Behind the 5 billion output value target: How does Zhuhai use “no guarantee” and “super maintenance” to attack Hong Kong shipowners?

Behind the 5 billion output value target: How does Zhuhai use “no guarantee” and “super maintenance” to attack Hong Kong shipowners?

The Zhuhai Municipal Government has set an amazing flag in the “Action Plan”: by 2027, the revenue of yachts and related supporting services will reach more than 5 billion yuan. For savvy Hong Kong boat owners, the logic behind this figure is clear – Zhuhai is making a city-wide effort to transform from a mere “tourist spot” to a “superyacht logistics base” serving the Greater Bay Area, especially Hong Kong. From policy relaxation to maintenance and upgrading, Zhuhai is building an irresistible “northward temptation chain”.

[Picture insertion point: Aerial view of Zhuhai Pingsha Yacht Industrial Zone or large gantry crane operation scene]

1. Policy green light: from “passing through customs” to “non-inductive customs clearance”

In the past, the biggest obstacle to the “Hong Kong Ship Going North” was the cumbersome customs clearance procedures. You may need to go to customs, border inspection, and maritime affairs, fill out countless forms, and pay high security deposits. But the “Action Plan” provides revolutionary solutions to these pain points:

(1) Digitize the “Single Window”

Zhuhai will fully implement the internationally accepted “single window” declaration mechanism. This means that in the future, Hong Kong ship owners only need to submit information once on an APP or website, and the system will automatically distribute it to each port inspection unit. The goal is to achieve “early declaration and release on arrival”, compressing customs clearance time from a few days to an hourly level. This is essential for a weekend trip that you want to take on a walk-and-go trip.

(2) The security deposit problem is solved

The plan clearly promotes the normalization of the “yacht guarantee-free” policy, or introduces insurance institutions to provide low-cost guarantee services. Previously, sailing a $2000k yacht north may require freezing millions of dollars as tax security, which greatly takes into account cash flow. After the implementation of the new policy, this hidden cost will return to zero, completely dispelling the concerns of ship owners.

2. Maintenance Bonus: World-class craftsmanship, GBA price

The core growth point of the 5 billion output value lies in yacht repair and refit. Zhuhai Pingsha is the largest yacht manufacturing base in China, where well-known shipyards such as Sunbird and Heysea are gathered. Now, it is rapidly transforming into a high-end service center.

Case Study: Replacing the entire boat with teak flooring

Taking a 60-foot yacht as an example, if the entire teak deck is replaced in Hong Kong, the quotation may be as high as hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong dollars due to high labor and a shortage of good masters, and the waiting time may be half a year. And in Zhuhai: 1. Supply Chain Advantages: Backed by a strong timber import and processing industry, Zhuhai has ample inventory of teak planks without long waits. 2. Craftsmanship Advantages: There are a large number of experienced shipbuilding craftsmen here, who have extremely high requirements for the finesse of carpentry, fiberglass restoration (after all, it is the standard for building new ships). 3. Price Advantage: Labor costs are only 40%-50% of Hong Kong. The same project in Zhuhai not only halves the price, but also shortens the construction period by 1/3. This is why more and more Hong Kong shipowners are choosing to “go north for overhaul”.

[Image insertion point: Close-up of workers doing fine teak sanding or yacht painting work at a shipyard]

3. Berths and Wind Shelter: “Noah’s Ark” during the typhoon season

Hong Kong’s typhoon shelters are hard to find during typhoon season, and many yachts collide due to overcrowded berths. The 400 new berths planned in Zhuhai’s “Action Plan” fully consider the windproof requirements in the design standards. Compared with Hong Kong’s “wet berths”, Zhuhai also provides a large number of “dry stack” services. For small yachts or speedboats under 30 feet, they can usually be stored in land dry storage, which not only saves costs, but also avoids the problem of long oyster lodges at the bottom of the boat.

4. Why do Hong Kong shipowners need to lay out now?

It takes time for policies to be implemented, but the window period for dividends is often fleeting. Now is the best time to enter:

the first trial is encouraged service

Considerations	Current Status (2025-2026).	Future Forecasts (2027 and beyond).
Berth price	is at a low level, has many choices, and can sign a long-term contract	With the ease of customs clearance, Hong Kong ships are pouring in, and prices are bound to rise
Policy threshold	During the pilot period, the approval is relatively relaxed, and	As traffic increases, a quota system or reservation system may be implemented
Maintenance scheduling	Sufficient production capacity, no need to queue, and more meticulous	Quality shipyards will be full and may require reservations months in advance