Zhuhai releases 2027 yacht development action plan: 400 new berths and 5 billion output value, Hong Kong shipowners will become the biggest winners?

Zhuhai releases 2027 yacht development action plan: 400 new berths and 5 billion output value, Hong Kong shipowners will become the biggest winners?

At the beginning of the new year, everything is renewed. For Hong Kong shipowners who are concerned about “Hong Kong ships going north”, the first major good news for 2026 has landed. On January 5, the Office of the Zhuhai Municipal People’s Government officially issued the “Zhuhai Action Plan for Promoting the High-quality Development of the Yacht Industry (2025-2027)”. This three-year action plan not only demonstrates Zhuhai’s ambition to become a “world-class yacht tourism destination” but also paves the way for Hong Kong yachts to enter Mainland waters.

The plan clearly proposes: By 2027, Zhuhai will build no less than 400 yacht berths, more than 300 yachts registered in the city, and industrial revenue will exceed 5 billion yuan. Behind these figures, what are the hidden opportunities for Hong Kong shipowners? Voy.hk The editorial department provides an in-depth disassembly for you.

Opportunity 1: Solve the “berth shortage” – 400+ new berths and island chain supply points

It is difficult to find a yacht berth in Hong Kong and the rent is high, which is a well-known pain point. The Action Plan prioritizes infrastructure construction and aims to build no less than 400 berths (including docks) by 2027.

What does this mean for Hong Kong shipowners?

• The rise of public berths: Unlike Hong Kong’s private membership-based model, Zhuhai’s New Deal encourages the construction of “public marinas”. This means that Hong Kong ship owners will have more cost-effective berth options with daily fees when going north in the future, without the need to purchase expensive memberships.
• Wanshan Islands “island hopping” comes true: The plan specifically mentions the construction of “stops”. This indicates that on popular islands such as Guishan Island, Dongao Island, and Wailingding Island, standardized temporary berthing areas and supply stations for yachts will be established. The problem of “nowhere to dock on outlying islands and no water and electricity” that has plagued Hong Kong boat owners for many years will be solved, and the true island hopping lifestyle is about to be realized.

Opportunity 2: Maintenance costs plummeted – supply chain upgrades behind $5 billion in output value

The plan proposes that by 2027, the revenue of yachts and related supporting services will reach more than 5 billion yuan. Where did the 5 billion come from? In addition to tourism spending, a large part of it will come from refit & maintenance.

Bonuses for Hong Kong ship owners:

• The rise of high-end maintenance bases: Zhuhai Pingsha Yacht Industrial Zone is already the largest yacht manufacturing base in China. The new policy will further promote the “transformation from manufacturing to service” and attract more international engine brands (such as Volvo Penta, MTU) and electronic equipment manufacturers to set up official repair centers.
• Dual advantages of price and technology: With the effect of industrial agglomeration, Zhuhai will form a technological level comparable to Hong Kong, but maintain the labor cost advantage of the mainland. It is expected that in the next three years, “annual overhaul” or “interior refurbishment” of Hong Kong ships going north will become the norm, and maintenance costs are expected to be reduced by 30%-50%.

Opportunity 3: Policy relaxation – create a “yacht free travel” demonstration area

Although the “300 yacht registration” seems to be a target for local vessels in Zhuhai, the high-quality development of the yacht industry is inseparable from liquidity. The “Action Plan” emphasizes the need to deepen the policy of free yacht travel in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

We predict the next policy direction:

Summary: Zhuhai is making every effort to build a “maritime highway” and “super service area” for port ships going north

The release of this action plan is essentially a “VIP fast pass” issued by Zhuhai to Hong Kong ship owners. In the past, “Hong Kong ships going north” was often seen as a challenge full of uncertainty – long customs clearance, cumbersome declaration procedures, and lack of dedicated berths after entry.

However, with the 2027 goal established, Zhuhai is working to build this route into the most efficient “maritime highway” in the Greater Bay Area. From the perspective of infrastructure, Guishan Island, as the first stop of entry, will usher in an intelligent upgrade of its port inspection facilities, and the “single window” declaration system introduced in the future will strive to compress the customs clearance time to the extreme, truly realizing the seamless connection of “drinking morning tea in Victoria Harbor in the morning and eating seafood on Guishan Island at noon”.

What’s more, Zhuhai is positioning itself as a “super service area” for Hong Kong shipowners. This is not only to solve the problem of the number of “nowhere to moor” (400 new berths), but also to build a full-featured logistics support system. Imagine that when your yacht is full of typhoon shelters in Hong Kong, Zhuhai has plenty of windproof berths; When it’s time for an expensive annual overhaul, there are skilled and affordable repair bases; When you want to go island hopping, the various islands of the Wan Son Islands are equipped with standardized supply stops.

For Hong Kong ship owners, Zhuhai is no longer just a tourist destination, but has all the core functions of a “second home port”. Policy dividends have been released, infrastructure is accelerating, and an efficient, convenient and low-cost green channel tailored for Hong Kong yachts has taken shape. Now, there’s never been a better time to get a head start.