View source for TurboJET

{{short description|Hong Kong ferry operator}}
{{about|the Hong Kong-based ferry company|the type of [[jet engine]]|Turbojet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = TurboJET<br/>噴射飛航
| image = TurboJet.svg
| image_size = 200px
| IATA = 8S
| ICAO = 
| callsign = 
| founded = 1962
| commenced = 1962
| hubs = [[Hong Kong International Airport]] (Skypier)
| headquarters = [[Hong Kong]]
| parent = {{ubl|[[Shun Tak Holdings]]|[[China Travel International Investment Hong Kong]]}}
| website = {{url|https://www.turbojet.com.hk}}
| fleet_size = 30
| destinations = 3 (routes to/from Hong Kong International Airport only)
}}
[[File:TurboJET_-_Universal_MK_2004.jpg|thumb|TurboJET's ''Universal MK 2004'' TriCat]]
{{Chinese
| title = Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited
| t = 信德中旅船務管理有限公司
| s = 信德中旅船务管理有限公司
| y = Seundāk jūngléuih syùnmouh gúnléih yáuhhaahn gūngsī
| ci = {{IPA|yue|sɵ̄n tɐ́k̚ tsóŋ lɵ̬y sy̏ːn mòu kǔːn le̬i jɐ̬u hàːn kóŋ síː|}}
| j = Seon3dak1 zung1leoi5 syun4mou6 gun2lei5 jau5haan6 gung1si1
| p = Xìndé zhōnglǚ chuánwù guǎnlǐ yǒuxiàn gōngsī
| lang1 = English
| lang1_content = Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited: "TurboJET"
| por = Shun Tak China Travel – Companhia de Gestão de Embarcações, Limitada: "TurboJET"
}}
{{Chinese
|title=TurboJET
|t=噴射飛航
|s=喷射飞航
|y=Panseh fēihòng
|j=pan3 se6 fei1 hong4
|p=Pēnshè Fēiháng
}}
'''Shun Tak–China Travel Ship Management Limited''', doing business as '''TurboJET''' ({{zh|first=t|t=噴射飛航}}), is a [[ferry]] company based in [[Hong Kong]]. The company was established from the [[joint venture]] between [[Shun Tak Holdings Limited|Shun Tak Holdings]] and [[China Travel International Investment Hong Kong]] in July 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=TurboJET|url=http://www.shuntakgroup.com/en/business/stctsm.asp|publisher=Shun Tak|accessdate=17 May 2016}}</ref> It operates [[hydrofoil]] and [[high-speed ferry]] services between Hong Kong, [[Macau]], [[Shenzhen]], and [[Zhuhai]] in the [[Pearl River Delta]] area.

TurboJET is one of the two companies operating high-speed ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau – the other one being [[Cotai Water Jet]]. TurboJET uses the [[IATA]] two-letter [[airline code]] 8S only for routes to and from [[Hong Kong International Airport]]. For other routes, it uses other codes instead  e.g. J0, J1, TP, etc. , depending on the flight time and destination.

==History==
Shun Tak and China Travel had their own separate ferry business brands before merging as TurboJET on 1 July 1999. They were '''Far East Hydrofoil''' by Shun Tak, and '''Turbo Cat''' by CTS Parkview Company Ltd.

It acquired New Ferry – Transporte Marítimo de Passageiros Limitada (abbreviated [[New World First Ferry (Macau)]]) from [[NWS Holdings]] for HK$350 million on 11 August 2011,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-11 |title=Shun Tak–China Travel Shipping Investments Limited Acquiring First Ferry (Macau) |url=https://www.turbojet.com.hk/media/323341/stcts__english_release_final_11082011.pdf |access-date=2023-05-27}}</ref> and completed the transaction on 30 September.

Since the opening of the [[Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge]] in October 2018, passenger numbers have been falling sharply due to the direct competition. The ferry service was deemed too slow and expensive. Since 2019, TurboJET started gradually cutting frequencies adjusting to the passenger numbers with the [[2019–2020 Hong Kong protests|anti-extradition bill protests]] in Hong Kong as well as the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

==Routes==
TurboJET provides services between Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Airport, Macau, Shenzhen, and [[Guangzhou]], all located around the Pearl River Delta in southern China. The route between Hong Kong and Macau is the busiest, taking approximately one hour to travel the {{convert |70|km|mi}} 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, Hong Kong|Central]] to [[Tuen Mun]] (on weekdays), and Central to [[Tai O]] (on weekends). After the merger, the routes were operated under the TurboJET brand.

