Hong Kong Boating Industry Association

06/08/2026

https://www.sail-world.com/news/298644/Busy-busy-in-Hong-Kong

HKBIA AGM records "a very busy year" Click on the pic for more.

HKBIA Annual General Meeting, 29 July 2026. Shanghai Room, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.

22/06/2026

The HKBIA Council and Members joined the Maiden Voyage Ceremony at Nansha Marina on 18 June 2026. We are delighted to welcome the new scheme that allows yachts to travel freely into the .

On June 18, the first batch of more than 20 yachts from Hong Kong and Macao arrived at designated ports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan and entered the country to begin their maiden voyage, officially launching the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao yacht free travel program.

In May of this year, the State Council issued the "Approval on Temporarily Adjusting the Implementation of Relevant Administrative Regulations in the Nine Cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," temporarily adjusting the hashtag of relevant provisions of the "Customs Affairs Guarantee Regulations" and the "Ship Registration Regulations" in the nine cities of the Greater Bay Area.

In June, the Guangdong Provincial People's Government issued the "Guangdong Provincial Measures for the Administration of Yacht Free Travel to Hong Kong and Macao" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures").

In the future, Hong Kong and Macao yachts holding temporary mainland vessel nationality certificates will be able to freely navigate within the nine mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing, and conduct recreational activities in designated waters. It was also learned that the "Guangdong Yachts Going South" initiative is currently underway.

Read the full statement here:
https://hongkongbia.com/resources/Documents/PRESS%20RELEASE_ENGLISH.pdf

Exciting times ahead for the industry and we are delighted to share more news as they come.

05/01/2026

As we welcome the new year 2026, we are reflecting on one of the highlights of the previous year, the Hong Kong Boating Forum organising with the support of ICOMIA taking place in early December, just ahead of the HK Boat Show.

At the Forum with Government the was accompanied by Joe Lynch, the CEO of , and Su Lin Cheah, the ICOMIA Asia Representative, who gave the Policy Unit fresh and informative information, from a global point of view, of the Associations vision for the future of not just HK Waters but also on the Greater Bay Archipelago area.

The Association wishes to make the Members aware of some of the actions that are taking place and some proposals that are planned:

✔️ The tender for the build of the new Sea Wall of the expanded Aberdeen South Typhoon Shelter has been issued.

✔️ MarDep are in discussions with the Mainland over greater ease of HK Pleasure Vessels having easier access to cruise in Greater Bay Archipelago waters. This area has over 1000 islands and 24 Marinas to visit. Although the full details are yet to be released we have been advised that the proposal is that HK registered pleasure vessels can apply for a "passport" so as to be able to visit the Mainland. Each boat will need to have AIS, Radio and Life Raft. The boat will need to be surveyed and there will be some areas where the boat will not be allowed to sail.

✔️ MarDep are setting up 5 specific pleasure craft anchorage areas in Stanley, Tai Tam, Repulse Bay, Tai O and Tai Po. At present overseas visiting yachts must have a berthing location arranged, say with a marina, before they are allowed to enter HK waters. They will now be able to moor at one of the designated anchorages to arrange inward clearance.

✔️ MarDep are considering have visiting yacht Captains conduct a short "local Knowledge" course before issuing the vessel a permit o cruise. With this visiting vessel will be able to cruise and anchor anywhere in HK Waters. They are also examining the vessel being able to use it's own tender.

The Association had a fruitful discussion with the CE's Policy unit, where the ICOMIA representatives advised them on how visiting yachts, marinas, cruising grounds were organised elsewhere in the world.

The message from both departments is that they are open to suggestions from the industry. As such the HKBIA would like our members to advise of anything that members feel should be brought up with the two departments. It is our to collate these suggestions together, along with a to the suggestion so that we can be proactive and assist them with answers.

The HK Boating Forum, held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), was a great success, with lots of ideas brought forward by the panelists for how our industry can grow in the future. Thank you everyone for attending and active contribution!

05/01/2026

The 2025 HK International Boat Show at Club Marina Cove was a success with 40+ yachts on display, several Asia premieres and active docks with both local and international visitors. Thank you to all those that were able to join the Boat Show Cocktail on 5 Dec 2025, we hope you had a good boat show and successful exchanges with the community.

All the best for another fruitful boating year 2026 to all our members and partners!

24/10/2025

Strengthening Yachting Growth and Integration in the Greater Bay Area

The Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA) successfully hosted a pivotal industry meeting at Lantau Yacht Club, on the occasion of the annual Festa Nautica, bringing together key from across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The event featured an industry lunch, round table discussions moderated by the Association chair Lawrence Chow, media interviews, an opening ceremony, and an evening networking cocktail, all aimed at fostering and across the region’s growing yachting .

