Guangdong–Hainan Ferry

The Yuehai Train Ferry, which crosses the Qiongzhou Strait, in 2010.

The Guangdong–Hainan Ferry, or the Yuehai Ferry (Chinese: 粤海铁路轮渡; pinyin: Yuè-Hǎi tiělù lúndù[1]) is a train and vehicle ferry connecting two Chinese provinces: Guangdong and Hainan. The ferries run across the Qiongzhou Strait, between Zhanjiang, Guangdong and Haikou, Hainan.

The line has operated since January 2003, carrying both freight and passenger trains, enabling direct train service between the mainland and the cities of Haikou and Sanya on Hainan Island.[2] In 2010, two ferry boats were in operation: Yuehai No. 1 and Yuehai No. 2. The third boat, Yuehai No. 3, was launched in Tianjin in September 2010.[3]

Yuehai No. 3 and the fourth boat, Yuehai No. 4, entered revenue service with the ferry company on February 1, 2013.[4] The two 23,000-ton vessels are 188 meter long, 23 meters wide and 15.3 meters in total height; they have a 5.6 m draft. The vessels carry rail cars at the lower deck and cars on the upper deck; there are passenger compartments as well. They travel at the speed of up to 17 knots.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Yue 粤 is the standard Chinese abbreviation for Guangdng, and Hai 海, for Hainan.
  2. ↑ "Train-ferry project making solid progress". By Xie Chuanjiao (China Daily). Updated: 2006-06-06
  3. ↑ Train Ferry across Qiongzhou Strait Launched at Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd 2010-10-12
  4. ↑ 粤海铁路新增两艘万吨级火车渡轮投运琼州海峡
  5. ↑ 粤海铁3、4号渡轮投入客滚运输 琼州海峡添运力, 2013-02-02