Hong Kong’s Airport Authority has launched its marina project as part of the broader SkyCity blueprint, seeking global interest from the yachting, hospitality and water sports sectors to help shape the 200-hectare (494 acres) development, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2028.

Cissy Chan Ching-sze, the authority’s commercial executive director, said on Monday that the development – a key component of the Skytopia project – is aimed at a global yachting market expected to reach HK$352 billion (US$45 billion) by 2032.

“2028 is going to be a very important year because the first phase of the yacht bay project will be completed in stages throughout that year,” Chan said, adding that the facility would initially accommodate 70 small and medium-sized vessels.

She said that a defining feature of the project would be the creation of Hong Kong’s largest yachting hub, which would include a bay with a total capacity of 500 berths. Half of the berths would be dedicated to vessels exceeding 30 metres (98 feet), she added.

For ultra-large vessels, the bay will include four specialised berths for 100-metre yachts, with the largest capable of accommodating vessels up to 150 metres.

Chan said the marina infrastructure would be complemented by the city’s largest water sports recreation zone, spanning up to 100 hectares and featuring cable skiing, motorised water sports and inflatable installations, including waterborne pickleball.