The oldest style of traditional vessel deeply rooted in Hong Kong's maritime history is the classic Chinese junk boat, characterized by its iconic battened sails and distinct structural design used for centuries along the southern China coast for fishing and trade. In terms of continuously operating historic corporate fleets, the iconic green-and-white double-ended passenger ferries operated by the Star Company—dating back to their establishment in the late nineteenth century—represent the oldest surviving active passenger fleet in local waters.