Macao Dragon, a new high-speed, high capacity ferry service planned between Hong Kong and Macau, has been forced to delay its launch because of reported objections by at least one rival operator.
Stories in the local media say one of the incumbent ferry operators has raised objections with the Macau government citing a lack of ferry berths in Macau and saturation of the route during an economic downturn. Some observers think it may simply be a spoiling tactic by an existing player worried that Macao Dragon’s 1,152-seat catamarans will undercut its fares and steal its business. Ferries operated by TurboJET and CotaiJet have only a fifth to a third of that capacity per trip.
There was a similar rumpus between Stanley Ho and Las Vegas Sands Corp. when the latter backed the launch of CotaiJet services in November 2007.
Macao Dragon has taken delivery of Shen Long, the first of four 65-meter catamarans being built by Singapore’s Marinteknik Shipbuilders. It is understood to have delayed delivery of the three others, the 65 m Tian Long and two 63 m ships, Huang Long and Pan Long, which were all scheduled to arrive early this year.
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