Guangdong yachts may sail to Hong Kong as early as October

Sailboats cruise near Longcheer Yacht Club in Dapeng New Area, Shenzhen. Shenzhen Special Zone Daily

Guangdong yachts could be allowed to sail directly to Hong Kong as early as October under a new cross-boundary arrangement aimed at facilitating yacht travel within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said in a press conference yesterday that the Hong Kong Marine Department and the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration are finalizing arrangements for southbound travel by Guangdong yachts and northbound travel by Hong Kong yachts. Details of the southbound scheme will be announced later. 

The initiative is part of Hong Kong's efforts to develop its yacht economy and promote cross-boundary leisure travel. Hong Kong's 2026 Policy Address, released Sept. 16, calls for facilitating both northbound and southbound yacht travel and attracting more visiting yachts, including superyachts. 

Preparations for the southbound scheme are already underway. Mainland yacht masters seeking to navigate Hong Kong waters must hold appropriate professional qualifications and demonstrate knowledge of local waters.

The Hong Kong Marine Department initially introduced examination arrangements in Nansha, Guangzhou, allowing mainland yacht masters to take the required local-knowledge assessment without traveling to Hong Kong. Examination centers are now available at five mainland locations, including Shenzhen, Chan said Sunday. 

Yachts are moored in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. China News Service

Hong Kong has also introduced new arrangements to address berthing constraints. Visiting yachts no longer need to reserve berths at privately operated yacht clubs or piers before arrival and may instead anchor in five designated areas in Hong Kong waters.

The Hong Kong Marine Department has established a dynamic yacht monitoring system that tracks the use of anchorages in real time. Authorities can coordinate with yacht masters before their arrival and direct visiting yachts to anchorages with sufficient capacity. 

The southbound scheme would complement measures introduced earlier this year allowing eligible Hong Kong and Macao yachts to travel in the nine mainland GBA cities.

The first group of more than 20 Hong Kong and Macao yachts made their maiden voyages under the arrangement June 18, arriving at designated ports in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Zhongshan.

Eligible yachts can obtain temporary mainland ship nationality registration, allowing them to navigate and undertake leisure activities in designated waters in Shenzhen and eight other mainland GBA cities — Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

The expansion of two-way yacht travel is part of broader efforts to improve transport links and movement within the GBA. Hong Kong's new five-year development plan specifically calls for deeper GBA integration, including measures to develop yacht facilities, increase berthing capacity and facilitate cross-boundary yacht travel.