The Star Ferry, which shuttles across Victoria Harbour, is not only an essential part of the cross-harbour transportation system between Hong Kong and Kowloon but also a must-experience attraction for visitors to Hong Kong. National Geographic Traveler once named a ride on the Star Ferry as one of the "50 Places of a Lifetime." Taking the Star Ferry is also one of the most affordable and high-quality sightseeing experiences locally.
The origins of the Star Ferry date back to 1880, when a Parsi Zoroastrian named Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala founded the "Kowloon Ferry Company" and launched passenger ferry services with a steamship called "Morning Star." Newspaper reports from 1888 recorded that the ferry service operated every 40 minutes to an hour between Central's Pedder Street and Tsim Sha Tsui's Kowloon Point, with services suspended on Mondays and Fridays for coal refueling. By 1890, the Kowloon Ferry Company owned four single-deck ferries, all of which soon added upper passenger decks.
Over the next decade, Armenian businessman Sir Catchick Paul Chater acquired all the ferries and officially established the now well-known Star Ferry Company in May 1898. The new company’s name was mainly inspired by the "star" character included in the names of its fleet.
In 1998, the Star Ferry celebrated its 100th anniversary and is currently the only ferry operator in Hong Kong holding a licensed route. The fleet now consists of nine traditional double-ended ferries, painted white on the upper half and green on the lower half, with four stars decorating the funnels. They operate two licensed routes between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, and Wan Chai.
In July 2003, the Star Ferry also launched a licensed harbor tour route (Star Ferry Victoria Harbour Tour) beyond its ferry services. Starting from Tsim Sha Tsui, the tour circles through Central and Wan Chai within an hour before returning to the starting point, allowing tourists to enjoy Victoria Harbour from multiple perspectives.
Due to the Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) project, ferry services in Central were relocated on November 12, 2006, to the new Central Star Ferry Pier (Pier 7) in the newly reclaimed area. The new Central Star Ferry Pier (2006) blends old and new elements and highlights the historical and landmark significance of the Star Ferry. Modeled after the 1912 Star Ferry Pier and its clock tower, it recreates the unique landmark and appearance of the original pier along the new Central waterfront.
Operational Data
- Total number of passengers for the year: 16,165,528
Average number of passengers per sailing: 122, decreased by 18% compared to 2018 - The East Rail Line of the MTR was extended to Admiralty starting May 2022; since then passenger volume of the Wan Chai service experienced a substantial drop of 18% in 2025 compared to 2018
- Increased by 1% compared to 2024, and by 53% compared to 2018
- Yet average fare receipt per sailing was: approximately HKD 615
- Only covered 62% of total operating costs.
- Increased by 41% compared to 2018
- Decreased by 0.3% compared to 2024
- Every HKD 1.0 of revenue earned from franchise services incurred an expenditure of HKD 0.96 (90% of revenue goes to expenditure)
- Manpower cost per sailing was HKD 588, and manpower cost per passenger served exceeded HKD 4.4
- Uncertainty over visitor arrivals and tourism industry outlook
- Further marginalization of ferry services to and from Wanchai due to the extension of the MTR's East Rail Line.
- Non-fare box revenue is affected by the slow economic recovery.
- Rise in payroll and maintenance costs continues
- A full electronic payment system was implemented.
- The "Green Ferry" project in progress.
- Research on piers revitalization is underway, starting with Central Piers.
- Explore opportunities to increase fare box and non-fare box revenue.
- Plan to revamp our company website
- Upgrade cash handling machines
- Launch the re-engine program for the fleet.
2 routes
8 vessels
3,873 passengers
90.6%
87.5%
63 years
Annual Total: 16 million passengers
Daily Average: 44,289 passengers
Cases reported to the Marine Department：
11 cases
8 cases
- The company actively supports charitable activities, and employees participated in donations and volunteering works.
- The company was awarded the "Caring Company" logo by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the "Super MD" recognition by the Employees Retraining Board.
