Sun Ferry Services Company Limited, more widely known as Sun Ferry (Chinese: 新渡輪) and formerly New World First Ferry Services Limited (in short New World First Ferry, First Ferry or NWFF), is a ferry service company in Hong Kong. The company was established in November 1999, when it took over the eight licensed ferry routes transferred from Hongkong and Yaumati Ferry in January 2000.[1][2]
Background
When the company commenced its service on 15 January 2000, it bought 14 ferries and rented seven hovercraft and catamarans from its predecessor. Since then it has introduced 10 fast vessels on Outlying Islands routes to phase out the rented vessels and to improve services.
Fast ferry New Ferry II (type Flying Cat) for Outlying Islands Routes and the Macau serviceFast ferry New Ferry LXXXII (type Austal 48m) for the Macau serviceFast ferry New Ferry LXXXIII (type Austal 48m) for the Macau serviceTriple-decker ferry Xin Guang for outlying-islands ferry serviceDouble-decker ferry Xin Jie for outlying-islands ferry serviceFast Ferry First Ferry VIII for outlying-islands ferry service
New World First Ferry was owned by NWS Holdings via NWS Transport Services.[7] In the past, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, parent company of NWS Holdings, owned 50% shares of NWS Transport Services until 2016.[8]
New World First Ferry and NWS Holdings are named after New World Development, the flagship listed company of Chow Tai Fook group.
In May 2020, New World First Ferry was sold to Chinese government owned Chu Kong Shipping Enterprises.[9] Chu Kong Shipping Enterprises is the parent company of Chu Kong Passenger Transport, which offers inter-cities passenger liner, for cities of the Pearl River Delta. Chu Kong is the alternative transliteration of Pearl River.
Following the sale, formal registration of the change of company name to Sun Ferry Services Company Limited took effect on 7 January 2021 in Hong Kong's Companies Registry.