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GBAYCIA

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Leadership Philosophy 
“Safe seas start with smart systems. Every vessel, every project, is a chance to build a stronger, more connected maritime future.”

Captain Joe C.Y. Tsang
Vice Chairman & 
Chief of Maritime Operation

For four decades, Captain Joe Tsang has been the master tactician of Hong Kong’s bustling and complex waterways. A seasoned Master Mariner with a distinguished 28-year career as a Principal Marine Officer in the Hong Kong Marine Department, he possesses an unparalleled understanding of the intricate systems that govern maritime safety and efficiency. His expertise is not theoretical; it is forged in the high-stakes environment of orchestrating vessel traffic for some of the city’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, including the Hong Kong International Airport’s Three-Runway System. As a trusted government advisor and the founder of a leading maritime consultancy, he is the authority that public and private sectors turn to when failure is not an option. At GBAYCIA, Captain Tsang provides the critical operational backbone, ensuring that the association’s vision for a thriving yacht and cruise industry is built on a foundation of world-class safety, precision, and operational excellence. 

The Professional Pillars

  • Vice Chairman & Chief of Maritime Operation, Greater Bay Area Yacht & Cruise Industry Association (GBAYCIA)

  • Principal Marine Officer, Marine Department, Hong Kong SAR Government (28-year tenure)

  • Senior Manager & Marine Consultant, Airport Authority Hong Kong (Three-Runway System)

  • Founder & Managing Director, Ancient Mariner Consultancy Limited


Industry Impact

  • Maritime Systems Architect: Masterminded the vessel traffic management for the Three-Runway System reclamation, flawlessly coordinating over 200 vessels in a complex, multi-year project.

  • Public Waterway Guardian: As a Principal Marine Officer, he was a key figure in safeguarding Victoria Harbour, one of the world’s busiest ports, ensuring the safe and efficient flow of global maritime traffic.

  • Infrastructure Helmsman: Spearheaded the conceptual design and Marine Traffic Impact Assessments for critical new developments, including the reimagined Sok Kwu Wan marina and watersport hub.

  • Regulatory Authority: Served as a member of the Pilotage Advisory Committee, shaping the standards and training for the elite pilots who guide vessels through Hong Kong’s challenging waters.

More Than Just a Résumé

The Harbour Master: Orchestrating Hong Kong’s Maritime Heartbeat 
For nearly three decades, Captain Joe Tsang was a senior guardian of Hong Kong’s maritime lifeline. As a Principal Marine Officer in the Marine Department, he was entrusted with the immense responsibility of ensuring the safety and efficiency of one of the planet’s busiest and most complex harbours. His leadership was instrumental in developing and managing the sophisticated vessel traffic systems that allow thousands of ships—from massive container vessels to traditional fishing boats—to navigate Victoria Harbour seamlessly. This long and distinguished career in public service gave him an intimate, systems-level understanding of the port’s operational DNA. It is this deep, institutional knowledge that he now brings to the private sector, offering a level of strategic insight that is simply unmatched.​

The Airport Architect: Navigating a Monumental Feat of Engineering 
When the Airport Authority of Hong Kong embarked on the monumental Three-Runway System (3RS) project—one of the largest and most complex reclamation efforts in the city’s history—they turned to Captain Joe Tsang. As the lead marine consultant, he was tasked with orchestrating the intricate ballet of over 200 vessels operating simultaneously in a constrained environment. He designed and implemented the Marine Traffic Control Centre, a centralized command hub that ensured the flawless coordination of everything from giant reclamation barges to small supply ships. His meticulous planning and unwavering focus on safety resulted in a textbook execution of maritime project management, setting a new global standard for how to manage vessel traffic in large-scale infrastructure development
 
The Island Visionary: Crafting the Future of Marine Tourism 
Captain Tsang’s expertise is not just in managing existing systems, but in designing the systems of the future. His current work in reimagining Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island is a testament to his forward-looking vision. He is the strategic mind behind the conceptual design for a new, cutting-edge marina, a vibrant watersport center, and an integrated ferry terminal. More critically, he is conducting the Marine Traffic Impact Assessment to ensure that this ambitious new development can be seamlessly and safely integrated into the existing waterway. This project showcases his unique ability to balance the demands of tourism and recreation with the absolute necessity of maritime safety, creating a sustainable and resilient blueprint for the future of marine communities in the Greater Bay Area.

Captain Joe Tsang is the embodiment of quiet authority and operational mastery. He is the steady hand on the helm, the calm voice in the control room, and the strategic mind that sees the entire board. His career is a masterclass in turning complexity into order and ambition into reality. It is this profound expertise—honed over four decades of service at the highest levels of government and industry—that he brings to GBAYCIA, where he is the indispensable guarantor of the association’s commitment to a safe, efficient, and world-class maritime future.

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