Three new eco-friendly ferries equipped with breastfeeding facilities are soon to be introduced between Central and the outlying islands, according to Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Lam Sai-hung. These modern vessels, assigned to Sun Ferry and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, are scheduled to commence operation next month, serving routes to Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, and Peng Chau.
With an allocated budget of over HK$5.7 billion, the government aims to support the replacement of 47 ferries, promoting sustainability within the industry. The subsidy will be implemented in two stages, and the introduction of these three vessels marks the onset of the first stage, with 22 ships being replaced.
Sun Ferry and Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry have been dedicated to operating six main island routes. In 2023, the total passenger volume for the island routes operated by both ferry companies reached a high of 16.4 million, with an average daily passenger count of nearly 45,000 people traveling between Hong Kong and the outlying islands.
The new ferries have been designed to enhance the overall passenger experience. They feature pet-friendly seats, breastfeeding seats with curtains for privacy, accessible toilets, luggage placing areas, and phone charging facilities for select seats. The two high-speed vessels operated by Sun Ferry, named Xin Ming Zhu II and Xin Ming Zhu VIII, are constructed using eco-friendly materials such as lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum alloys. These vessels meet level three, the highest emission standards set by the International Maritime Organization, effectively minimizing nitrogen oxide emissions.
A notable development is the introduction of pet-friendly seats, which were previously limited to conventional ferries. Sun Ferry's two vessels offer a total of 12 dedicated seats for passengers with pets. The ships also provide ample space in the middle of the cabin for large pieces of luggage. Additionally, the rest areas in the front sections of the ships are well-equipped with shower rooms, small kitchens, sofas, and six beds to cater to the needs of the crew.
The third ship, HKK 1, owned by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, has increased its seating capacity from 400 to 450 seats. Similar to the Sun Ferry vessels, it is constructed using lightweight carbon fiber. It features dedicated seats for passengers with pets, along with additional exhaust vents to prevent animal odors from affecting other passengers. The ship also includes luggage racks and wheelchair seats.
Secretary Lam emphasized that these new facilities have been designed with a people-centric approach, aiming to cater to the diverse needs of individuals as much as possible. The two ferry operators expect around half of the replacement ships to arrive before the end of the year. The adoption of more eco-friendly vessels is a growing trend, and through this program, the government hopes to subsidize outlying island ferry companies in purchasing new ships, enhancing the passenger experience, while promoting environmental conservation.
新型環保渡輪提升乘客體驗
根據運輸及物流局局長林世雄的消息，將很快引入三艘配備哺乳設施的新型環保渡輪在中環和離島之間航行。這些現代化的渡輪將由新太陽船隻公司和香港九龍船隻公司營運，預計下個月開始服務中環至長洲、梅窩和坪洲的路線。
政府為支持更換47艘渡輪，提倡行業的可持續發展，預算超過57億港元。資助將分兩個階段進行，引入這三艘渡輪標誌著第一階段的開始，有22艘船隻將被更換。
新太陽船隻公司和香港九龍船隻公司一直致力於經營六條主要的島嶼航線。2023年，這兩家渡輪公司經營的島嶼航線的總客運量達到了1640萬人次，平均每天乘客數量接近4.5萬人次，往返於香港和離島之間。
新的渡輪設計旨在提升乘客整體體驗。它們配備了寵物友好座位、帶隱私窗簾的哺乳座位、無障礙廁所、行李放置區和部分座位的手機充電設施。新太陽船隻公司經營的兩艘高速渡輪名為新明珠II和新明珠VIII，採用輕質碳纖維和鋁合金等環保材料製造。這些渡輪符合國際海事組織設定的最高三級排放標準，有效減少氮氧化物排放。
值得注意的是，新增寵物友好座位，這在傳統渡輪上是有限制的。新太陽船隻公司的兩艘渡輪提供了總共12個專為攜帶寵物的座位。船上還提供了足夠的空間供乘客放置大件行李。此外，船頭區的休息區配備了淋浴間、小廚房、沙發和六張床，滿足船員的需求。
香港九龍船隻公司擁有的第三艘船HK1的座位容量從400增加到450個座位。與新太陽船隻一樣，它採用輕質碳纖維製造。該船設有專為攜帶寵物的座位，並增加了額外的排氣口，以防止動物氣味影響其他乘客。船上還配備了行李架和輪椅座位。
林局長強調，這些新設施的設計以人為本，旨在盡可能滿足不同人群的需求。兩家渡輪營運商預計在今年年底前將有一半的更換船隻到位。採用更多環保渡輪的趨勢正在增長，通過這個計劃，政府希望通過資助離島渡輪公司購買新船，提升乘客體驗的同時，推動環境保護。
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