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Tag: yacht

  • Dutch Yacht Giant Alumax Sets Sail in Vietnam with First International Shipyard

    Dutch Yacht Giant Alumax Sets Sail in Vietnam with First International Shipyard

    Alumax Boats, a Dutch firm known for supplying water taxis for the 2012 London Olympics, has launched its first shipyard outside its homeland in Vietnam, through a joint venture partnership. This expansion was marked with a grand inauguration ceremony held on Wednesday at the Thuan Thanh Industrial Park situated in the northern province of Bac Ninh. The joint venture, Alumax Amsterdam, is a collaborative effort between Alumax Boats, the local conglomerate Son Ha Group, and shipbuilder James Boat.

    The Lego of Shipbuilding

    The process of production at the shipyard has been likened to ‘playing with Lego’ by the joint venture representatives. Here, the workers assemble precut aluminium components to create the final product. This is a testament to Alumax Boats’ specialization in constructing aluminium vessels, the expertise that the firm first exported to Vietnam in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic through its alliance with James Boat.

    As a part of the joint venture, Alumax Boats stands as the provider of core high-performance aluminium shipbuilding technology. On the other hand, Son Ha Group brings to the table its industrial manufacturing capacity, management acumen, and financial resources, while James Boat serves as the technological conduit amongst the partners. The responsibility of vessel design is shared between Alumax Boats and James Boat, with the production designs subsequently transferred to Son Ha’s manufacturing facilities.

    The Rise of Marine Tourism

    The leaders of the joint venture have expressed their optimism about the growing demand in Vietnam for catamaran party yachts. These are open-deck leisure vessels capable of hosting 30 to 50 passengers. Typically, these yachts feature sound systems, dining areas, bars, bedrooms, and spacious decks for the guests to soak in the panoramic ocean views. Acknowledging this, a spokesperson for the joint venture stated, “This has been identified as one of our strategic products to capitalize on the growth of marine tourism in Vietnam and across the region.”

    The joint venture has planned to manufacture three yachts, ranging from 6.5 to 16.5 meters in length, this year. It has already bagged orders for government service vessels and yachts worth US$20 million. Son believes that building yachts in Vietnam could result in a price reduction of about 40% compared to imported ones.

    The lightweight properties of aluminium lead to improved fuel efficiency. After 40 to 50 years of service life, these vessels can be recycled far more effectively than their steel and composite counterparts, which are still commonly produced in Vietnam.

    Questions & Answers

    What makes the joint venture’s production process unique?
    The joint venture compares its production process to ‘playing with Lego,’ where workers assemble precut aluminium components to form the final product.

    What role does each party play in the joint venture?
    Alumax Boats provides core high-performance aluminium shipbuilding technology, Son Ha Group contributes its industrial manufacturing capacity, management expertise, and financial resources, and James Boat serves as the technological bridge between the partners.

    What are the benefits of manufacturing yachts in Vietnam?
    Manufacturing yachts in Vietnam could result in a price reduction of about 40% compared to imports. Additionally, the use of aluminium leads to improved fuel efficiency and allows for effective recycling after 40 to 50 years of service.

  • Corona Buoys Superyacht Boom

    Corona Buoys Superyacht Boom

    A bridge too far? In Rotterdam a bridge is set to be demolished so that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ ship superyacht has free passage.

    What the mountain chalet is to the merely well-to-do, the superyacht is to billionaires. Sales of extra-large luxury yachts have risen by 77 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year, the German Manager Magazin writes.

    Costing hundreds of millions of dollars and whose maintenance consumes millions more each year, 887 of these floating palaces were sold last year.

    Prices for superyachts rose last year by about 5 to 8 percent in line with high demand.

    Oligarchs like Roman Abramovich, sheikhs from the Middle East, and tech founders, including Jeff Bezos, are lovers of such status symbols and compete in terms of size and extravagance.

    The Eclipse, Abramovich’s yacht, has two helipads because you never know how many guests are on approach. Swimming pools and jet skis are standard equipment of a sensible boat anyway, and well, money is no object.

