Kota Kinabalu - General Info
Where is Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu (often called K.K.), lies on the north-west coast of Sabah and is the capital of the state. It is a major gateway for visitors to this part of Malaysia on the island of Borneo.
Entrance Notes and Cautions:
If heading for the Sutera Harbour Marina, come in on a heading of 090degT, keeping Tanjung Wakong half a mile to port. When at Tanjung Wakong turn towards Sutera Harbour Resort course 128degT. This approach uses Admiralty Chart #3626 but the most recent chart does not indicate Sutera Harbour’s location. Also, the charted depth outside the marina is no longer accurate as the Marina channel has been dredged and expanded. The average depth (according to the marina’s arrival information) is five metres inside the basin and seven metres just outside the breakwater.
Sutera Harbour Marina is no longer clearing international visitors. See Clearance for details.
Cruiser Highlights for Kota Kinabalu:
Gateway to the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park (TARP) which comprises a group of five islands located between 3 and 8 km off Kota Kinabalu, an area known for some of the best diving in Malaysia.
Location:
05°58.15′N, 116°03.35′E (marina entrance).
Last updated: September 2024
Read and Post Related Comments
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Clearance
Related to following destinations: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo (Sabah)
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Malaysia
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Sutera Harbour Marina are no longer clearing international visitors in as you now have to give your figer print so you have to go to all the normal office and to clear in.
Updates from Luc on SV Sloepmouche September 2018:
Immigration and Customs are now located in the same (new) building at Sabah Ports at Jesselton Point, past the Mercure Hotel, on the coastal road, just after the roundabout, just before the KKCC Show Gallery storefront. On the other side of the new office building, you have the old Port building (empty now) and old gate (locked). Immigration is on the right side of the building and Customs is on the road front. From town, you can walk, take a taxi or bus.
For less small boat traffic you can anchor in front of Oceanus Shopping Mall, near the backside of Sutera Marina, in the middle of fishing and tourist boat moorings. Fairly well protected during SW monsoon. Not very clean water as it is in front of the town.
To land ashore, one could go into the river south of the anchorage or use the metal ladder near the mall or ask the Sabah Park jetty people permission to leave your dinghy there at the floating dock located on the other side of the fish market (with bow & aft docking line to keep dinghy safe during tidal changes and choppy seas). This last is probably the most secure place. You are right at Wisma Merdeka, one of the malls.
If you wish you can visit some of the attractions on the East Coast of Sabah, but do not wish to go with your boat because of Filipino terrorists. Flying from KK is easy, fast and inexpensive. You can book a very well organized tour from Mr Lai of Sandakan Hotspot Eco-Tours.
Just before Christmas, I anchored in Usakan Bay on the West coast of Sabah. It is a deep and very well protected bay with three small “Kampung”. It used to be a landing place for a Japanese company extracting copper from a mountain and the jetty is still there. I anchored close to the beach and during my stay there I discovered that a Swedish guy (Hasse), married to a local woman, was assisting yachts if needed.
There are very few yachts passing through here, but I think that’s a pity. It is quite close to Kota Kinabalu (30.5 miles – half the distance from Kudat), very peaceful, protected and safe. With this guy willing to help, I think it could be a great place to stay for a while and an alternative to Kota Kinabalu and/or Kudat, which are the 2 main places for yachties.
Hasse, who lives 5 miles down the road, was very helpful in many ways (and he is a sailor too). He can help with supplies, transport, repairs (or whatever you need) and is very pleasant. You can contact him by phone (013 8102729) and email: hazze400@yahoo.com
Happy sailing!
Security facts for Sabah, Malaysia Borneo.
At the moment, mid-2016, a lot of “news” goes around in the yachter world of Sabah. The latest was a yacht was sailing from Kudat (North of Sabah) towards the Philippines. After leaving port, they were contacted by radio by the marina of Kudat informing them that they should sail back because of the major increase of dangers for yachters.
The marina was informing this yacht following “news” from Esscom (which is the name of the special Malaysian military force deployed in Sabah since 2013).
I am leaving in Sabah, goes around Sabah and my kind of surprise of the level of fear among yachters now.
What are, actually, the facts?
They had been always a fear of “piracy” or “insecurity” etc for yachters sailing in this part of the world. However, every year, hundreds of yachts sail across this area without any problem. If you add fishing boats, coastal cargo, cruise ship the number increase even more.
IN 2013, a group of about a hundred armed “peoples” came from the Philippines to Sabah and created problems near Lahad Datu, on the east coast of Sabah. It was an embarrassment for the Malaysian government who was caught not able to control this border.
In a show of power, the Esscom was formed and deployed to “bring back security”. Three years later Esscom is still there and operating but the situation had not changed.
