Coloane pier
The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) has presented to the press new facilities for yachts traveling between Zhongshan and Macau. The facilities have been made ready for the implementation of the so-called “individual visit scheme.”
In a tour organized by the DSAMA and held last Friday, the marine authority guided journalists through the new facilities and explained the procedures to be enforced when the berth becomes operational, which is expected to happen before the end of this year.
As explained by the Shipping and Seafarers Department head, Jesse Lei, “On the Macau side, everything is about ready. We are just waiting for the conclusion of the works on the Zhongshan pier, the facilities of which had to be upgraded from commercial port to a tourism berth.”
On the Macau side, the new berth setup in Coloane, just across from the University of Macau’s new campus, is ready and has the capacity for fifty yachts between 12 and 40 meters long.
Tour cruiser
At arrival on the new berth, there will be a transportation ferry with a capacity for 12 persons. This will transfer passengers from their yacht to dry land, where they will complete the customs formalities as per normal. These formalities will be conducted at the Coloane Customs Point in order to facilitate and provide assistance to the boat owner or person responsible, who are obliged to declare all goods and products carried on board.
The transfer operator, which will make 15 to 20 workers available to support this operation in this first phase, will be available 24 hours a day to perform these transportation tasks at any time needed. These workers have already received training to perform all the required operations and duties.
The daily berthing fee is yet to be fully determined, but will be based on a formula in which the boat’s dimensions are the decisive factor when calculating the amount to be paid by the travelers. The price table will be set by the operator after gaining the approval of the Marine and Water Bureau.
The DSAMA officials also mentioned that this new 50 berth facility spots is the first phase of a larger project, as it can be expanded up to a limit of 150 berthing locations, according to the quantity of demand.
In order to travel to Macau under this system, travelers must apply from their original location. The application is hassle-free and can be completed online and applicants can expect a response within 24 hours.
As a complement to its services, the operator will also provide a “shuttle bus” between the pier and several locations within the territory.
The DSAMA is currently collecting data from several entities and departments in order to create an “Individual Tourism in Yachts User Manual” to be provided to travelers. The manual will be ready before the new berth begins its operations.
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