==Fleet==
TurboJET is the world's largest operator of [[Boeing]]'s [[Jetfoil]]s; all used to belong to the former Far East Hydrofoil, which also used PS-30 and FoilCat. The former Turbo Cat used Flying Cat 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 [[length]], 561 [[tonne]]s, 423 passengers [[catamaran]] [[hydrofoil]]. Propelled by [[Pump-jet|waterjet]]s powered by twin [[General Electric]] [[General Electric LM500|LM500]] [[gas turbine]]s. Maximum speed at 50 [[Knot (unit)|knots]]. Built by Kvaerner Fjellstrand of [[Norway]].
*'''Flying Cat''': 40m length, 479 tonnes, 303/406 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin [[MTU Friedrichshafen|MTU]] 16V 396 [[diesel engines]], rated at 2000&nbsp;[[kW]] each. Cruising speed at 35 knots. Built by Kvaerner Fjellstrand of Norway for ''Universal MK I'' and ''Universal MK III'', and [[Damen Group|Damen]] Shipyard of the [[Netherlands]] for ''Universal MK V''. All three vessels are inactive as of 2025.
*'''TriCat''': 45m length, 602 tonnes, 328/333 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] [[Solar Turbines|Solar]] Taurus gas turbines. Cruising speed at 45 knots, capable of 52 knots when empty. Built by [[FBM Marine]] of the [[United Kingdom]] for ''Universal MK 2001''–''2007'', FBM–Aboitiz Shipyard of the [[Philippines]] for ''Universal MK 2008'', and Pequot River Shipworks of the [[USA]] for ''Universal MK 2009''–''2010''. (Note: ''Universal MK 2001''–''2005'' are installed with 2 shorter chimneys at the back of the vessels, while ''Universal MK 2006''–''2010'' are installed with 2 higher chimneys.)
*'''Jetfoil''': 24.44m length, 267 tonnes, 190/243 passengers [[monohull]] hydrofoil. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin [[Rolls-Royce]] [[Allison Engine Company|Allison]] [[Allison T56|501KF]] gas turbines. Maximum speed at 45 knots. Built by the Boeing Company of the USA.
*'''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. (Note: This vessel is currently inactive as of September 2011.)
*'''Austal 48m''': 47.5m length, 610 tonnes, 414/418 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by quadruple MTU 16V 4000 diesel engines, rated at 2320&nbsp;kW each. Cruising speed at 43.5 knots, capable of 49 knots when empty. Built by [[Austal]] Shipyard of [[Australia]].


===Rented vessels (returned in December 2008)===
*'''Wavemaster SuperFast''' '''39m''': 39m length, 300 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTU 8V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1580&nbsp;kW each. Maximum speed at 36 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company of Australia.
*'''Wavemaster SuperFast''' '''42m''': 42m length, 385 passengers catamaran. Propelled by waterjets powered by twin MTU 16V 396 diesel engines, rated at 1960&nbsp;kW each. Maximum speed at 48 knots. Built by Wavemaster International Proprietary Limited Company of Australia.