If you go to the East coast of Sabah (which I do) you will notice that life is, as usual, resorts are full and booked a long time in advance (like in Sipadan).
So where those fear factors come from?
Maybe you should look at the fact that Esscom had been deployed more for the internal politic issue than for efficiency. After three years of presence, there is still a huge amount of illegal in Sabah, incidents still occurred even in the middle of Sandakan at night with the speed boat carrying aggressors sailing during the curfew with the Esscom boats officially patrolling the area
The situation is very complicated but is, mostly, of the politic issue (a huge amount of illegal coming, leaving and staying in Sabah for the last few decades under very complaisant eyes of the government which make the same government in a difficult situation to acknowledge the present situation they let happen for decades).
In the last decades, and even longer, Malacca Straight was reporting more “piracy” incidents than in Sabah, by far. Did Malaysia authorities declare Malacca Strait a no go zone for yachters?
I can only urge yachters in Sabah or wishing to sail in or around Sabah to look at facts to avoid “news” to become gossips
Maybe yachters could try to get in touch with yachters staying in Sabah and/or the Philippines to have their latest input then make their own decision?
Posted By Asia Pacific Superyachts – Borneo
Malaysia Customs Policy On SHIP SPARE FOR SHIP IN TRANSIT. Starting Oct 2014 in Sabah, Malaysia. Private Pleasure Yacht no longer enjoyed the duty free privileges under the Malaysia Customs Act 1965 special provision for ship spare clause, all inbound shipments for yachts are subjected to duty and tax, Customs authority is classifying vessel type according to ship registry unless your registry indicate that you are a commercial vessel all items you ship it will be slapped with tax and duty. BE CAREFUL & TAKE NOTE.
This not valid information. Yacht in transit can receive parts without paying custom taxes. I did it many time either with DHL or from the port.
That’s it, as you say. The information is incorrect.
I have received a refrigerated engine from Spain, as a replacement without paying taxes, in 2020
The most important thing is that the entry box to Malaysia is accompanied by all the necessary documentation, which must be attached to the shipping documents either by ship or plane, such as copies of:
1 / Passport of the Owner or Captain.
2 / ship certificate
3 / Document from the Department of the Navy (important)
4 / If possible, document confirming your position in a marina or shipyard.
5 / Invoice of the product, which will probably be without taxes as it is an import.
It is also important that the HS (customs identification of the product) is correct. They will probably know what they send if they usually do this type of expedition.
With all this, they can get hold of the item without having to pay any type of tax.
Make sure you pay for transportation to your ship, so you don’t have a problem.
In addition, in Labuan, they can receive all the shipments they want without any complications, as it is a free port.
Take care
Posted on behalf of Sue Goodrick – latest on Sutera Harbour Marina
Sutera Harbour is a walkable distance from the city but an A/C shuttle service is available. Many facilities because the marina is part of a resort, including pools, restaurants, gym, bowling, billiards, tennis, squash and badminton courts.
Marina rates (for 30′ to 70′ yachts) at 1 October 2014 are: *RM65.00 per ft per month for visitors; RM52.64 per ft per month for 1-year term members and RM32.55 per foot per month for life members. (*RM = Malaysian ringgit. $US1= approx RM3). In the past cruisers have found Sutera marina a secure place to leave their yachts and, depending on timeframes, many have become club members to take advantage of less expensive berthing rates.
Posted on behalf of Sue Goodrick
Whether clearance with the Jabatan Laut is required has been a moot point among cruisers for some time. (Some Malaysian ports seem to require it and others aren’t fussy.) The law actually states that non-commercial vessels do not need to register but many Malaysian officials are unaware of this (and the marina office advises that registration is necessary). This is relevant in KK because it is a long way to the Jabatan Laut office at Sepanggar Bay.
The Malaysians (in KK at least) seem pretty relaxed if you do not clear in/out with Jabatan Laut. On the other hand, if travelling to the east coast of Borneo it is not a bad idea to check in at each town because of the security issues there currently. As of 1 October, a nighttime curfew for boat movements exists on the east coast south of Sandakan.
Agree that Tanjong Aru is not welcoming any visiting yachts. Also, Sutera harbour wants 30 RM (about $10us) as a landing fee to use their docks, get water or leave rubbish PER DAY without being able to use any of the resorts’ facilities.
Update to Tanjong Aru Marina 25-10-2013. The latest from the marina manager Ywan Carraz: “You may anchor in the vicinity however we are not able to provide mooring facilities or landing facilities at our jetty/pontoon for visiting yachts under our present policy. This was available under the previous operator, unfortunately, at the moment the hotel policy does not allow this as the jetty is exclusively for the use of Shangri-La guests only.”