- The company was also awarded the "Happy Company 5+" title in Happiness-At-Work Label Award Scheme by Promoting Happiness Index Foundation.
- Ongoing training for coxswains and crews on navigation safety techniques, emergency response measures, customer service training and language training.
- Refurbishment of the ceiling in the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier
- Full e-payment system introduced at Piers
| Full year 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Income | HKD Thousands |
| Ferry Earning | 81,397 |
| Other Income | 54,176 |
| Total Income | 135,573 |
| Expenses | |
| Payroll & Related Op | 77,820 |
| Launches Expenses | 23,553 |
| Other Expenses | 29,117 |
| Total Expenses | 130,490 |
| Profit Before Tax | 5,083 |
| Cost or Valuation (HKD Thousands) | Wharves | Ferries and Equipment | Machinery and Furniture | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | 12,401 | 64,590 | 10,601 | 87,592 |
| Additions | 0 | 0 | 1,574 | 1,574 |
| Disposals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| December 31, 2024 | 12,401 | 64,590 | 12,175 | 89,166 |
| Aggregate depreciation (HKD Thousands) | Wharves | Ferries and Equipment | Machinery and Furniture | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2024 | 12,401 | 56,535 | 9,921 | 78,857 |
| Charge for 2024 | 0 | 2,649 | 321 | 2,970 |
| Written back | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| December 31, 2024 | 12,401 | 64,590 | 12,175 | 89,166 |
| Net book value (HKD Thousands) | Wharves | Ferries and Equipment | Machinery and Furniture | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2024 | 0 | 5,406 | 1,933 | 7,339 |
| At December 31, 2023 | 0 | 8,055 | 680 | 8,735 |
Recruitment
職責
接待海港遊乘客、處理票務、解答乘客查詢及渡輪上一切 客運事務
入職要求
- 中學文憑或以上
- 一至兩年顧客服務經驗
- 須能以廣東話、英語及普通話溝通
- 每天工作九小時，輪班輪休
職責
- 駕駛渡輪
入職要求
- 必須為現職本地載客船長
- 必須持有300噸船主牌 / 本地船長一級證明書
- 最少兩年駕駛載客船經驗
- 持有無線電牌、雷達、個人、海上急救及消防訓練證書者優先考慮
- 持有60噸船主牌或本地一級船長證書而沒有載客船經驗可申請副船長一職
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
負責渡輪機房操作及安全
入職要求
- 必須持有效海事處簽發本地二級輪機操作員證書
- 最少一年在載客船上出任大偈
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
協助負責渡輪機房操作及安全
入職要求
- 必須持有效海事處簽發本地三級輪機操作員證書
職責
負責渡輪及碼頭之電線鋪設、電機/冷氣裝置維修及保養工作
入職要求
- 持有效電工A牌及相關經驗
- 曾從事遠洋或本地船舶從事電器技工或技術員優先錄用
- 如沒有持電工牌照，可申請見習電工一職
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 接受在職船藝及安全培訓
- 接受渡輪駕駛訓練
- 協助副船長工作
- 公司全數資助各級本地船長考試及各項備試課程
入職要求
- 持有本地船長三級證明書
- 懂游泳
- 熱愛海上工作
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 接受在職船藝及安全培訓
- 接受渡輪駕駛訓練
- 公司全數資助各級本地船長考試及各項備試課程
入職要求
- 中五/中學文憑或以上
- 懂游泳
- 熱愛海上工作
- 需輪班工作及輪休
- 歡迎應屆畢業生申請
職責
- 負責船上繫纜及清潔相關工作
- 負責起放吊板及協助乘客上落船
入職要求
- 懂游泳及有顧客服務經驗優先
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 負責碼頭操作
- 控制渡輪班次及處理緊急應變措施
入職要求
- 中五程度或以上
- 最少2年顧客服務經驗
- 須能以廣東話、英語及普通話溝通
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 碼頭拉纜
- 控制閘口開關及升降台
- 協助乘客上落船
- 協助稽查員處理碼頭工作
入職要求
- 懂游泳及有顧客服務經驗優先
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 負責車床、打磨及協助大偈維修工作
入職要求
- 2年相關經驗
- 持有「平安咭」及「海上藍咭」
- 持有「氣體焊接安全訓練課程」及「磨輪安全訓練課程」證書
- 需輪班工作及輪休
職責
- 接受在職輪機操作培訓
- 海上工作安全培訓
- 公司全數資助各級本地輪機操作員考試及各項備試課程
入職要求
- 中五/中學文憑或以上
- 懂游泳
- 對機械維修有興趣
- 需輪班工作
- 歡迎應屆畢業生申請
職責
- 協助接待海港遊乘客、處理票務、解答乘客查詢及渡輪上一切客運事務
入職要求
- 中學文憑或以上
- 須能以廣東話、英語及普通話溝通
- 須於星期六、星期日及公眾假期上班
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility Statement
The “Star” Ferry Company, Limited (known as Star Ferry hereafter) operates two franchised ferry services with reputable quality and is widely recognized as one of the major icons of Hong Kong. The Star Ferry’s service was named by the National Geographic Traveler as one of the fifty places in a lifetime in 1999. Star Ferry’s commitment to provide quality, economic, safe and efficient services has never changed since its establishment in 1898. Apart from upholding its iconic value, Star Ferry will continue to strike a balance between the economic, social and environmental needs in the community that it serves.
