Driving growing interest from vessels in visiting Southeast Asia’s exotic and welcoming island countries as the area becomes more viable and sought-after, are new modern marinas catering to global superyachts. Adding to the appeal are improved support services and a growing workforce along with undoubtedly one of the region’s most important assets, the genuine warmth and gracious hospitality of the people of the islands. 

In promoting the need for new marinas, superyacht agencies have been working closely with government officials over the past decade to bring about important and necessary changes. As well as new marinas in Southeast Asia, there has been a significant easing of regulations for international yachts and for longer stays. 

New modern marinas are opening in the stunning cruising destinations of Phuket, Bali, Maldives and Sri Lanka. “There are now world-class marinas and accommodations in nearly every Southeast Asia cruising region, with more coming”, says Asia Pacific Superyachts co-founder Gordon Fernandes and APS agent-owners, reporting on the following new luxury Marinas.

Phuket, Thailand (Panwa)

Nestled strategically at the southernmost tip of the island is the new ‘ONE°15 Marina Panwa Phuket’, the nearest departure point to the captivating Phi Phi Islands. The new Phuket Marina Development is set to transform the Cape Panwa Peninsular at Ao Markham and the deep seaport. The Marina project will feature 171 berths for superyachts up to 200 feet and 25 hardstand spaces with 80 dry-stack storage. The integrated marina club, positioned as a nautical lifestyle resort, equipped with yacht chartering, spa and wellness area and hotel facilities.  

Situated in the picturesque bay of Cape Panwa, this marina welcomes superyachts up to 37 metres. The hospitality component is to include 66 hotel rooms including four three-bedroom villas, a spa, a gym, a lifestyle pool, meeting rooms, banquet hall and multiple F&B outlets. Other facilities such as boat brokers’ offices, dive operators, yacht charter companies, retail shops and other nautical lifestyle related outlets are also part of the development. When completed, the Project will be the only integrated marina club in the southern part of Phuket, among the island’s most luxurious resorts. In addition, members-only facilities will service up to 2,000 members. The location coupled with the added attributes of ONE°15, which has become synonymous with high-end amenities, along with the warm hospitality of a world-class integrated marina brand, should serve to boost Phuket’s marine industry to the next level.

Phuket, Thailand (Port Macchanu)

A second new dedicated Marina designed for Superyachts, dubbed ‘Port Macchanu Marina’, is located on Phuket’s northeast shore. The Marina will offer berths to Superyachts ranging from 40 to 80 metres with onshore facilities including restaurants, shops, a gourmet supermarket and a waterfront exhibition and convention area. 

The Marina is adjacent to the Phuket Premier Boatyard, servicing yachts up to 80 feet; now however, the new Shipyard can service yachts up to 60 metres. The Port Macchanu Superyacht Marina will be the only place of this standard in Phuket where larger superyachts can be lifted out of the water for work and/or repairs. Currently, the nearest facility of this kind is in Malaysia. Leading the development of Port Macchanu is Ditapong Thitadilok, former President of the Thai Yachting Business Association. 

Phuket, Thailand (The Slate at Sapam Bay)

Now in the planning stages, The Slate Phuket project is looking for investors to develop a new world-class marina development project on the east coast of Phuket at Sapam Bay, complete with adjacent land for housing, shopping, and leisure facilities. The land comes with a pre-approved Environmental Impact Assessment and construction permits, which can take up to five years to complete, meaning the property is ready for immediate operation, allowing investors to focus on scaling the business and getting returns faster.

Bali, Indonesia 

Bali’s Port of Benoa is undergoing a major revamp, and will have a brand-new full-service Marina. The strategically located Marina is set to become the region’s premier yachting hub, serving both international and domestic yacht owners. Amenities will include a prestigious yacht club, modern yacht service, luxury hospitality options and commercial areas with extensive retail, offices, entertainment and dining outlets. 

“The first Full-Service Yacht / Superyacht Marina in Indonesia will accommodate 180 yachts, including more than 50 superyachts up to 90 metres. The Marina will feature a state-of-the-art yacht service area, a travel lift capable of handling vessels up to 200 tonnes, a premium fueling station and an array of prestigious amenities”, reports Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia director, Captain Thomas Taatjes. “The Marina aims to be in place by mid-2026 and will set a new benchmark for yachting facilities in the region, one that will ensure Indonesia’s growing prominence as a global yachting destination.” 

The Benoa Harbour is in the main port for Denpasar, the capital of Bali and centrally located just north of Nusa Dua in the teardrop on the southeast side of Bali, close to the airport and to Kuta, Legian and Sanur islands. To cruise Indonesia properly would take more than three years of continual sailing and is a  destination of unlimited island adventures and discoveries of any length of time. There’s a growing interest from luxury yachts in looking at Indonesia and Bali, ‘The Island of the Gods’, as an amazing cruising destination. 

Maldives

The Maldives will mark a new era with the introduction of the first Superyacht Marina and fully integrated resort in the Maldives. “Housing 120 berths, Atoll Estates new Zamani Islands will be an exclusive resort destination, with the Zamani Islands Superyacht Marina marking a new era for those seeking to cruise the Maldivian waters. 

The pristine beauty and allure of these waters will be even more appealing to the global superyacht community with the launching of the Superyacht Marina in the next few years”, reports Mohamed Hameed, Director & General Manager of Asia Pacific Superyachts Maldives.  “This cutting-edge project aims at transforming the superyacht experience into an exceptionally luxurious convenience and marks a major turning point for maritime luxury in Maldives while placing it on top among world’s finest locations for ocean travel. The project will encompass eight islands extending 5 kilometres into a natural lagoon, offering the country’s first Yacht Club and a 60,000 square metre Superyacht Marina”, notes Hameed. 

Spanning across the eight islands in South Male Atoll, the Atoll Estates project will feature three distinct resorts – an Uber Luxury Resort, an Experiential Luxury Resort, and a Modern Lifestyle Resort. With a collective offering of 475 keys and the Maldives first Superyacht Marina, this visionary project caters to diverse tastes and preferences and is sure to appeal to global superyachts.  

Sri Lanka      

Port City Colombo celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony of the Marina Development at Port City Colombo on 10 January 2025 at a groundbreaking ceremony. The occasion marked a significant milestone for marine tourism in the country and in South Asia and was attended by many distinguished guests, including Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and the city’s economic commission chairman, Harsha Amarasekara.

The Marina within Port City Colombo will house as many as 250 mid-sized vessels, alongside hotels, gourmet dining, retail outlets, entertainment centers, and recreational areas. “The new ‘Colombo City Marina’ is designed to become Sri Lanka’s new luxury maritime destination. Located at the crossroads of international maritime routes, the new marina ideally positions Sri Lanka to become a hub for luxury yachting”, states Priyantha Perera of Asia Pacific Superyachts Sri Lanka. With a vision of becoming a Maritime Hub in the region, the Marina will offer a 243–berthing space for mid-to-large-size yachts and full-service facilities, including crew amenities, provisioning, maintenance and access to a yacht club. 

The luxury Marina Development is expected to be positioned as the only full service Marina between Dubai and Phuket, cementing Sri Lanka’s position as a key player in South Asia’s luxury yachting market. “With a total investment of $120 million, the Marina Development is slated for completion by 2027”, according to Kapila Jayawardena, Group Managing Director/CEO LOLC Holdings PLC. 

More and more yacht & superyacht adventurers are discovering Souteast Asia, one of the last remaining frontiers for those seeking warm and beautiful getaways and adventures in her exotic and uncrowded islands.