New CotaiJet Hong Kong-Macao ferry launched, then halted by legal dispute

Las Vegas Sands announced in early December that it had initiated its high-speed ferry service between Hong Kong’s Macao Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre and Macao’s newly opened Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal.

Later on the service was suspended due to legal wrangles for a week and a half later. The operators were forced to suspend their new, high profile, high-speed ferry service due to legal challenges to their right to operate the Macao government-granted concession. The first CotaiJet, dubbed ‘The Grand Canal Shoppes’, departed from Macao to complete her inaugural voyage to Hong Kong, where she docked at Hong Kong’s Macao Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre. The CotaiJet three-vessel service at launch featured 20 sailings per day, ten each from Hong Kong and Macao, with service beginning at 7:00 a.m. each day. Each custom-built catamaran has the capacity to carry more than 400 passengers and operate at top speeds of approximately 42 knots.

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Gulf Craft delivers super yacht Majesty 130

Gulf Craft, the Middle East’s largest boat and yacht manufacturer, is delivering its top-of-the-range super yacht the Majesty 130.

Following successful completion of sea trials, the largest super yacht built in the Middle East is currently on its way to Australia. The proud owner of the 130 foot Majesty Yacht is an Australian businessman who selected Gulf Craft to build the Majesty Yacht which sleeps eight and features four cabins as well as quarters for six crew members plus a separate cabin for the captain. The Majesty 130 is the largest vessel in the Majesty Yachts class, which begins at the entry level Majesty 44. Featuring a twin set of 2000hp MTU engines; the super yacht has a fuel capacity of 33,500 liters with the capacity for extended ocean voyages with a maximum range of 3,000 nautical miles. The yacht will sail to her destination port in Queensland, Australia, via Oman, India, Maldives and Singapore.

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Goss plans wooden boat trip to Oz

Sailor and adventurer Pete Goss is getting ready to hit the water again, by sailing to Australia in a 36ft (11m) wooden fishing boat.

His trip will follow in the wake of seven Cornish seamen who completed the journey in a Cornish Lugger, called Mystery, more than 150 years ago. Mr. Goss is building a similar vessel in honor of the original boat. Devon-born Mr. Goss, 45, who now lives in Torpoint, Cornwall, has called his boat Spirit of Mystery in honor of the original vessel. In 1997, he became an MBE for the dramatic rescue of a fellow competitor in a round-the-world race. He said the project was something he had wanted to do since he heard about the voyage of the Mystery.

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