Participants included representatives from HKBIA, Lantau Yacht Club, InvestHK, APSA, Simpson Marine, Camper & Nicholsons, RHKYC, Trienergy Group, and the Zhuhai Jinwan Yacht Industry Development Association, among others.

Discussions focused on the vision for yachting in the GBA, regulatory for cross-border yacht movement, of anchorage facilities for visiting yachts, and strategies to position Hong Kong as a premier yachting and superyacht destination within Asia’s expanding blue .

The meeting marked an important step forward in aligning efforts between the public and private sectors to build a more integrated, accessible, and sustainable yachting future for the Greater Bay Area.

More to come in December on the occasion of the Hong Kong International Boat Show.

Thank you everyone for your contribution in this positive, constructive exchange.

25/05/2025

WORLD BOATING DAY 2025

In case you didn't have this in your calendar, yesterday
24 May 2025 was officially World Boating Day!

On World Boating Day (and to make it all a bit more flexible, 19-25 May as well) each participant offers the public a collective celebration of leisure boating by organising and executing their very own Open Day, with the aim of making the boating industry more accessible and engaging for participants and visitors alike.

WBD is a non-profit organisation. The combined efforts of participants around the world result in a myriad of events taking place under the single overarching umbrella of World Boating Day. This initiative ensures that the unique endeavours of leisure boating organisations are given a spotlight while simultaneously shedding light on the broader industry landscape.

Whether you are a boat builder with a history, a curious student, an innovative design studio, or a passionate journalist, World Boating Day is for you! Seasoned industry experts and enthusiastic newcomers alike are warmly welcomed and encouraged to take part in this one-of-a-kind celebration of the leisure boating industry.

For more information, please check out the WBD website
https://worldboatingday.com/about/

At the moment, WBD gets most of its support from Europe and North America, but there's plenty to celebrate in Hong Kong. This weekend will see regattas, sail training courses and just good ol' messing about in boats at all of the three major sailing clubs, and (very) recently the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit 2025 wrapped up with a gala celebration of boating across the region at the Asia Superyacht Night Hong Kong, presented by the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association and the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association.

Boating of all shapes and sizes is undergoing huge growth in Asia. If boating interests you, either as a participant or as a career opportunity, check out the companies participating in World Boating Day (website, above). Don't hesitate - as the saying goes, "get both feet in it!".

15/05/2025

A night to remember at the Regatta Rooms, Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. With many thanks to our valued sponsors: Fema Marine, Superyacht Times, Maritime Cook Islands, Cheoy Lee Shipyards, Cowie & Co, and YachtEye

30/04/2025

To all HKBIA and APSA Members:

28/04/2025

Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2025: preview by Adil Zaman, Superyacht Times

Following its successful debut in 2024, SuperYacht Times is proud to host the second edition of the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit (APSS), taking place on 7–8 May 2025 at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel in Hong Kong – Asia’s most prominent yachting capital.

In preparation for this event, SYNews Research Analyst, Adil Zaman, along with the Head of Intelligence, Ralph Dazert, conducted an in-depth analysis of regional superyacht movements and ownership trends. The findings are featured in the upcoming Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2025, set to launch during the APSS. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside.

How many superyachts are there in Asia?

Over the past few years, SuperYacht Times has refined its yacht tracking capabilities using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking signals that yachts emit, now covering more than 76% of all operating superyachts over 30m. For this report, AIS data was further enhanced by cross-checking the yachts transmitting on AIS against all yachts that are known to be in the area according to our records, providing one of the most comprehensive and accurate views to date of superyacht activity in the Asia-Pacific region.

'Missing' vessels and their likely locations were incorporated into the dataset, ensuring maximum reliability of our analysis.

Yachts in Asia-Pacific: larger than average

From January to December 2024, we recorded 530 unique superyachts active in the region – either permanently based there or visiting during the year. Of these, 343 yachts were owned by Asia-Pacific nationals, while 187 were foreign-flagged.

Only 12% of the fleet were sailing yachts – lower than the global average of 15% – and the overall fleet in the region trends slightly larger than the global norm. Just 59% of the fleet fell into the 30–40-metre category (vs. 63% globally), while more than 20% exceeded 50 metres, compared to 16% worldwide.

Number of yachts in the region is increasing

While we counted a total of 530 unique superyachts in the Asia-Pacific region over the past year, annual figures vary as yachts are added to the local fleet or visit from outside the region. That said, the upward trend is clear. In 2022, we recorded 372 unique yachts. In 2023, this rose to 445, a 20% increase. By 2024, the figure climbed to 530, representing a further 19% growth. If this trend continues, the number of superyachts operating in the region could exceed 600 by the end of 2025.

Where are the yachts based?

The Asia-Pacific region spans a diverse and expansive maritime landscape, from established yachting hubs to fast-growing destinations. According to our latest tracking data, Australia continues to attract the highest number of superyachts, with over 140 active yachts recorded in the past year – a testament to its strong infrastructure and appeal for long-range cruising.

