The renovated “Shrimp Junk”
In a bid to create a new type of entertainment in the peninsula and to pay homage to the region’s sailing history, Macau Sailing Ltd opened its doors in September 2015 to accommodate both sea and boat lovers.
The company was initiated by Bibito Henrique, a boat enthusiast, who thinks that the boating community in Macau is still small but growing.
The company uses a traditional sailing junk. The 40-year-
old classic Chinese sailing vessel recently underwent a general restoration in order to re-establish it to its original splendor.
The renovated “Shrimp Junk” offers private cruises to boat lovers departing from Macau, and is also used for various other events. Henrique stated the vessel is a part of the region’s heritage as the traditional junk was built last century in the Coloane boatyards.
“It is a vessel that both symbolizes and reclaims the tradition and culture of Macau along with its history linked to the sea,” he explained to the Times.
The entrepreneur claimed that what the company offers is different from other tourist offers in the territory, stressing that they provide experiences to customers by showing the “different side of life in Macau.”
Henrique described the Shrimp Junk as a “floating museum,” as guests have the chance to visit the fishermen’s community, hidden by the inner harbor buildings, who still embrace a traditional lifestyle.
Macau Sailing offers “Full Day Tours” and “Saturday Sunset Cruises” to the public. The company intends to offer a weekly run of the sunset cruise for guests to get a glimpse of their tours.
“We provide different routes and different packages for different experiences. […] We are currently working in close relations with tourist operators in order to create a personalized Macau identity brand,” he emphasized.
According to Henrique, the junk has hosted private tours for a number of different events including celebrations, university programs and companies’ appreciation events.
He also revealed that the company is currently developing an educational course on sailing for both citizens and visitors.
Macau Sailing has created partnerships with nautical companies in Macau and China to ensure the repair and maintenance of locally owned boats.
The company also provides boat maintenance and management services including brokerage, dry dock facilities, and skippering services among others.
Macau Sailing halted its operation between January and April due to weather changes and the junk’s maintenance work. According to Henrique, the cruise’s operation will pause for four months every year.
Moreover, Henrique believes that the company’s offerings will help contribute to the changing economy of the region, emphasizing that there are tourists in the region who are also concerned with cultural experiences other than gaming.
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