Operating shipyards in Doumen in Southern China and also on the Howloon Peninsula in Hong Kong, Cheoy Lee builds luxury yachts and superyachts to 46 meters in length and beyond
History
Cheoy Lee’s origins began in a Shanghai shipyard that opened in 1870 to build and repair steam-powered vessels. In 1936, the founding family (which still operates Cheoy Lee today) moved the shipyard to Hong Kong, then a British colony, building power cargo vessels designed to outrun the Japanese blockade. By the mid-1950s, the shipyard branched out into the construction of teak sailing and motor yachts, designed by notable naval architects. Ultimately, luxury yachts became about 90 percent of its output, although the shipyard has continued to build large commercial vessels to the present day.
Throughout the 1960s and ’70s Cheoy Lee pioneered the use of GRP construction technology, launching the 39.62-metre motorsailer Shango II – the largest composite yacht of its time – in 1977. Two years later came the introduction of the Cheoy Lee 48’ Sport Yacht, the first all-foam-cored production yacht.
In 1999, Cheoy Lee opened its main shipyard on the Pearl River in Doumen. This facility gives the company the capability to produce luxury yachts and ships up to 60 meters in length.
Notable Yachts
In 2007, Cheoy Lee delivered the 44.8-metre oceangoing Explorer Yacht Marco Polo. Designed by Ron Holland, she features an innovative power package – a single Caterpillar diesel engine paired with a Schottel vectoring bow thruster. The fuel-efficient superyachts’ maximum speed is 14.5 knots, and she offers an impressive range of 6,000 nautical miles at 10.5 knots. Mazu, the second yacht in the series, launched in 2010 with a custom interior design.
Specialisations
A versatile builder, Cheoy Lee offers several semi-custom luxury yacht series, including its Alpha performance yacht range, Bravo raised pilothouse motor yacht range, Serenity luxury cruising yacht range and the Explorer superayacht series. The shipyard is unusual in that it specialises in steel, aluminium and composite construction, as wells as utilizing combinations of these materials.