Singapore remains a key stopover, serving as a vital transit and provisioning hub for yachts moving between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Southeast Asia continues to show strong cruising activity, with countries like Thailand and Malaysia each recording more than 70 superyachts. Hong Kong stands out as the traditional hub of yacht ownership and operations in South East Asia, while the Indian Ocean, particularly around the Maldives, remains a strategic waypoint for yachts in transit.

A detailed breakdown of yacht activity by country – including year-on-year trends, fleet size, and ownership – is available exclusively in the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2025.

All of this, and much more, will be featured in the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report 2025, published during the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit in Hong Kong on 7–8 May 2025. The report will be made available as a free digital download following the event.

Stay tuned to the SuperYacht Times newsletter and website for the official release – and join us as we explore how the Asia-Pacific region continues to shape the future of global yachting.

28/04/2025

ASIA-PACIFIC SUPERYACHT SUMMIT 2025 - PROGRAMME

The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit will be held on 7 and 8 May 2025 in the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel.

Wednesday 7 May 2025
08:15 - 09:10 - Welcome Coffee
09:10 - 09:25 - Presenting the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Report
● Merijn de Waard | SuperYacht Times
● Ralph Dazert | SuperYacht Times

09:25 - 10:05 - Hong Kong as a superyacht destination
● Benjamin Wong | InvestHK
● Cissy Chan | Skytopia
● Lawrence Chow | Hong Kong Boating Association
● Joe Yuen | Lodestone Yachts

10:05 - 10:55 - How to build a superyacht destination
● Issam Kazim | CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
● Jean-Marc Poullet | Burgess + Yacht Owner
● Laura Verbrugge | Fraser Yachts
● Manoa Rey | Tahiti Tourism
● Bob Hoogendoorn | McKinsey & Company

10:55 - 11:25 - Coffee Break

11:25 - 12:00 - New marina projects
● Amit Majumder | Atoll Estates + Zamani Islands
● Nigel Beatty | Superyacht Base Kobe Marina Japan

12:00 - 12:40 - How to manage refits successfully in Asia
● Peter Plesea | Senior Captain 63m M/Y Diamonds are Forever
● Robert Corcoran | FEMA International
● Robert Taylor | Clearvac
● Sam Thompson of JMS Yachting

12:40 - 13:05 - Superyacht Captain Insights
● Captain Fraser Gow | 60m Amels Stardust

13:05 - 14:30 - Lunch

14:30 - 15:00 - How to engage people through social media: Supercoolben
● Ben Sumadiwiria

15:00 - 15:40 - Yachting & Wealth Management for a new generation
● Nigel Tang | Warpcapital Yacht Management
● Paolo Cassani | Camper & Nicholsons
● David Lau | Investor

15:40 - 16:15 - Interview with Doan Viet Dai Tu Chairman of Openasia Group
● Doan Viet Dai Tu | Openasia Group

16:15 - 17:30 - Networking Drinks
19:00 - 22:30 - Networking Dinner, at The Verandah in The Repulse Bay Hotel.

*********************************************************

Thursday 8 May 2025

08:45 - 09:45 - Welcome Coffee
09:45 - 10:10 - A new type of class society
● Nikolas Rabier | Yacht Standards

10:10 - 11:00 - Reducing the energy consumption of yachts
● Martin Lo | Cheoy Lee
● Vladimir Zinchenko | GX Superyachts
● Chris Blackwell | Echo Yachts
● Alessandro Rossi | Azimut Benetti Group
● Haico van Roeden | Damen Yachting

11:00 - 11:40 - Coffee break

11:40 - 12:20 - Emerging yachting markets
● Angel Zhou | Simpson Marine
● Alexandre Heng | O2H2O
● Ronnie Wang | Yachting Encounters Asia
● Gautama Dutta | Marine Solutions Distribution & Services

12:20 - 13:00 - Cross-border regulations and practicalities
● Roy Chan | Legalmapp
● May Choi | Simpson Marine
● Captain Robin Shellcock | Motor Yacht
● Simone Centola | Gateway Law

13:00 - 14:30 - Lunch

14:30 - 15:10 - Discover Indonesia
● Iswin Hudiarto | TASK Cikaldana
● Jasmine Chong | Owner 45m S/Y Celestia
● Boumedienne Senous, CEO & Founder of Yacht Sourcing
● Thye Hock, GOH, superyacht captain

15:10 - 15:45 - Yacht owner interview
● Giorgio Moretti | serial yacht owner

15:45 - 16:00 - Closing Words
● Merijn de Waard

Contact Details:
Merijn de Waard, Founder & Director, SuperYacht Times
+31 6 5193 4106, [email protected]

Eline Heemstra, Events Manager, SuperYacht Times
[email protected]