Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide
Kaohsiung yacht cruising guide. Kaohsiung is the primary deep‑water gateway on Taiwan’s southwest coast and the most practical landfall for yachts arriving from the Northern Philippines. The port is large, well‑marked, and professionally managed, with clear separation between commercial lanes and small‑craft movements. Visiting yachts typically proceed directly to the designated small‑vessel reporting area before receiving instructions for onward movement to the Love River entrance or other assigned berths. Formalities are structured but efficient, and port control maintains reliable English‑language communication throughout.
The typical arrival route from the Northern Philippines follows a northwest track across the Bashi Channel, staying clear of commercial traffic lanes and the restricted zones around the southern tip of Taiwan. Conditions can vary with the monsoon, but the approach to Kaohsiung is straightforward once inside the coastal shelf, with prominent navigation marks and predictable vessel traffic patterns. Most yachts make landfall south of the main harbor entrance, then follow port‑control guidance into the inbound channel for clearance and berth.
Kaohsiung
Approach Guide (For Cruising Yachts)
It’s designed for real‑world use by cruising boats arriving from the Philippines, Japan, or the South China Sea. Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s largest commercial port and one of the busiest container hubs in Asia. Approaching it safely requires early preparation, strict traffic awareness, and a clear understanding of the harbour layout. Despite the scale of the port, yachts enter routinely and the process is straightforward when handled methodically.
Kaohsiung is well‑protected from swell and weather once inside the breakwaters, but the outer approaches are busy and fast‑moving. Yacht facilities are the Kaohsiung City Marina (Love River), Qijin side moorings, and limited berths in private marina.
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide - Pilotage
Use official and updated or corrected charts for navigation. The typical approach pattern is as follows:
- Outer Approach: From the south or southwest, staying outside the traffic separation scheme
- Breakwater Entrance: A wide, deep channel with strong cross‑currents
- Inner Harbour: Follow VTS instructions and remain clear of commercial lanes
- Marina Access: Yachts typically proceed toward the Love River entrance for Kaohsiung City Marina
- VTS & Communications: Kaohsiung Port is a controlled harbour. Yachts must monitor VHF Ch. 12 (Kaohsiung VTS). Call VTS before entering the breakwater. Follow routing instructions precisely. Maintain a listening watch until berthed. Expect clear, concise English from VTS operators.
- Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS): The TSS off Kaohsiung is extremely active. Expect large container ships moving at anywhere from 15–20 knots. There are frequent tug and pilot boat operations. There are ferries crossing the channel. Strong prop wash and wake is possible near the entrance. Yachts should stay outside the TSS until cleared to enter. Keep AIS transmitting so they can see you and you can also monitor them. Maintain wide separation from commercial vessels.
- Currents & Sea Conditions: The Kuroshio influence weakens near Kaohsiung but still affects the approach. You should expect north‑setting current offshore. Cross‑currents exist near the breakwater entrance. Swell can wrap around the southern headland in strong monsoon conditions. Approach with caution in strong NE winds (winter) or typhoon‑season southerlies.
- Night Approaches: It is possible but not recommended unless experienced. The challenges include intense lighting from the port, unlit fishing vessels near the coast, high‑speed commercial traffic and confusing visual background. Most yachts time arrival for daylight.
- Fishing Activity: The southern Taiwan coast has dense fishing fleets, many are unlit boats, they have drifting gear, there are FADs and longlines. It is highly recommended that you clear the fishing zone before dark if possible.
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide - Entering
- Proceed through the main breakwater entrance
- Stay to the starboard side of the channel unless instructed otherwise
- Maintain safe distance from commercial vessels
- Follow the inner‑harbour channel markers
- Turn toward the Love River entrance for the city marina
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide - Clearance
Kaohsiung is a designated international port. Expect the usual Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, Harbourmaster formalities. Agents are optional but can simplify the process. Fly your Yellow Q Flag. Once cleared hoist your Taiwanese Courtesy Flag.
To repeat again, have your boat ship shape and tidy topsides and below. Be neatly dressed and have all your paperwork ready in a folder. Have multiple copies of every document ready. Have a list of everything prepared. They are efficient and appreciate efficiency.
Kaohsiung City Marina (Love River)
This is the primary destination for cruising yachts. Features include floating pontoons, access to shore power and water. Immigration and customs are nearby. It has easy access to the city. It offers good shelter from all directions. Depths are adequate for most yachts, though silting can occur near the river mouth. Have fenders and lines ready early. Confirm berth availability before arrival
Here’s a clear, practical operating estimate for Kaohsiung City Marina (Love River) based on known constraints, yacht reports, and the physical characteristics of the Love River entrance.
