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The International SeaKeepers Society is well-known for its efforts to monitor and improve the health of the world's oceans. To date its data-collection systems are mostly aboard megayachts, given their size and complexity (which in turn dictate cost). However, for some time the Society has been working to bring its systems down in scale to smaller craft. Mission accomplished. A PWC is now the first small vessel to feature a SeaKeeper 1500, a portable unit containing a hydrocarbon sensor and a computer dashboard display. Since the owner keeps it in Mobile, Alabama, it's being used to monitor conditions there, such as the presence of refined fuels and crude oil. It also samples water salinity and other items. Even more interesting, the SeaKeeper unit can capture and record data while the PWC is zipping along at 45 knots. |
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There's been a lot of talk about the recent Abu Dhabi Yacht Show (above), mostly centered on how this superyacht show was anything but. While about 20 yachts exceeding 100 feet were set to be displayed as of January, only five of them actually came. Much of the blame went to the ongoing piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the political unrest in the Middle East. Similar blame was ascribed to foot traffic being less than expected. It was indeed low: Of all the international yacht shows I have attended over the past 18 years, I have never seen stands nor docks so quiet. I have also never seen exhibitors so frustrated. (One even commented to me that high-ranking members of the Abu Dhabi royal family were conspicuously absent, especially in the light of the crown prince of Dubai attending.)
So what does the future look like for the show? From where I sit, it's doubtful it will survive, and not just because of the above factors. The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, which teamed with show producer Informa Yacht Group to promote the event, won't commit to marketing a show again until at least 2013. Combine these with the fact that the Dubai International Yacht Show is held just prior to the Abu Dhabi Show, plus has the backing of more megayacht exhibitors and the industry organization SYBAss (Superyacht Builders Association), and it's not hard to figure out where people will put their priorities for now on.
Make no mistake, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the Middle East remain a strong market for the industry. It's just not strong enough to sustain two shows so close to one another, both in terms of time and physical distance.
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ISA Launches Liberty
Three 50-meter (164-foot) yachts are among the projects under construction at ISA. You're looking at the first of those 50-meters to hit the water this year, Liberty.
The owner tapped Andrea Vallicelli for the exterior styling, created in conjunction with ISA's in-house team. The look has a bit more flair than the yard's prior launches, underscored by the deep-hued hull.
Speaking of underscored, the interior decor makes it clear that visitors are on an oceangoing vessel. Each of the four guest staterooms below decks, plus the VIP stateroom on the upper deck and the master suite on the main deck, feature designs echoing sea creatures. Specifically, the owners chose coral, a nautilus, a starfish, a seahorse, a shark, a shrimp, and a tortoise. Various materials, like textured leather and fabrics, echo the creatures' colors and patterns.
Liberty is scheduled for delivery in May.
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In Other News...
With one-stop shopping so prevalent in our daily lives, isn't it about time that the same concept came to the megayacht market? It has. JLT Yacht Agency and its in-house provisioning arm, Everything Marine Yacht Supply, have opened a showroom in Ancona, Italy, where crew can select linens, china, glassware, and more for their new-builds and refits. The showroom even stocks and can order crew uniforms and technical equipment. The showroom is walking distance from the shipyards of CRN and ISA. ...Tender Shipyard has delivered its first project, the colorful craft you see above. She's a custom tender to the 53-meter (174-foot) Berkut. We introduced you to Tender Shipyard in December, explaining how it was founded to focus on this niche. Each boat that Tender Shipyard designs and builds can be tailored in a variety of ways. Berkut's boat, for example, has a hydraulic removable hardtop for the bow seating, teak decking, and underwater lights. It can reportedly hit 45 knots with its 260-hp Yanmar, too. ...If cruising plans will take you to southern UK waters this summer, Solent Refit is offering short-term berths for yachts to 100 meters (328 feet). The facility is near museums, hotels, bike paths, and more, and it's also a short ferry ride from Southampton. Furthermore, emergency repairs and long-term refits can be performed on site. ...You've heard of "pre-owned cars," so why not "pre-loved yachts," right? That's the thinking at Azimut-Benetti and its parent company, Fraser Yachts. The group just unveiled Preloved-Yachts.com, a site dedicated to brokerage offerings of Azimuts and Benettis, as well as other brands. For the next few months, only yachts available in Italy will be featured. Offerings from around the rest of the world are expected to be added later this year. ...Tork Buckley, a familiar face to many industry players for his work with The Yacht Report, is strengthening the services of his consulting company. Big Blue Consulting is now based in Asia and working on behalf of both owners and shipyards in the region. It will, of course, continue to work with clients around the world. |
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