Nan Nan

there_sun@163.com

PASSENGERS taking a ferry to Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai will have to use a new terminal at the Shekou Prince Bay area after Oct. 31, when the 35-year-old Shekou Ferry Terminal will halt service.

The new terminal, Shenzhen Prince Bay Cruise Homeport, is about 10 minutes’ drive from the old terminal.

It will provide cruise services and operate high-speed ferries from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai, according to yesterday’s press release from its operator, Shenzhen Xunlong Shipping Co., a subsidiary company of China Merchants Shekou Holdings.

Free shuttle buses will carry passengers between the center and Exit C of the Shekou Port Station of the Shekou Metro Line (Line 2), which takes about eight minutes.

The company advises the public to remain up to date on more information through its WeChat account and website http://www.szgky.com/.

Built in 1981, the Shekou Ferry Terminal has two ticket halls, three waiting halls (two for Hong Kong-Macao routes and one for domestic routes) and six service counters for pre-check-in. The coastline of the terminal is 1,025 meters long, including 16 berths, and covering an area of 25,371 square meters.

There are 30 ships operating at the terminal, 22 of which are high-speed luxury ferries servicing five scheduled high-speed passenger ship lines (namely Shekou to Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong, Macao Peninsula, Macao’s Taipa Island and Zhuhai) and non-scheduled charter services to Pearl River Delta islands.

The increasing number of passengers is straining the Shekou Ferry Terminal although it has been renovated several times over the past few decades, according to the company.

It has been the subject of criticism as it is outdated and aging compared to the new Shenzhen International Airport terminal. People are already complaining about the two-story terminal’s limited space and the lack of facilities such as escalators and links to public transportation, as well as the insufficient food services.

Passengers who frequently use the ferry services complain that the waiting hall is usually overflowing, especially on weekends, and that passengers find it hard to stand in place, causing some people to wait outside of the terminal entrance at Public Square.

Shenzhen Prince Bay Cruise Homeport is part of the Prince Bay project.

The Prince Bay area is planned to be developed into a comprehensive international community that manages shipping, ports, tourism, shopping and entertainment.