Macao’s Marine and Water Bureau has issued Navigation Notice 61/2026 advising that large-scale maritime engineering will take place east of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai–Macau Port artificial island from 9 October 2026 to 5 October 2027. Activities include piling, dredging and the laying of recycled-water pipelines linked to the island’s sewage-treatment expansion project. A safety zone has been demarcated with lighted buoys, and vessels are prohibited from entering without authorisation. High-speed ferry operators running the Macau–Hong Kong Central and Macau–Shekou routes have been instructed to adopt alternative tracks slightly south of the works area, adding an estimated five minutes to journey times during low-traffic periods. The HZMB shuttle-bus service (“Golden Bus”) and cross-boundary coach operations remain unaffected, as their routes are on the bridge deck. However, private yacht and water-taxi services must obtain temporary permits from both the Macao Marine and Water Bureau and the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration before transiting the zone. Logistics firms using barge services between Macau’s Inner Harbour and Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal should review schedules, particularly during spring-tide windows when clearance gaps are narrower. The bureau will update marine notices if night-time operations or extra exclusion zones are required. The year-long project is part of Macau’s push to upgrade water-reclamation infrastructure on the artificial island, itself a critical node in the Greater Bay Area’s cross-boundary transport grid. Stakeholders are urged to monitor weekly navigation bulletins and adjust crew briefings accordingly.
Source: Macao Marine & Water Bureau
