A passenger ferry has been given a spectacular new lease of life having been transformed into a luxurious yacht complete with a New York loft-style interior, a cinema and what is claimed to be the largest single sofa in Hong Kong.
And it’s on the market for £1.9million ($2.7million).
The vessel, formerly called Golden Star, started life in 1988 as a Star Ferry in Hong Kong, crossing the city’s harbour with seats for 762 passengers.
The former Hong Kong passenger ferry Golden Star, which has been transformed into a luxurious yacht called DOT
The vessel has what is claimed to be the largest single sofa in Hong Kong, pictured
The former ferry’s roof, pictured, is used for outdoor dining and sunbathing with its former first-class landing platforms converted into half-moon balconies
The UK-built boat served until 2011 when dwindling passenger numbers, due to the expansion of the MTR metro in the city, led to a private sale.
The anonymous buyer who snapped it up grew up in Hong Kong and had fond childhood memories of riding the ferry.
He set about transforming it into a ‘glorious weekend home’ with the 18-month conversion taking place at the Leung Wan Kee shipyard in Zhuhai, China.
Now the 154ft (47m) long vessel is called DOT and is moored on the beautiful Tai Tam inlet in Hong Kong.
Inside she is unrecognisable from her ferrying days.
Spread around 6,000 square feet of living space and across three decks are four en-suite staterooms that can sleep up to eight guests, with each room boasting a bath and standing shower. There are also two office spaces, a galley, a massive salon and a mezzanine level with space for a 14ft Christmas tree.
The kitchen/dining area has large sliding doors that open up on both sides to allow a ‘really good sea breeze to waft through the boat when temperatures get too much’.
The former ferry’s roof is used for outdoor dining and sunbathing with its former first-class landing platforms converted into half-moon balconies.
The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: ‘She was designed to have very large living spaces, with bedrooms and bathrooms of the scale one would expect onshore.
‘We didn’t want to fight her industrial history, but rather to celebrate it. These goals drove much of the layout.’
The kitchen/dining area has large sliding doors that open up on both sides to allow a ‘really good sea breeze to waft through the boat when temperatures get too much’
DOT has 6,000 square feet of living space spread across three decks. Pictured is the onboard cinema
The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: ‘She was designed to have very large living spaces, with bedrooms and bathrooms of the scale one would expect onshore’
One of two office spaces onboard the vessel. The owner said: ‘We didn’t want to fight her industrial history, but rather to celebrate it. These goals drove much of the layout’
Speaking of the New York-style interior, he added: ‘I have had an obsession with old brick industrial buildings for many years. I love industrial furnishings, rust and elegant dilapidation.
‘My home in London has much of this, with beds built from factory workstations, a weaver’s block, and a book press. We have the oldest wallpaper in London, from the 18th century, which is little more than rusty pegs and torn remains, but there is great beauty in age and ruin.
‘DOT is heavy, robust, and wide-hipped. I think a sleek shiny look would not suit her! What’s the expression? Mutton dressed as lamb? She had to dress to her strengths! Her old well-worn thick teak floors and copious steel speak to a factory more than an elegant home.’
The boat has a 10,000 nautical mile range, with a top speed of nine knots and a cruising speed of seven knots. It has one MAN 6L 730 HP, 900 RPM engine.
The yacht, pictured, is being sold by its private owner and has an asking price of £1.9million ($2.7million)
One of the four staterooms onboard the yacht. Each has an en-suite bathroom with a bath and a standing shower
The boat has a 10,000 nautical mile range, with a top speed of nine knots and a cruising speed of seven knots
The owner explained: ‘DOT was always imagined as a weekend home rather than a yacht that moves around, even though she can reach Australia with her 100,000-litre fuel tanks!’
One of the bathrooms on the yacht. The vessel’s water tanks have 50,000 litres of storage capacity
The owner set up a water catchment system so that when it rains, the water collects in water tanks, is filtered and then provides most of the water the passengers use onboard
The owner says the boat still ‘moves beautifully through the water’ and added: ‘DOT was always imagined as a weekend home rather than a yacht that moves around, even though she can reach Australia with her 100,000-litre fuel tanks!’
In addition, she has 172sq m (1,851 sq ft) of solar panels and a ‘large bank of batteries in order to provide as much solar power as possible and DOT achieves between 75 and 80 per cent of power consumption from solar’.
Roof insulation, shade wings and double glazing have also been ‘carefully installed to keep the decks cool in the summer’.
Meanwhile, the owner set up a water catchment system so that when it rains, the water collects in water tanks, is filtered and then provides most of the water the passengers use onboard.
The tanks have 50,000 litres of storage capacity and around 7,000 litres of water can be captured in just one summer downpour.
The vessel is being listed for sale with Hong Kong-based Ocean Independence, which noted that included in the asking price is an AB Semi-Rigid inflatable with an 8hp Mercury outboard engine, three spare hp outboard engines and a mooring in Tai Tam Bay.
The owner added: ‘This boat has been about my three wonderful children. Watching them jump from the roof into the sea; stargazing with them top side; games of charades as the sunsets after dinner.
‘She was designed to create great memories for my children, and she has delivered them in spades.’
DOT has a New York loft-style interior. The owner said: ‘I have had an obsession with old brick industrial buildings for many years. I love industrial furnishings, rust and elegant dilapidation’
The owner said: ‘She was designed to create great memories for my children, and she has delivered them in spades’
The ferry before it underwent its transformation. It started life in 1988 as a Star Ferry, crossing Hong Kong’s harbour with seats for 762 passengers
The current owner, who grew up in Hong Kong and was fond of riding the ferry, snapped up the vessel in 2011
