Visiting Taiwan by Yacht
Published 17 years ago, updated 6 years ago
Visiting Taiwan by Yacht
Robert E Wilson
Taiwan is eager for visits by foreign yachts, but the port officials do not have much experience in non-commercial arrivals. A bit of patience is required, but the welcome of the people you meet will make it worthwhile.
The process of entry is that just inside the harbor, you tie up to the Port Security dock, manned by the Taiwan Coast Guard. They will come on board to inspect for illegal persons. After the boarding, they will summon the Immigration, Quarantine and Customs officers to come to you at that dock. All the papers will be filled out and copy made for everyone, and then you will be directed to the best available dock in the harbor, and often an escort vessel will be assigned to help you find it. No fees are generally asked for any of these services, nor is the use of agents required.
Entry is easiest at an official Port of Entry since offices for Customs and Immigration are established at each of these places:
Taichung 24 deg 15 min N, 120 deg 30 min E Westside
Anping 22 deg 58 min N, 120 deg 09 min E Southwest
Kaohsiung 22 deg 37 min N, 120 deg 15 min E Southwest
Hualien 23 deg 59 min N, 121 deg 38 min E Eastside
Suao 24 deg 36 min N, 121 deg 52 min E Northeast
Keelung 25 deg 09 min N, 121 deg 44 min E North end
Entry is also possible at (the few) other civil ports on Taiwan, but there will be delays in getting the officials to journey to where you have arrived, during which time you will need to remain on board. (You will be offered water and food supplies during the wait.)
Marinas with floating docks have been built at three places: at Shaochuantou in Kaohsiung, at Houbihu in Kenting, and Kang-Tzu-Liao near Keelung. At other places, you will tie to fixed concrete quays with large black rubber ship bumpers.
At all the ports, they monitor VHF Channel 16, although other channels are often used for port operations. An English speaker is almost always available. If possible, call ahead before entering the port, which will give more time to organize the officials needed. Better yet, is to send an e-mail message to the office of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications days or weeks ahead of arrival, giving the vessel description, itinerary and crew list. This will be entered into the National port computer system, and when they find the entry, it will make it easier for the local officials to process the clearance papers.
Kaohsiung Details
Locations:
Harbor Entrance #1 22 deg 37.168 min N, 120 deg 15.378 min E
Security Dock #1 22 deg 37.038 min N, 120 deg 16.055 min E
Shaochuantou Marina 22 deg 37.149 min N, 120 deg 16.160 min E
Security Dock #2 22 deg 33.300 min N, 120 deg 19.000 min E
Harbor Entrance #2 22 deg 32.980 min N, 120 deg 18.000 min E
Officials:
MOTC Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau (Port Operations) Yung, Jui-Ming, Tel: (07) 562-2631, FAX: (07) 531-2484, p15580@mail.khb.gov.tw
Kaohsiung City Marine Bureau (Marina Management) Tel: (07) 815-7085 ext 1403, g101.00@khb.gov.tw
Marinas
Kang-Tzu-Liao Marina 25 deg 08.900 min N, 121 deg 47.425 min E
Houbihu Marina, Kenting 21 deg 56.720 min N, 120 deg 44.700 min E
Shaochuantou Marina 22 deg 37.149 min N, 120 deg 16.160 min E
Other Ports
Ho-Ping-Kang 24 deg 17.660 min N, 121 deg 45.630 min E
Taitung Kang 22 deg 45.000 min N, 121 deg 09.625 min E
Lung-Kang Tainan 22 deg 58.000 min N, 120 deg 09.350 min E
Please note that Houbihu Marina near Kenting can be extremely tricky if you don’t know the port. Its location is listed above at Houbihu Marina, Kenting 21 deg 56.720 min N, 120 deg 44.700 min E.
There is a reef on the Southside that is very easy to go aground on and wreck your yacht. To enter the marina safely, one needs to sail pretty close to shore (but not too close as that side also has hazards) and line up the port entrance with a red light that is on the top of a temple inside the port. We will try to create a waypoint to line up with the temple next time we are there.
In the meantime, try to follow a large boat that’s going in and have someone watching for rocks at your bow. I’d highly advise against trying to go in at night. Many boats have gotten caught on the reef there over the years. Be careful!