CotaiJet suspended

The Venetian’s new ferry service, CotaiJet, has been suspended pending a legal struggle between the Macau government and Hong Kong North West Express.

Hong Kong North West Express had previously applied to run a service between Hong Kong and the new Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal. But only two concessions have been granted by the Macau government on this route while the permanent Taipa terminal is being built. CotaiJet is the only one of those two in operation.

When the announcement was made, Hong Kong North West Express applied to the Court of Second Appeal for an injunction to stop the service while it appealed the decision. The government issued an administrative order allowing the service to go ahead, saying that it was in the public’s best interest. The court has since then decided that the government’s decision was invalid, and so the service has been suspended.

According to local media, the government says it will wait for the court’s decision on the case before taking any further action.

Stephen Weaver, president for Asia of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., put out a press release last night with a brave face on it. “We are confident the Macao court system will act prudently and expeditiously and that the results will serve in the best interests of the residents and visitors of Macao, Hong Kong, and the wider Pearl River Delta region,” he said, adding that the service had only recently been launched and was not being dramatically hampered by the suspension.

“We are just starting to ramp up our CotaiJet operations and the real impact will be felt when we begin running multiple ferries both day and night,” he said.

CotaiJet is being operated in collaboration with Cotai Chu Kong Shipping Management Services Co., Ltd. of Hong Kong, which also released a statement last night. “The public response and demand for the CotaiJet service has been overwhelmingly positive. Our guests are very complimentary of our friendly employees and our on-board service and they appreciate the convenience of traveling directly between Hong Kong and Taipa,” said Ren Qi Sheng, the company’s chief executive.

“During this time we will continue to retain, pay, and further train our staff so that when a resolution is reached we will be able to quickly resume CotaiJet service with the same high standards our passengers have already come to expect.”