Star Ferry’s vision is to become one of the leading corporate citizens among all public transport operators in Hong Kong.
Key Drivers
Corporate Governance
Star Ferry will continue to maintain regular communications with the regulatory bodies and the public to ensure high level of operating transparency. Regular meetings will be held with the Transport Department and operational information will be provided on regular basis as required in the Franchise. Operational and financial information of the franchised services will be published and distributed to the public each year to enhance the understanding of the public on the Company’s operating performance. As a member of the Wharf Group, regular review and audit on internal control procedures would be maintained to fully comply with the regulatory requirements.
Product & Services
Star Ferry is committed to provide economic, safe, reliable and efficient ferry services to its passengers. The well-established preventive maintenance program will be continued to ensure the safety and reliability of the ferry operations. Trainings for all levels of staff will be continued to further enhance its service level to the passengers. Annual passenger survey will be continued to gauge the performance of its service level and improvement measures will be introduced to address constructive ideas coming from the survey.
Employees
Star Ferry believes staff is one of the vital elements contributing to its success. Star Ferry values every single employee and believes offering them a desirable, safe working environment and smoke-free workplace aids to realize their full potentials at every level and hence various training programs will continue to be offered for service level improvement. Work safety is another major area that we emphasized. A safety management system is in place and will continue to evolve in the years to come. We observe equal opportunity practices and will ensure no discrimination of any nature would happen in the workplace. Star Ferry has also pledged its support on the minimum wages movement as initiated by the government.
Community Involvement
Star Ferry has been qualified as a Caring Company for more than twenty consecutive years since 2003 and has been contributing to the society in various forms, either in cash or in kind. Other than charity, Star Ferry has been working closely with Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden and Tai Po Environmental Association on the promotion of organic plantation as well as a supporter on fair trade promotion in Hong Kong. Star Ferry will continue to explore opportunities to work with all other NGOs and registered charitable groups to make use of the space available in the Central Star Ferry Piers to promote their services and to bring more people to the waterfront for the enjoyment of Victoria harbour which is the most important natural asset of Hong Kong.
Environmental Protection
Star Ferry is committed to investing in environmental protection measures that goes with regulatory compliance. Other than tackling the subject of emission reduction on its own fleet, Star Ferry has been actively promoting the energy conservation education program by joining hands with the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden for the year long “LOHAS Square” campaign with the goal to remind Hong Kong citizens that we can all contribute to the reduction on carbon emission either directly or indirectly. Star Ferry has adopted the energy saving lighting system at all piers and will continue exploring other opportunities to promote the initiatives of environmental protection with other NGOs for the benefits of the community.
