. Two pedestrian bridges cross the river...
(on weekends). After the merger, the routes are now operated under the TurboJET brand.
Fleet
TurboJET is the world's largest operator of Boeing's Jetfoils, and all used to belong to former Far East Jetfoil. Far East Jetfoil also used PS-30 and FoilCat. Whereas former Turbo Cat used FlyingCat 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 lengthLengthIn geometric measurements, length most commonly refers to the longest dimension of an object.In certain contexts, the term "length" is reserved for a certain dimension of an object along which the length is measured. For example it is possible to cut a length of a wire which is shorter than wire...
, 561 tonnes, 423 passengers catamaranCatamaranA catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
hydrofoilHydrofoilA hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
. Propelled by waterjetPump-jetA pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
s powered by twin General ElectricGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
LM500 gas turbineGas turbineA gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
s. Maximum speed at 50 knots. Built by Norwegian specialists Kvaerner Fjellstrand, NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
- FlyingCat : 40m length, 479 tonnes, 303 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTUMTU Aero EnginesMTU Aero Engines GmbH is Germany's leading aircraft engine manufacturer. MTU develops, manufactures and provides service support for military and civil aircraft engines...
16V 396 diesel engines, rated at 2000kW each. Cruising speed at 35 knots. Built by Norwegian specialists Kvaerner Fjellstrand, Norway.
- TriCat : 45m length, 602 tonnes, 328/333 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin CaterpillarCaterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
Solar Taurus gas turbines. Cruising speed at 45 knots, capable of 52 knots when empty. Built by FBM Marine of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for universal MK 2001-2008 only (Note:Universal MK 2009 and 2010 are built by Pequot river of the USA). Besides, universal MK 2001-2005 are installed with 2 shorter chimneys at the back while universal MK 2006-2010 are installed with 2 higher chimneys at the back of the vessels.
- JetFoil: 24.44m length, 267 tonnes, 190/243 passengers monohull hydrofoilHydrofoilA hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin Rolls RoyceRolls-Royce plcRolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
Allison 501KF gas turbines. Maximum speed at 45 knots. Built by BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
.
- 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. (This vessel is currently inactive as of September, 2011)
- Austal 48: 47.5m length, 610 tonnes, 418 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by quadruple MTUMTU Aero EnginesMTU Aero Engines GmbH is Germany's leading aircraft engine manufacturer. MTU develops, manufactures and provides service support for military and civil aircraft engines...
16V 4000 diesel engines, rated at 2320kW each. Cruising speed at 43.5 knots, capable of 49 knots when empty. Built by AustalAustalAustal is an Australian company that specializes in the design and construction of aluminium vessels. Its main products include passenger and freight ferries, luxury yachts and military vessels....
Shipyard of AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Rented vessels
- Wavemaster SuperFast 39m: 39m length, 300 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTUMTU Aero EnginesMTU Aero Engines GmbH is Germany's leading aircraft engine manufacturer. MTU develops, manufactures and provides service support for military and civil aircraft engines...
8V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1580kW each. Maximum speed at 36 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company. - Wavemaster SuperFast 42m: 42m length, 385 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTUMTU Aero EnginesMTU Aero Engines GmbH is Germany's leading aircraft engine manufacturer. MTU develops, manufactures and provides service support for military and civil aircraft engines...
16V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1960kW each. Maximum speed at 48 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company.- But these two vessels were returned at 12/2008.
Vessels information
| Name | Type | Year Built | Seats | Builder | Notes |
| Acores(恆星,929-100-008) | Jetfoil | 1975 | 262 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | Sold to South Korea in 2004 |
| Guia(東星,929-100-009) | Jetfoil | 1976 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Terceira (錫星,929-115-012) | Jetfoil | 1979 | 190 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | 2nd Premier Jetfoil in service since Feb 2010 |
| Horta(海皇星,929-115-016) | Jetfoil | 1980 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Lilau(帝皇星,929-115-014) | Jetfoil | 1979 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Funchal(天皇星,929-115-013) | Jetfoil | 1979 | 190 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | 1st Premier Jetfoil in service since March 2009 |
| Taipa(帝后星,929-115-021) | Jetfoil | 1981 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Cacilhas(幸運星,929-115-018) | Jetfoil | 1981 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| São Jorge(銀星,929-100-006) | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | Currently Inactive (Possibly Retired) |
| Santa Maria(金星,929-100-005) | Jetfoil | 1974 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Corvo(火星,929-100-003) | Jetfoil | 1975 | 242 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | Sold to South Korea in 2006 |
| Pico(土星,929-100-004) | Jetfoil | 1975 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Madeira(木星,929-100-002) | Jetfoil | 1974 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Flores(水星,929-100-001) | Jetfoil | 1974 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | Currently Inactive (Possibly Retired) |
| Urzela(鐵星,929-100-007) | Jetfoil | 1976 | 243 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | |
| Ponta Delgada(銅星,929-100-008) | Jetfoil | 1977 | 242 | Constructed by The Boeing Company | Sold to South Korea in 2004 |
| Balsa(北星) | PS-30 | 1994 | 270 | Constructed by The Shanghai Simno Marine Limited | Currently Inactive |
| Praia(南星) | PS-30 | 1994 | 242 | Constructed by The Shanghai Simno Marine Limited | Sold to South Korea in 2002 |
| Penha(祥星) | Foilcat | 1995 | 419 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | |
| Barca(日星) | Foilcat | 1995 | 419 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | |
| Universal MK I (宇航壹號) | Flying Cat | 1992 | 303 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | |
| Universal MK II (宇航貳號) | Flying Cat | 1993 | 303 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Sold to Indonesia in 2010 |
| Universal MK III (宇航叄號) | Flying Cat | 1993 | 303 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | |
| Universal MK IV (宇航肆號) | Flying Cat | 1994 | 303 | Constructed by Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard | Sold to South Korea in August 2011 |
| Universal MK 2001 (宇航2001) | TriCat | 1994 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2002 (宇航2002) | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2003 (宇航2003) | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2004 (宇航2004) | TriCat | 1995 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2005 (宇航2005) | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2006 (宇航2006) | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | |
| Universal MK 2007 (宇航2007) | TriCat | 1996 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Marine Limited | Currently inactive (Parked at Tsing Yi) |
| Universal MK 2008 (宇航2008) | TriCat | 1997 | 333 | Constructed by FBM Aboitiz Shipyard, Philippines | |
| Universal MK 2009 (宇航2009) | TriCat | 1998 | 328 | Constructed by Pequot River Shipwords, New London, CT, USA | Second Hand (joined in 2005) Painted in MGM Colors |
| Universal MK 2010 (宇航2010) | TriCat | 1999 | 328 | Constructed by Pequot River Shipwords, New London, CT, USA | Second Hand (joined in 2005), Currently inactive (Parked at Tsing Yi) |
| Universal MK 2011 (宇航2011) | Austal 48m | 2008 | 418 | Constructed by Austal Shipyard | (Originally purchased by New World First Ferry New World First Ferry New World First Ferry Services Limited is a ferry service company in Hong Kong. The company was established in November 1999, when it took over the 8 licensed ferry routes transferred from the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry... ) |
| Universal MK 2012 (宇航2012) | Austal 48m | 2008 | 418 | Constructed by Austal Shipyard | (Originally purchased by New World First Ferry New World First Ferry New World First Ferry Services Limited is a ferry service company in Hong Kong. The company was established in November 1999, when it took over the 8 licensed ferry routes transferred from the Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry... ) |