CHINA, including Hong Kong, is likely to remain the largest single market for new fast ferries in the world over at least the next decade, says Ocean Shipping Consultants.
In a report on 'The World Ferry Market: Prospects to 2005', the company says the continued economic development of countries in south and east Asia was funding a progressive expansion of ferry activity.
This is especially the case for China, where increases in conventional ferry links and the introduction of fast ferry operations are set to continue to fund extensive overall ferry market expansion.
This includes conventional passenger/car ferries and high-speed vessels.
Vessels for the Chinese market already account for about 20 per cent of all fast ferry newbuildings.
While this level of significance is unlikely to be maintained throughout the study period, China/Hong Kong is likely to remain the largest single market for new fast ferries in the world over at least the next decade, it said.
