ðə mjuːzˈiəm fˈɜːst ˈoʊpənd tə ðə pˈʌblɪk ˌɔn ˈeɪt sɛptˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪv, ˌʌndɚ ðə lˈiːdɚʃˌɪp ʌv ɪts bˈoːɹd ʌv dᵻɹˈɛktɚz, ɪts fˈɜːst mjuːzˈiəm dᵻɹˈɛktɚ, stˈiːvən dˈeɪviz, ænd ðə tɹˈʌstiːz ʌvðə hˈɑːŋ kˈɑːŋ mˈæɹɪtˌaɪm mjuːzˈiəm tɹˈʌst.
The museum first opened to the public on 8 September 2005, under the leadership of its board of directors, its first museum director, Stephen Davies, and the trustees of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum Trust.