Frequently asked questions

Is the Donggang–Xiaoliuqiu ferry running today?

Check the light at the top of this page first. Green means wind and waves are within the Maritime and Port Bureau passenger-ship standard, yellow means the captain decides, and red means sailings should be suspended under the standard. The light is calculated from Central Weather Administration forecasts and the Xiaoliuqiu buoy. It is not an operator's notice. To know whether a boat is actually sailing, read the operator's announcement or call the numbers listed in the Visitors tab.

When does the Xiaoliuqiu ferry stop running? What is the suspension standard?

The Maritime and Port Bureau passenger-ship standard: wind of Beaufort Force 6 or above, or waves of 2 m or above, means suspension under the standard. Wind of Force 5 or above, or waves of 1.5 m or above, is left to the captain, and some operators suspend the whole day in this range. Apart from wind and waves, drifting logs and harbor conditions have also led operators to suspend.

Will the Xiaoliuqiu ferry stop for a typhoon?

When a typhoon, a front or the southwest monsoon brings rough seas, the Donggang–Xiaoliuqiu ferry mostly stops. Each operator announces its own suspension, sometimes a day ahead. In a typhoon, read the Central Weather Administration sea warning first, then the light on this page: red means wind and waves have reached the suspension standard.

Does this site have a timetable or ticket prices?

No. This site only calculates the wind-and-wave light. It has no timetable or fares. Ask the operators (Joint Operations Office, Tai Fu, Lan Bai, Liu Hsing); their phone numbers are in the Visitors tab.

Where does the light data come from, and how often is it updated?

The sources are the Central Weather Administration wind and wave forecast for the Donggang–Xiaoliuqiu route (F-A0037-004) and observations from the Xiaoliuqiu data buoy 46714D. They are refreshed every 10 minutes. The overall light takes the worse of the forecast and the buoy observation.

Does this show the light for the Yanliu line (Yanpu to Xiaoliuqiu)?

No. This data covers the Donggang ⇄ Xiaoliuqiu route only. Yanpu (the Yanliu line) is outside its scope.