===Vessels information===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ '''Active TurboJET Fleet'''
!Name
![[IMO ship identification number|IMO]]
!Type
!Year<br> Built
!Seats
!Builder
!width=250px|&nbsp;Notes&nbsp;
!class="unsortable" width="150px"|Image
|- valign="top"
| ''Penha'' (祥星)
| 9101778
| FoilCat
| 1995
| 377
| Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
|Upgraded to Premier Status in February 2015
| [[File:20170709-TurboJET Penha.jpg|200px|Penha]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2002'' (宇航2002)
| 9087568
| TriCat
| 1995
| 333
| FBM Marine Limited
|
| [[File:TurboJET - Universal MK 2002.JPG|200px|Universal MK 2002]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2003'' (宇航2003)
| 9087570
| TriCat
| 1995
| 331
| FBM Marine Limited
| Vessel involved in collision with fishing vessel near Lung Sou Gok in August 2016<ref>{{cite web |last=Yeung |first=Raymond |date=2016-08-28 |title=One hurt and hundreds left stranded in high-speed ferry crash off Hong Kong's Lantau Island |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2010035/high-speed-ferry-collision-strands-hundreds-hong |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref>
| [[File:TurboJET - Universal MK 2003 - 5075.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2003]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2004'' (宇航2004)
| 9087582
| TriCat
| 1995
| 331
| FBM Marine Limited
|
| [[File:TurboJET - Universal MK 2004.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2004]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2005'' (宇航2005)
| 9087594
| TriCat
| 1996
| 331
| FBM Marine Limited
|Repainted in modern livery, later in UnionPay livery, crashed in May 2025 at Macau Ferry Terminal due to a mechanical fault 
| [[File:MAcau Jetfoil.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2005]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2006'' (宇航2006)
| 9139206
| TriCat
| 1996
| 331
| FBM Marine Limited
|
| [[File:TurboJET - Universal MK 2006 - 5064.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2006]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2007'' (宇航2007)
| 9139218
| TriCat
| 1996
| 333
| FBM Marine Limited
| Painted in Mastercard livery since 2018
| [[File:Turbojet newcolor.JPG|200px|Universal MK 2007]]
|- valign="top"
| ''Universal MK 2011'' (宇航2011)
| 9444209
| Austal 48m
| 2008
| 418
| Austal Shipyard
| Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXVII''; sold to TurboJET before the launch of First Ferry (Macau),
| [[File:20081116-TurboJET Universal MK 2011.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2011]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2012'' (宇航2012)
| 9433676
| Austal 48m
| 2008
| 418
| Austal Shipyard
| Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXVIII''; sold to TurboJET before the launch of First Ferry (Macau)
| [[File:Turbojet UniversalMark2012.JPG|200px|Universal MK 2012]]
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ '''Inactive or former TurboJET Fleet'''
!Name
![[IMO ship identification number|IMO]]
!Type
!Year<br> Built
!Seats
!Builder
!width=250px|&nbsp;Notes&nbsp;
!class="unsortable" width="150px"|Image
|- valign="top"
|''Terceira'' (錫星, 929-115-012)
|7910008
|Jetfoil
|1979
|190
|Boeing Company
|2nd Premier Jetfoil in service since February 2010; repainted in modern livery in 2015; retired in November 2025 upon the expiration of its license. 
|[[File:TurboJET - Terceira - 7958.jpg|200px|Terceira]]
|- valign=top
| ''Açores'' (恆星, 929-100-008)
| 7933189
| Jetfoil
| 1977
| 262
| Boeing Company
| Sold to [[South Korea]] in 2004 (renamed as ''Kobee III'')
|
|- valign="top"
|''Horta'' (海皇星, 929-115-016)
|7923251
|Jetfoil
|1980
|200
|Boeing Company
|3rd Premier Jetfoil in service since July 2012, parked at Stonecutters shipyard as of July 2025
|[[File:20081113-TurboJET Horta.jpg|200px|Horta]]
|- valign="top"
|''Lilau'' (帝皇星, 929-115-014)
|8332332
|Jetfoil
|1979
|202
|Boeing Company
|Formerly served the [[Royal Navy]] as [[HMS Speedy (P296)|HMS ''Speedy'' (P296)]], retired in 2019 and scrapped in 2021
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign="top"
| [[File:TurboJET-929-115-014-Lilau.jpg|200px|Lilau]]
|}
|- valign="top"
|''Funchal'' (天皇星, 929-115-013)
|7923249
|Jetfoil
|1979
|190
|Boeing Company
|1st Premier Jetfoil in service since March 2009, often appeared in TurboJET's Premier Jetfoil promotional materials since then, retired in 2020 and scrapped in May 2025
