Extra ferries will be put into service to relieve the expected heavy passenger traffic at Shekou port during the Spring Festival, the Shenzhen Shipping Company announced.

The travel peak was expected to spike Feb. 9 and end Feb. 15, Wu Boxun, vice general manager of the company, told a Spring Festival travel mobilization meeting Friday. During the peak period, the company will add 10 ferries a day on the Shekou-Zhuhai route taking the total number of trips per day to 38. On Feb. 9 and 10, the first and second day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, three to six trips will be added to the Shekou-Hong Kong route. There will be no change to the Shekou-Macao service except that departure times for the last ferries will be extended by one hour.

Services to Haikou resumed Wednesday and bookings for the festival week began Saturday. Bookings for trips to other destinations can be made 15 days ahead.

Fares will also increase during the travel peak except for Hong Kong ferries, which will remain the same. Zhuhai fares will increase by 10 yuan (US$1.2) from Tuesday to March 5. Haikou ferries will cost about 50 yuan more from Jan. 31 to Feb. 15. Ferries to Macao will cost 10 yuan more between Tuesday and March 5.

Terminal authorities also reminded passengers to the Hong Kong airport to board the ferry at Shekou two and a half hours before their flight departure time.

More trains and long-distance coach services will be provided for the 7 million passengers expected to travel during the Spring Festival travel period.

Editor: Catherine