The Entrance Channel (Love River Mouth): Has a typical controlling depth of 2.5–3.0 m at high tide. Depths can drop to ~2.0 m at low tide, depending on recent silting. The river mouth is prone to sediment build‑up, especially after heavy rain.
Inside the Marina Basin: Most berths maintain 2.5–3.0 m at normal tides. Some inner berths may be shallower (2.0–2.3 m) due to river silt. Larger yachts (>18 m or >2.2 m draft) are usually placed on outer pontoons where depths are most reliable.
Yachts with drafts up to 2.0 m generally enter without issue. Yachts 2.2–2.5 m draft must time arrival for mid‑to‑high tide. Drafts >2.5 m are considered marginal and require direct confirmation with marina staff before attempting entry.
Contact the Love Marina River at Phone: +886 987 563 566 and +886 7 572 1177. info@loverivermarina.com
Make sure you have a confirmed marina berth booking arranged!
Fuel and Water Kaohsiung
City Marina (Love River)
Fuel: There is no fuel dock inside Love River Marina. The river is too narrow and shallow for bunkering barges. Marine fuel is taken at Kaohsiung Port commercial bunkering stations, not at the marina. Fuel barges operate in the main harbour only. Yachts must relocate to a designated bunkering berth arranged through the marina office or port authority. Diesel delivery trucks are sometimes permitted to the riverside road, but this requires advance approval and is not guaranteed. Practical takeaway is expect to refuel outside the Love River, inside the main port.
Water: Fresh water is available at all Love River Marina pontoons. Pressure is moderate; hoses are standard Taiwanese fittings. Water quality is municipal supply and considered safe for tanks, though many yachts still filter.
Mechanical and Electrical Repairs Resource
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Mechanical and Electrical Repairs
Kaohsiung has full‑scale mechanical and electrical support for yachts, thanks to its commercial‑ship infrastructure. Two major providers stand out: Kwang‑Youn‑Gi Engineering for heavy mechanical/engine work and Asia Diesel for yacht‑scale electrical, stabilizers, generators, and marine systems. Mechanical & Electrical Services for Yachts in Kaohsiung is for Heavy Mechanical, Engine & Structural Work and services include Marine engine repair & overhaul and generator repair along with general yacht and ship mechanical repairs. Asia Diesel is a well-established marine systems company (since 1983) specialising in yacht‑scale equipment. They supply and service Northern Lights generators, Seakeeper stabilizers, ZF controls, Lofrans windlasses, Plastimo, PYI, Lasdrop, and other yacht‑grade components and perfect for electrical troubleshooting and general marine electronics. Both are within taxi distance of Love River Marina and accustomed to working on yachts.
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide - Provisioning
Supermarkets (Closest &
Most Practical): Carrefour (Aozihdi /
Chenggong Road)
Full‑range supermarket; good for bulk dry goods, beverages, and household
items. Short taxi ride. PX Mart (multiple branches near the river) and is reliable
for daily staples, vegetables, and packaged goods. Costco Kaohsiung (Zhonghua
Road) is best for large‑quantity provisioning; but is 10–15 minutes by taxi.
Traditional Markets: Sanmin Market is a large, reliable wet market for vegetables, fruit, meat, and daily staples. Liuhe Market (daytime section) is useful for fresh produce; avoid the night‑market hours for provisioning.
Farmers’ Markets: Kaohsiung Weekend Farmers Market (various pop‑ups) for seasonal and inconsistent; good quality but not reliable for full provisioning.
Fish Markets: Kaohsiung Fish Market (Qianzhen) is the most dependable seafood. Best visited early morning for fresh catch and bulk quantities. Local riverfront fish stalls have a limited selection; not suitable for full provisioning.
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide - Weather Considerations
The best arrival season is as follows:
- May–June (transition season)
- Light winds, manageable seas, low typhoon risk
Challenging periods are:
- November–March: Strong NE monsoon, steep seas
- July–October: Typhoon season, unstable weather
Kaohsiung Yacht Cruising Guide – Summary
Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s major southern gateway and one of the most straightforward ports for visiting yachts. The harbor is wide, well‑marked, and professionally managed, with predictable traffic patterns and clear separation between commercial lanes and small‑craft movements. Port control provides reliable English communication, and formalities are structured but efficient. Once cleared, yachts can proceed to the sheltered Love River Marina, where provisioning, technical services, and city access are all close at hand, making Kaohsiung a practical and welcoming landfall for crews arriving from the Philippines or transiting the Taiwan Strait. I hope you find this Kaohsiung yacht cruising guide useful.