    In Holland, the Rotterdam city council plans to remove a historic bridge so that Bezos’ new yacht can glide unhindered into the sea. Bezos and the shipyard, Oceano, plan to share the cost of removing and then rebuilding the De Hef bridge.

    Compared with the price of the yacht, 430 million euros, the cost of the conversion is likely to fall under the category of “petty cash”. That the free ride for billionaires does not suit everyone, on the other hand, is hardly surprising.

    The Rotterdam Historical Society promptly made its displeasure known about the demolition of the bridge.

    In times of Corona, perhaps this is the best way for billionaires to self-isolate.

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  • Azimut Benetti Group Shines in the Asia-Pacific Area

    Azimut Benetti Group Shines in the Asia-Pacific Area

    The Asia-Pacific Area continues to play a strategic role in terms of Azimut Benetti Group sales. Thanks to its longstanding presence in key countries in the area, the company has an excellent reputation and unparalleled reach across the region. Reporting total sales worth over 150 million euros (the two brands’ results for the last 12 months), the Group is at the top of an ideal ranking of best performers in the area.

    Despite the complexities caused by the global pandemic, Azimut Benetti has put in a particularly good performance, reporting a 10% increase in the results posted for this area last season with Benetti alone nearly doubling the number of units sold.

    This result, which takes into account all of the most important markets in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, mainland China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, is driven by orders for boats over 24 meters, a segment in which the Group excels throughout the world.

    In more detail, Azimut Yachts has sold and delivered eight yachts in the brand’s flagship Grande Collection (four 32 Metri, two 27 Metri, and two 25 Metri) with 5 more units in the same Collection in delivery in the next six months; Benetti has sold five units.

    With regards to Azimut Yachts, significant contributions to achieving these excellent results were made by Marine Italia, the dealer for Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong, and Taiwan, and by the new Australian dealer D’Albora, which has established a considerable presence in the region in the space of a single year, as well as opening up new markets on the country’s western coast.

    Turning to Benetti, it is no surprise that Asia-Pacific owners have focused their attention on the new projects and on the Oasis 40M, a glamorous yacht of which a remarkable 12 units have been sold to date.

    “For years Azimut Yachts has been leading the APAC market for a range of 34-120 foot yachts, supported by a very good network of local dealers, to strengthen the Azimut brand and to make sure that each customer feels valued and well looked after. We are especially proud of the results we have achieved this year. The sales results were especially positive in the range between 60 and 80 feet yachts and Grande Collection is clearly a beloved yacht in Asia. The glowing results were achieved with sales covering the whole Region from South East Asia to Oceania and with considerable sales in mainland China. Clients clearly recognized and rewarded the strengths of our products: an Italian design, the cutting-edge technology intrinsic to our boats, and of course, a solid family-owned group.” Says Enrico Chiaussa, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa Area Manager of Azimut Yachts

    “APAC continues to be a key market for Benetti and we are pleased to see our efforts to constantly innovate and improve on the quality of our products and processes, along with the hard work of our employees and local partners, has paid off in a year that has provided unique challenges. As we move into the new season, we remain optimistic that demand for our luxury yachts will continue to soar and that the new aggressive production schedule and the new model introductions we have planned over the next 18 months will further strengthen our position as an industry leader in this exclusive market sector.“ Says Peter Mahony, APAC GM of Benetti Yachts.

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  • Azimut Yachts Hong Kong Concludes a Remarkable 2019

    Azimut Yachts Hong Kong Concludes a Remarkable 2019

    Azimut Yachts celebrated the group’s 50th anniversary year packed full of exciting events, sales, new launches, deliveries and awards throughout 2019. Azimut Yachts Hong Kong, with its offices and dealer partners in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Singapore saw a wave of confidence across the region with an impressive number of yacht sales and handovers plus a series of well-planned and well-attended event. The busy year also saw the opening of two new sales offices; in Aberdeen, Hong Kong and Shenzhen Bay Yacht Club, Guangdong China.

