Beijing has approved a pilot scheme allowing yachts to enter designated Greater Bay Area (GBA) mainland ports without customs guarantees, in a strategic move to boost the region’s yacht economy. The pilot yachting scheme will allow vessels to enter nine designated mainland ports without customs guarantees, paving the way for seamless, cross-border yacht travel within the Greater Bay Area.

In an official statement released on 30 May 2026, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced: “Hong Kong welcomes the State Council’s announcement of its approval of exemption of the requirement of a guarantee and implementation of temporary ship nationality registration for Hong Kong and Macao yachts when temporarily entering and exiting the Chinese Mainland through designated ports in the nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the GBA), and only navigating within these cities.”

A Landmark Step for Cross-Border Cruising

“The policy is a major step towards seamless yacht travel within the bay area. It also helps Hong Kong’s yacht industry to expand and connect the nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By expanding the waters beyond Hong Kong, people with yachts can venture to different cities and islands in the GBA. The regulations now exist for yachts from Hong Kong and Macao to sail to selected ports while being exempt from guarantee requirements.”

– Lawrence Chow, Chairman, Hong Kong Boating Industry Association

“Currently the policy only allows Hong Kong and Macao registered yachts to visit the nine cities in the Greater Bay Archipelago, which is an important milestone for the industry and regional growth. China opening its cruising grounds marks an important step forward for the future.”

– Joe Yuen, Treasurer, Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association

A Delegation Heads to Shenzhen

A delegation of HKBIA and APSA members travelled to Shenzhen on 3 June to meet with yachting sector officials. The HKBIA & SZBIA GBA Marina and Port Tour was a successful event, with the opportunity to visit the Nansha Marina, Visun Shenzhen Airport Marina, and the Shekou Port – three of the ports where yachts can complete CIQ clearance to enter the GBA.

The Nine Cities and the First Ports of Call

According to the Hong Kong Government, the new regulations allow Hong Kong and Macao yachts to use their Provisional Certificate of Ship’s Nationality when entering the nine mainland GBA cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing. The first batch of designated ports includes Nansha Passenger Port in Guangzhou and the Shenzhen Airport Ferry Terminal, along with their designated waters for leisure cruising around the Pearl River Estuary and Shenzhen Bay area.

Reducing Burdens, Building Momentum

A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau said: “Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have been committed to promoting individual yacht travel. To this end, the Marine Department, the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, and the Macao Marine and Water Bureau have established the tripartite Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao individual yacht travel working group, which has been actively discussing facilitation measures to advance the development of the individual yacht travel system. Under the new policy, the exemption for the requirement for a guarantee will significantly reduce the financial burden on owners of Hong Kong and Macao yachts when handling cross-border procedures. Meanwhile, the temporary ship nationality registration allows Hong Kong and Macao yachts to obtain temporary ship nationality certificates issued by the Chinese Mainland without affecting their original ship registration, enabling individual yacht travel within the waters of the nine Chinese Mainland cities in the GBA.”

Meanwhile, the Marine Department is actively co-ordinating with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration on facilitation measures for southbound travel for yachts from the Chinese Mainland, with details to be announced once finalised. The department added that it will maintain close communication with the relevant authorities of Guangdong Province and the Macao Marine and Water Bureau to continuously review and refine facilitation measures for both northbound travel from Hong Kong and southbound travel from the Chinese Mainland, aiming to foster a healthy, sustainable, and competitive environment for the local yacht economy.

Both the HKBIA and the APSA are actively involved in advising relevant authorities on the implementation of the new yachting policies, and in keeping the yachting community updated on developments that will boost the region’s maritime economy and grow the yachting industry in both Hong Kong and the GBA.

Thanks to SZBIA for jointly organising the event with the HKBIA, and a special thank you to the sponsors: Cheoy Lee Yachts, ePropulsion, and Hong Kong Shipyard.

Greater Bay Archipelago Sponsorship Opportunities

The Greater Bay Archipelago is a not-for-profit initiative launched in 2026 that aims to promote the development of cross-boundary yachting and boating, as well as water-based tourism, sports, and recreation across the Greater Bay Area. For more information on the Greater Bay Archipelago initiative and partnership opportunities, contact info@greaterbayarchipelago.com.

About the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA)

The Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA) is the leading professional body for the superyacht industry in the Asian region. APSA’s primary objective is to promote the Asia-Pacific region as a prime cruising destination and to support the development of world-class superyacht infrastructure, services, and businesses across the territory. For more information, visit www.apsuperyacht.org or contact Suzy Rayment at admin@apsuperyacht.org.

About the Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA)

The Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA) is the unified voice for the marine leisure sector in Hong Kong. Representing shipyards, distributors, manufacturers, and service providers, the HKBIA works closely with government bodies and international organisations to promote safe, sustainable boating and to drive the economic growth of the regional maritime industry. For more information, visit www.hongkongbia.com or contact Lawrence Chow at chair@hongkongbia.com.

Photo credit: Photos courtesy of the HKBIA and BIA.