Visun expands marinas in China, but slowly

Superyacht berthing and maintenance inventory is set to increase in China with the impending expansion of the Visun Royal Yacht Club in Sanya, developed by Chinese real estate magnate Wang Dafu. A 66,000m² maintenance centre for yachts up to 80m is planned for the Nanshan area of the coastal city by 2015, while a new clubhouse at the Yacht Club is in the works.

Visun last month also signed a letter of intent with Shenzhen Airport Group to co-develop a yachting complex next to the Shenzhen international Airport, 15km inland from Hong Kong within the next two to five years.

“The Shenzhen project consists of a marina, a yacht maintenance and refit centre, an exhibition space with showrooms and will also include commercial opportunities for residences, hotels, shopping centers, and offices,” says Ronnie Wang of Marine Dragon Consulting, who follows the Chinese marina market.

“It is going to take several years to realize this huge development, but it probably will become another successful marina complex like in Sanya because Shenzhen is a costal business hub rather than a resort city and has already developed a yachting culture thanks to its neighbour, Hong Kong,” he said.



Expansion plans for further marina projects by Wang’s Visun Group have been offered to the Chinese press, though confirmed sites, designs and investment figures have yet to be provided to substantiate these claims.

Voltaire Leung, managing director of Visun Royal Yacht Club has seen growing interest in Visun Group’s marina and yachting services from mainland Chinese. “Recently, the richest men in China have shown increased interest in yachting because of Visun’s Hainan Rendezvous,” Leun told SuperyachtNews.com exclusively. “However, the main reason they buy yachts is not to enjoy sailing but rather to entertain their business clients and friends. According to our member base, these new Chinese clients are coming from Beijing, the east coast city of Ziejiang, the northeast city of Harin, and the southwest city of Chengdu. The owner of the 43m Feadship Helix, which is here at Visun marina, has business in Shanxi.”

The expanded services in Sanya, part of the project’s third phase of development, will include 600 berths for vessels below 30m, and in association with the Yacht Supply Chain Association of Tuscany, a 3,000m2 downtown yacht service centre for these smaller vessels.

“We’re building a Platinum 5 star clubhouse where the yacht can stop-by in front of the lobby entrance,” Leung explained. “Behind the yacht club, there will a water sport stadium, a shopping avenue, restaurants and other entertainment. This phase of the project will take about 3-5 years to complete.”
 
 “In the long run, the Visun Group will probably expand its marina business by duplicating its successful Sanya model to other developed areas in China,” Ronnie Wang said. “A real estate development project in Haikou project is underway, and I think projects around Shanghai and Fujian province might be the next ones, but they will take time.”

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