|
|- valign="top"
|''Taipa'' (帝后星, 929-115-021)
|8127701
|Jetfoil
|1981
|202
|Boeing Company
|4th Premier Jetfoil in service since February 2013, retired in 2020 and scrapped in November 2025
|
|- valign="top"
|''Cacilhas'' (幸運星, 929-115-018)
|8019564
|Jetfoil
|1981
|202
|Boeing Company
|8th Premier Jetfoil in service since July 2014, involved in a beaching incident in 2014 and a fire incident in 2015 but was repaired, parked at Stonecutters shipyard as of July 2025
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign="top"
| [[File:TurboJet hydrofoil Cacilhas in Hong Kong harbor.jpg|200px|Cacilhas]]
|}
|- valign="top"
|''São Jorge'' (銀星, 929-100-006)
|7933165
|Jetfoil
|1976
|202
|Boeing Company
|Originally parked since 2008, but returned to service in October 2014 to replaced the damaged ''Madeira.''  6th Premier Jetfoil in service since late 2014, retired in 2021 and scrapped in May 2025
The only Boeing 929-100 to be a Premier Jetfoil
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign="top"
| [[File:20170709-TurboJET SaoJorge.jpg|200px|São Jorge]]
|}
|- valign="top"
|''Santa Maria'' (金星, 929-100-005)
|7523910
|Jetfoil
|1975
|243
|Boeing Company
|Retired in 2019 and scrapped in March 2021, making it the first Jetfoil scrapped
|[[File:20170709-TurboJET SantaMaria.jpg|200px|Santa Maria]]
|- valign="top"
|''Urzela'' (鐵星, 929-100-007)
|7932898
|Jetfoil
|1976
|243
|Boeing Company
|Retired in 2018 and scrapped in April 2021
|[[File:20091105-TurboJET Urzela.jpg|200px|Urzela]]
|- valign="top"
| ''Guia'' (東星, 929-100-009)
| 7932848
| Jetfoil
| 1977
| 243
| Boeing Company
| Repainted in modern livery; retired in 2018 and scrapped in April 2021
| [[File:Boeing929-100.jpg|200px|Guia]]
|- valign=top
| ''Corvo'' (火星, 929-100-003)
| 7731555
| Jetfoil
| 1975
| 242
| Boeing Company
| Originally as ''Kamehameha'' for SeaFlite (Pacific Sea Transportation Ltd.) in 1975; sold to South Korea in 2006 (renamed as ''Hijet'')
|- valign=top
| ''Pico'' (土星, 929-100-004)
| 7737391
| Jetfoil
| 1975
| 243
| Boeing Company
| Originally planned to be the 9th Premier Jetfoil, but was retired in 2018 and scrapped in May 2021
| [[File:20170709-TurboJET Pico.jpg|200px|Pico]]
|- valign=top
| ''Madeira'' (木星, 929-100-002)
| 7523881
| Jetfoil
| 1975
| 243
| Boeing Company
| Crashed in November 2013 injuring 87 and has since been retired<ref>{{cite web |last=Lo |first=Clifford |last2=Chan |first2=Thomas |date=2013-11-29 |title=Macau jetfoil passengers tell of 'crash like thunder' that left 87 injured |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1368358/80-people-injured-hong-kong-ferry-accident |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=South China Morning Post}}</ref> However it's still parked at Stonecutters shipyard as of July 2025 and has not yet been scrapped
| [[File:20081116-TurboJET Madeira.jpg|200px|Madeira]]
|- valign=top
| ''Flores'' (水星, 929-100-001)
| 7737389
| Jetfoil
| 1975
| 243
| Boeing Company
| Formerly ''Jetfoil One''; retired in 2008 and was planned to be scrapped in October 2020, but work was suspended due to pressure from conservation organizations, parked at Stonecutters shipyard as of July 2025
|
|- valign=top
| ''Ponta Delgada'' (銅星, 929-100-008)
| 7932903
| Jetfoil
| 1978
| 242
| Boeing Company
| Sold to South Korea in 2004 (renamed as ''Kobee V'')
|- valign="top"
|''Barca'' (日星)
|9101780
|FoilCat
|1995
|378
|Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
|Upgraded to Premier Status in May 2014, inactive since 2024 due to lack of parts
|[[File:20091109-TurboJET Barca.jpg|200px|Barca]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK I'' (宇航壹號)
|9060376
|Flying Cat
|1992
|303
|Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
|Currently inactive, parked at Stonecutter shipyard as of July 2025.
|[[File:20090225-TurboJET Universal MK 1.jpg|200px|Universal MK I]]
|- valign="top"
| ''Universal MK II'' (宇航貳號)
| 9060388
| Flying Cat
| 1993
| 303
| Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
| Sold to [[Indonesia]] in 2010 (renamed as ''Prima Oasis'')
|
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK III'' (宇航叄號)
|9060390
|Flying Cat
|1993
|303
|Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
|Repainted in modern livery, currently inactive
|[[File:TurboJET Universal MK III.jpg|200px|Universal MK III]]
|- valign="top"
| ''Universal MK IV'' (宇航肆號)
| 9086655
| Flying Cat
| 1994
| 303