    Bringing Azimut Yachts to Asia’s Doorstep

    A series of more than 10 events across Asia further promoted and elevated Azimut Yachts in the region. Through each of the events, Azimut Yachts celebrated with existing yacht owners as well as, provided an opportunity to showcase new yachts to potential new Azimut owners.  Events included the Macao Boat show, the Shenzhen Bay Yachting Festival – where Azimut Yachts Guangdong hosted the La Dolce Vita Italian Night – filmed by “Dolce Vita” Chinese TV and exclusive private bank and supercar events in Singapore and Hong Kong. In the coastal Taiwanese city, Tainan,, the first new S6 delivered to the region was handed over at the new Argo Yacht Club. The regional event of the year was the Azimut Yachts Party at the Singapore Yacht Show, where over 200 guests enjoyed live music and dance performances waterside against the backdrop of the New Azimut 55 and 25m Grande.

    Introducing New Yachts to Asia

    In October Azimut Yachts Guangdong proudly welcomed the first new Atlantis 45 to a captivated audience in Shenzhen, China. The Atlantis 45 is the successor to the Atlantis 43, a very popular yacht that exceeded all expectations by delivering over 140 yachts worldwide in four years. Featuring Volvo IPS propulsion, this new model takes on design cues from her larger sister, the Atlantis 51. The vertical bow stretches forward to boost the dynamics of a boat bringing out the sharpness of this yacht’s contours and its sporty soul.

    A series of successful 2019 Deliveries

    The Group completed an impressive number of deliveries across Asia. In 2019 several new models, including the S6, Atlantis 45, Azimut 55, Azimut Grande 25M and Azimut Grande 32, were delivered to new and repeat clients in Taiwan, Shenzhen, Singapore and Hong Kong. In addition, throughout the year, there was a steady stream of deliveries of the ever-popular Flybridge and Magellano models across all regions, and during the summer season alone no fewer than four  Azimut Grande models were delivered to Hong Kong and Singapore clients.

    In 2020 the Group  will introduce the latest new Azimut models to Asia, such as the stunning new S Range sisters the S10 and S8,  and the Azimut 78 Flybridge, all recently launched at the Cannes Yachts Festival in September.  New Azimut models are always hugely anticipated and these are no exception, with and S8 and 78 Flybridge already set for Hong Kong and Singapore deliveries before the summer.

    Regional Awards

    In addition to several industry awards won by the Group in 2019, Marine Italia Ltd, Azimut Yachts Hong Kong was awarded “Best after-sales support Worldwide (Excluding USA)” during the Azimut Yachts GLOBAL dealers meeting 2019 for their exceptionally high-quality customer service work and investments in customer support for the region.

    Azimut|Benetti closed out the 50th anniversary year, confirming its place for the 20th time as the world’s leading builder of high-end mega yachts, based on the international Global Order Book 2020 ranking of top yacht builders recently published by the highly- reputed magazine Boat International.

  • Benetti Launches Three Yachts in the Class Category

    Benetti Launches Three Yachts in the Class Category

    While at the Livorno shipyard the first phase of the Benetti Giga Season came to an end with the launch of a remarkable three giga yachts in just 100 days, most recently the 108-meter Benetti fleet flagship FB275, in Viareggio three Class category yachts have been launched in less than ten days: a Delfino 95, a Classic Supreme 132 and a Mediterraneo 116.

    On March 28, in Livorno, the Shipyard celebrated the christening of 108-meter giga yacht FB275, following closely on the heels of the March 21 launch in Viareggio of BD105 M/Y “Baya”, the fifth unit of the elegant and classically styled 29-meter Delfino 95. The generously spaced and welcoming interiors of the yacht are decorated with innovative combinations of marble, polished brass inserts and ash, eucalyptus and tay wood, creating an interesting alternation of textures and colour tones.

