YACHT BASIN

Superyacht Sector has Presence at SMM

SMM is increasingly becoming a platform for the upmarket segment of super yachts. This area is presented at the SMM at Hamburg Trade Fair by shipyards, and all relevant equipment suppliers exhibit at the leading shipbuilding fair. For the first time this year there will be a special exhibition focus on super yachts in Hall 8. Over 1,600 companies from 50 countries will present the latest developments in all areas of the maritime sector at 22nd Shipbuilding, Machinery & Marine Technology, International Trade Fair Hamburg from September 26th-29th. Super yachts are generally not included in the tonnage statistics on ship deliveries or newbuilding orders, despite the fact that this segment has become increasingly significant year by year. For example, the construction of luxurious large yachts is an important area with enormous potential in the German shipbuilding industry, which has a top reputation worldwide particularly for yachts from 90m length. As shipyards are extremely careful to keep their super yacht projects out of the public eye, the business volume of this segment can only be estimated. Claus-Ehlert Meyer, manager of the German Yachting Industry Pool (GYIP), puts the sales of the sector for super yacht newbuildings, repairs, spare parts service and insurance in 2005 at about $1.2b in Germany alone. German shipyards currently have super yachts worth approx. $2.8b on their orderbooks.

Statoil & Partners Win Offshore Canada Bid

Statoil, Chevron Canada and Repsol E&P Canada have been named the successful bidders for exploration rights on two land parcels in the Flemish Pass Basin, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This was the result of a land sale issued by the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB). The land parcels are located west of Statoil’s Mizzen discovery in the Flemish Pass Basin. Statoil will be the operator of both licences with a 50 % interest

Sevmash Shipyard Starts Second Oceanic Megayacht

The construction of the second oceanic megayacht of the A1331 class started at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk on Tuesday, according to sources. The construction of the first yacht began last year to order of the Baltika Shipbuilding Company. Sevmash has technologically prepared for batch production of large cruise vessels. The yacht was designed by the Agat Design Bureau based in St. Petersburg. The shipyard has enlarged the yacht length by four meters and the traveling range by 2

Repair Capacity Running Low in Cape Town

The Port of Cape Town is experiencing pressure on its ship-servicing and marine-surveyor services due to insufficient capacity, says Arthur James, head of maritime law at law firm Webber Wentzel Bowens, according to a report on www.businessday.co.za. James has warned that if nothing is done, the city’s port might soon lose lucrative business to other ports such as Walvis Bay, Luanda and Maputo, costing jobs and economic growth.

Palmer Johnson Introduces Sport Yacht Series

By Larry Pearson Palmer Johnson, luxury yacht builder, has a new president and is introducing a new line of sport yachts. Mike Kelsey, Jr. was elected president of the Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. yacht builder in June 2004. Kelsey's grandfather, Patrick Haggerty, founder of Texas Instruments, purchased the yard in 1961. Kelsey's father Mike Kelsey, Sr. immediately went to work for Haggerty and passed the knowledge of fine yacht building down to his son.

Fortuna Awarded As Innovative Yacht

The gas-turbine-powered yacht, Fortuna, was selected for the award, most innovative motor yacht for 2000, during the Eleventh Annual Showboats Awards in Monaco. The yacht, for the Spanish Head of State, was purpose-built from the naval architectural and marine engineering design and specifications developed by Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc., (DLBA) with offices in Chesapeake, Va. Blount accepted the award in Monaco for the design. Fortuna, with a length of 136 ft

Yacht in Collision with Ship in Fog

Yarmouth Coastguard received a mayday call from the yacht Whispa reporting that they had been in collision with a commercial vessel 7 miles south east of Lowestoft. The wooden built 45 foot yacht with 2 people on board made the mayday call to the coastguard after being in collision with the 4,000 ton gas carrier Gas Monarch in Fog. The Gas Monarch was carrying a cargo of 2,500 tonnes of propane. The weather at the time of the incident was reported as North West force 2/3 with 0

Voller Prepares for Fuel Cell Yacht's Launch

Voller has begun sea trials on its sailing yacht equipped with a 1 kW fuel cell, reports said. The prototype fuel cell generator is being tested on-board Voller's Beneteau Oceanis 411, the Emerald, in preparation for the yacht's official launch at METIS in November this year. Source: Fuel Cell Today

Drydocks World Sets up New Group

Drydocks World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, has announced that it has successfully completed the setting up of a new group under its umbrella. Geoff Taylor, CEO of Drydocks World, said Drydocks World will monitor, control and set procedures in respect of finance, HR and other common functions in group companies. Those in the group at present include Drydocks World Dubai, which is an amalgamation of Dubai Drydocks and Jadaf, Drydocks World Singapore, formerly Pan United Marine

Ingot and Tò-Kalòn Nominated for Awards

Burger Boat Company announced that Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines have nominated Tò-Kalòn, a 101 ft Burger Enclosed Bridge Motor Yacht, for “Most Innovative Exterior Yacht Design of the Year” and INGOT, a 153 ft Burger Tri-Deck Motor Yacht, for “Best Motor Yacht” (86 feet and up) for the 2009 Asia Boating Awards. The Annual Asia Boating Award was created by Asia-Pacific Boating and China Boating magazines to recognize the best of the