| Kvaerner Fjellstrand Shipyard
| Sold to South Korea in August 2011 (renamed as ''Namhan Angel'')
|
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK V'' (宇航五號)
|9236872
|Flying Cat
|2000
|406
|[[Damen Group|Damen]] 
Shipyard
|Originally purchased by [[New World First Ferry (Macau)|First Ferry (Macau)]] as ''New Ferry V,'' currently inactive
|[[File:UNIVERSAL MK V.jpg|200px|Universal MK V]]
|- valign="top"
| ''Balsa'' (北星)
| 8878362
| PS-30
| 1994
| 270
| Shanghai Simno Marine Limited
| Originally supposed to be sold alongside ''Praia'', but the deal fell through, causing the vessel to be parked since 2011 and was scrapped in September 2020
|
|- valign=top
| ''Praia'' (南星)
| 9143960
| PS-30
| 1994
| 242
| Shanghai Simno Marine Limited
| Sold to South Korea in 2002 (renamed as ''Kobee'')
|
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2001'' (宇航2001)
|9087556
|TriCat
|1994
|331
|FBI Marine Limited
|Currently inactive
|[[File:20081113-TurboJET Universal MK 2001.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2001]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2008'' (宇航2008)
|9139220
|TriCat
|1996
|331
|FBM–Aboitiz Shipyard, Philippines
|Currently inactive
|[[File:TurboJET Universal MK 2008 (Hong Kong).jpg|200px|Universal MK 2008]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2009'' (宇航2009)
|9160188
|TriCat
|1998
|328
|Pequot River Shipworks, [[New London, CT]], USA
|Second hand (joined in 2005); painted in [[MGM Macau]] livery until 2017, then repainted in standard livery, painted in Mastercard livery since 2018, currently inactive
|[[File:TurboJET - Universal MK 2009 7217.JPG|200px|Universal MK 2009]]
|- valign=top
| ''Universal MK 2010'' (宇航2010)
| 9182538
| TriCat
| 1999
| 328
| Pequot River Shipworks, New London, CT, USA
| Second hand (joined in 2005); parked at Stonecutters shipyard as of July 2025
| [[File:UNIVERSAL MK 2010.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2010]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2013'' (宇航2013)
|9259525
|Austal 48m
|2002
|414
|Austal Shipyard
|Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXI,'' currently inactive
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign="top"
| [[File:TurboJET Universal MK 2013 (1).JPG|200px|Universal MK 2013]]
|}
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2014'' (宇航2014)
|9259537
|Austal 48m
|2002
|414
|Austal Shipyard
|Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXII,'' currently inactive
|[[File:UNIVERSAL MK 2014 Hong Kong Island to Macau(Outer Harbour) 24-12-2019.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2014]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2015'' (宇航2015)
|9259549
|Austal 48m
|2002
|414
|Austal Shipyard
|Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXIII,'' sold to Turkey in 2025 (renamed as ''Naim Tugay'') 
|[[File:UNIVERSAL MK 2015 Hong Kong Island to Macau(Outer Harbour) 21-05-2019.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2015]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2016'' (宇航2016)
|9323209
|Austal 48m
|2004
|418
|Austal Shipyard
|Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXV,'' sold to Turkey in 2025 (renamed as ''Tayyar Tugay'') 
|[[File:Universal MK 2016 Kowloon to Macau(Outer Harbour) 31-05-2016(2).jpg|200px|Universal MK 2016]]
|- valign="top"
|''Universal MK 2017'' (宇航2017)
|9323211
|Austal 48m
|2004
|418
|Austal Shipyard
|Originally purchased by First Ferry (Macau) as ''New Ferry LXXXVI'', currently inactive
|[[File:UNIVERSAL MK 2017 Hong Kong Island to Macau(Outer Harbour) 24-05-2019.jpg|200px|Universal MK 2017]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|TurboJET}}
* [http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/ The official web site of TurboJET]
* [http://www.jetboat14.com OMC TurboJet engine Community & Forum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616135644/http://www.jetboat14.com/ |date=16 June 2019 }}
* [http://www.barcaferry.com BarcaFerry]
{{Hong Kong-Macau Water Transport}}
{{Eastern Pearl River Delta transit}}
{{Western Pearl River Delta transit}}

[[Category:Shenzhen]]
[[Category:Shipping companies of Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Ferry transport in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Ferry transport in Macau]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of China]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1962]]
[[Category:Hong Kong brands]]