Hong Kong Port
In 2024, the Hong Kong Port’s container throughput is about 13.7 million TEUs.
Maritime Services
There are over 1 200 port and maritime-related companies operating in Hong Kong, providing a great variety of quality maritime services. Currently, about 8.2% of the deadweight tonnage of the world’s merchant fleet is managed by companies which are members of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
Hong Kong Shipping Registry
As at end-October 2025, 2 085 ships with a total gross tonnage of about 115 million were registered with the Hong Kong Shipping Registry.
The Marine Department has established Regional Desks in selected locations so as to provide more direct and prompt support for shipowners and strengthen the promotion of Hong Kong Shipping Registry’s services.
The Regional Desks in London, Shanghai and Singapore have been up and running since late 2019. The regional desk services were expanded to cover Australia in the second quarter of 2021 and San Francisco, Tokyo and Toronto in the fourth quarter of 2021, covering almost all major port cities in the world frequently visited by Hong Kong flagged ships.
Details of the existing incentive schemes for Hong Kong registered ships are as follows:
Annual Tonnage Charge (ATC) Reduction Scheme: Implemented in February 2006, the Scheme aims to encourage owners to maintain high quality ships. Within past 2 years, if the ship has no detention record, it will be qualified for a 50% ATC reduction of the following year.
Green Incentive Scheme
Green Incentive Scheme launched on 28 June 2024: Under the Scheme, all Hong Kong-registered ships of 5 000 gross tonnage or above in possession of a valid ‘Statement of Compliance—Fuel Oil Consumption Reporting and Operational Carbon Intensity Rating’ showing that the ship has attained rating A or B in the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) formulated by IMO are eligible for the green incentive.
Each qualified Hong Kong-registered ship is eligible to receive US$ 20,000 per corresponding year from 2024 to 2026. If a ship attains rating A or B in the CII throughout three years from 2024 to 2026, it may receive a maximum incentive of US$ 60,000.
Hong Kong is the pioneer flag administration supporting IMO’s green shipping policy on CII. The green incentive will help promote Hong Kong-registered ships as a green fleet, and reinforce our long-established reputation for our high quality in the international maritime arena.
Block Registration Incentive Scheme launched on 14 February 2025: The scheme targets shipowners who register multiple ships with the Hong Kong Shipping Registry within a specified period.
Under the Scheme, if more than one eligible ship is registered with the Hong Kong Shipping Registry within 24 months, the owners of the ships concerned may be provided with a refund of the ship registration fee and the first-year annual tonnage charge. One application may cover ships of different shipowners and may be submitted by a shipowner, ship manager or ship agent.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)
Transport and Logistics Bureau
November 2025