    The exteriors designed by Giorgio M. Cassetta provide a cue for interesting plays of light in the interiors through extensive glazed surfaces. The owner’s cabin on BD105 M/Y “Baya” has a bed adorned with sophisticated leather-upholstered headrests and a spacious bathroom fitted with tub, shower and mini bar. The two 1,000 hp Man V8 engines provide a range of about 2,400 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots. And when time is of the essence, the yacht has a top speed of 14.5 knots.

    April 3 then saw the launch of BS012, the twelfth unit of the 40-meter Classic Supreme 132 with exteriors by Stefano Righini. The interiors are by Benetti’s Interior Style Department, which chose the decorations and furnishings based on the owner’s instructions and requests. To give the boat more character, they feature leathers with an iridescent metallic appearance and richly veined varieties of marble: Port Laurent,Sahara Noir and Rino White.

    The juxtaposition of light-coloured smoked eucalyptus against the dark tones of matte-finish tay wood is clearly dominated by lighter colourways to give the settings a brighter atmosphere and the yacht an eclectic, modern feel. The social side of BS012’s character can be seen in the decision to put a teppan griddle in the centre of the table on the Fly Deck. In a first-of-its-kind solution for this model yacht, guests eat their food directly from the griddle on which it is cooked. Extensive outdoor spaces, particularly on the Sun and Upper Decks, are perfectly reconciled with the yacht’s streamlined contours, while the big full-height windows on both the Main and Upper Decks translate into brightly-lit interiors. Forward of the Pilot House, a Jacuzzi offers a spectacular vantage point from which to enjoy the sea view.

    Then on April 6, M/Y “Big Five” was launched, 35.5 meters long and the fifth unit of theMediterraneo 116 model. In this case too, the exteriors are by Giorgio M. Cassetta. The decor concept combines light-coloured matte-finish woods with other varieties in shades of grey and dark ash, creating a sophisticated and contemporary look. The use ofOlimpico Striato and Zebrino Apuano marble contributes to creating a sophisticated atmosphere. A huge forward section of the Main Deck is dedicated to the owner, with a private studio secluded from the areas set aside for socialising. The full-beam suite is flooded with natural light through panoramic windows, while the bathroom area, also full-beam, is split into his and hers areas, with a big shower cubicle set off by a marble-clad bench seat.

  • HKCYIA Offers Cruise Talks to the Public FREE

    HKCYIA Offers Cruise Talks to the Public FREE

    To promote public awareness of the cruise industry and its contributions to the economy, the Hong Kong Cruise & Yacht Industry Association (HKCYIA) is to provide free talks on cruise careers for youths. This follows the talks for Tourism and Hospitality Studies students which received overwhelming response with over 70 secondary schools having enrolled for the talks since last October.

    The cruise talks for the public will be held from now till March. The 3-hour talks will be conducted in English and given by HKCYIA Purser Trainer Laura Escobar, who has over 10 years of experience in the management of European cruises. The talks will cover international cruise information, structure of international cruises, introduction to cruise travel, and career development in cruise industry, providing the public with information about cruise careers and industry developments.

    Kara Yeung, Executive Director of HKCYIA, said “In view of the relatively low awareness of the cruise industry among Hong Kong people, HKCYIA is dedicated to advancing the long-term development of the Hong Kong cruise industry through free talks to the general public. The talks are designed to enable them to acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of the global cruise industry, thereby promoting employment in the fast-growing cruise sector.”
    The free talks will be held at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal where most international cruises berth in Hong Kong.

    Participants can have the opportunity to watch international cruises visiting Hong Kong, including Costa neoRomantica of the Italian Costa Cruises, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 of the British Cunard Line. They can also visit the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the HKCYIA office. Those wanting to visit the cruises are required to make prior arrangements with travel agencies on their own. For those interested in attending the free talks, please contact Ms. Chan at (852) 2180 0723 for registration as seats will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.

     

  • Top world models draw thousands of visitors at Hong Kong International Boat Show 2017

    Top world models draw thousands of visitors at Hong Kong International Boat Show 2017

    The ‘Hong Kong International Boat Show 2017’, the only boat show in Hong Kong this year, came to a close on December 3 amid the applause of both visitors and exhibitors. Organized by Club Marina Cove, the event featured a prize collection of designer exhibits, which included several award-winning boat models, with some of them being presented for their first time in Hong Kong, and even in Asia. The three-day Show attracted thousands of visitors and reported several immediate sales.

    China Pacific Marine reported an opening day sale of a Jeanneau 54 and a Merry Fisher 795 from France, while Hong Kong Boating also sold a Quicksilver from the U.S., followed by requests for sea trials from potential buyers.

    In addition, positive response was recorded at the hardstand booths, which featured a wide array of watersports equipment and accessories.

    This year’s exhibitors included:–

    • Asia Yachting, with its display ofthe Monte Carlo Yacht 105 from Italy, priced over HK$100 million;
    • Marine Italia exhibit –Azimut Grande 27 Metri fromItaly, winner of the “Most Achieved Trophy” in the 80’-125’ category at the World Yacht Trophies 2017;
    • Ferretti Group Asia Pacific– Ferretti Yacht 850;
    • Asia Marine Yacht Services –Galeon 500 Fly from Poland, which was named the European Powerboat of 2016;
    • Absolute Marine – Absolute 58 Fly fromItaly;
    • NextWave, the distributor for the English brand Sealine;
    • Simpson Marine –Beneteau Swift Trawler 44, inaugurallaunch in Asia;
    • Princess Yachts Greater China –Princess 75 Motor Yacht, which won an Asia Boating Award (Best Production Motor Yacht (15m to 24m) in 2016 and Motor Boat & Yachting Award in 2017;
    • Sunseeker Asia; Steering Marine; Wah Hing (China) Marine; Pak Marine; Promax Marine; etc.

    With a rising number of boating and watersports enthusiasts in Hong Kong, the market has become increasingly active with a preference for larger yachts, according to exhibitors.

    Now in its 23rd year, the ‘Hong Kong International Boat Show’, organized by Club Marina Cove, is the most established platform in Southeast Asia for the international boating industry. As the organizer, Club Marina Cove is dedicated to promoting the long-term development of the Hong Kong boating industry by providing a trading platform for the Hong Kong and Asian boating industry.

  • Indonesia to promote cruise, yacht destinations in Korea

    Indonesia to promote cruise, yacht destinations in Korea

    The Ministry of Tourism will promote Indonesian tourism destinations, especially for cruising and yachting, at the Seatrade Cruise Asia 2016 to be held on May 12-14 in Busan, South Korea.

    During the cruise industry exhibition, the government will introduce Indonesias best cruising and yachting destinations, Deputy of International Marketing Development of the Ministry of Tourism I Gede Pitana stated in a press release here on Thursday.

    The ministry will inform the international companies and yacht owners of the governments step to increase tourist arrivals by simplifying the approval procedure for yachts entering Indonesian waters through the Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory system.

    “The process to issue an entry permit will take only one hour,” Pitana noted.

    The government is prioritizing 10 yachting destinations, such as Tanjung Kayang Belitung, Tanjung Lesung, Seribu Islands, Mandalika Lombok, Labuhan Bajo, Wakatobi, and Morotai, in which marinas have been built to accommodate yachters.

    For cruise tourism, the five major ports of Belawan in Medan, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, Benoa in Bali, and Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar will serve as the entry gates to Indonesia.

    Eight marine tourism companies of Indonesia are also participating in the Seatrade Cruise Asia 2016.

    Moreover, the government is promoting its visa-free policy for Korean citizens by advertising its campaigns in the local media and through catalogs placed in Korean high-speed trains.

    The guests at the exhibition will be able to enjoy the performances of Indonesian dancers and several varieties of Indonesian coffee at the Wonderful Indonesia booth at the Seatrade Cruise Asia 2016.

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