November 30, 2015

Monthly News - November 2015

-pic of the month- Moonen Back on Course


Azimut-Benetti Group Receives Mets IBI Award

According to the authoritative judges of the Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement, Paolo Vitelli's name is synonymous worldwide with Italy's highest production and innovation capacity in the nautical sector. For the first time in nautical history, the careers and contributions of leading nautical entrepreneurs over the last 50 years were measured against one another under the auspices of the prestigious IBI (International Boat Industry) magazine and of Amsterdam’s METS, the world's largest marine equipment trade show. The qualified jury, made up of nine journalists and industry experts called on to evaluate the candidates of the first ever "Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement", granted the "Lifetime Achievement Award" to Paolo Vitelli, founder and president of the Azimut|Benetti Group, a world-leading Italian company in the production of mega yachts. Paolo Vitelli thanked the jury, IBI and METS for the detailed and flattering review of his own personal milestones and those of Azimut|Benetti. In his speech, he pointed out that, in order to be an entrepreneur, you need a dream, a driving passion and a firm commitment, as well as a pinch of positive madness, the latter having being his most crucial quality in tackling the great challenges that have earned the company its present day success. The president of the Italian group also directed an encouraging exhortation to young people, now that markets seem to be recovering, inviting them to take on even greater professional challenges than his, without the fear of 'daring'. In its many years of challenging, hard work since 1969, Azimut|Benetti has introduced countless corporate and product innovations, many of which have become veritable turning points, paving the way for and dictating new technical, strategic and commercial trends soon adopted by the rest of the industry. Just to name a few, the company is responsible for introducing the use of fibreglass for boats over 30 meters in length; for being the first to pioneer and believe in the US market, in which it currently boasts a solid and widespread presence; and for internationalizing the Italian Azimut|Benetti brand, ensuring its steady growth and turning it into the undisputed industry leader. Today, the driving force behind the company's success is the father-daughter team made up of Paolo and Giovanna Vitelli. Over 250 people, including VIPs and representatives of the exhibiting and winning companies, took part in the first prize-giving gala evening, which took place in the spectacular glass-roofed garden of the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam as part of METS 2015 (Marine Equipment Trade Show).


Bavaria with Strong Teams on a Growth Path

Bavaria Yachtbau with strong teams on a growth path All the signs point to continued growth for Bavaria Yachtbau. Due to the very good order intake from the autumn boat shows in Europe, the US and Asia all production lines at Bavaria are busy. This requires not only new recruits for the production section but also in the sales, marketing, finance and development departments as Bavaria strengthens the existing teams with new members. Jürgen Scholz joins Bavaria as the new Head of Sales. The management expert will strengthen the development of the international dealer network and the strategic adjustment of the new-customers business. Bavaria has more than 100 dealers in 52 countries and will deliver more than 1.200 yachts this year worldwide. Thorben Will is the new Head of Marketing at Bavaria. His first task will be the organization of the upcoming boat shows, especially the boot Düsseldorf in January. For the first time Bavaria will display all their catamarans, sailing and motorboats in one stand called Bavaria World in hall 17. That means 18 yachts on a 3.500 square meter booth. As Head of Program Management, Alexander Berg will be responsible for the whole development process of sailing and motor yachts from the first drawing to market introduction. Alexander has over twenty years experience in the marine industry as a surveyor and manager of a shipyard. Because of the growing demand for financing or leasing of yachts, Bavaria set up a new department. Martin Bijl now supports the worldwide dealer network in all questions regarding financing and leasing in the new Service Customer Financing.

Bavaria CharterExpo

5,000 meetings within three days more exhibitors, more visitors, more meetings, more deals. With this simple formula one could summarize the success of the second edition of the CharterExpo. From the 23rd to the 25th of November charter enterprisers, agencies, investors and decision-makers met in Berlin at the probably biggest B2B exhibition in Europe of the charter industry. In 5,000 meetings over three days not only old contacts were maintained and new contacts separately attached, also very concrete deals for the charter season 2016 were closed. The CharterExpo was organized by the biggest shipyard of Germany for yachts named Bavaria Yachtsand the worldwide biggest reservation system of yacht chartering Yachtbooker.


Horizon Yachts Hosting Fourth Open House

Horizon Yachts is pleased to announce the 2016 Horizon Open House will be hosted March 10th-13th, 2016 at the Horizon City Marina which is located alomgside the 2016 Taiwan International Boat Show at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center in downtown Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Horizon plans to showcase four luxury yachts at Horizon City Marina for Open House event, an E84 motoryacht, E56motoryacht, and two yachts specifically for the Taiwan market, as well as a display of three yachts at the 2016 Taiwan International Boat Show: the debuting FD85 fast displacement motoryacht, new RP120 superyacht, and the E56 motoryacht. The 2016 Horizon Open House is a biennial event that honors Horizon as one of the world’s leading luxury yacht builders. Along with the yacht showcase, the Horizon Open House will encompass shipyard factory tours, VVIP and VIP events, a Kaohsiung sight-seeing city tour, and more; the event is expected to draw more than 1,000 guests from around the world. 


Invictus Sells Fifty Boats in Just Over a Year

In little over a year since its first debut, the innovative Italian yard, Invictus Yacht, has managed to establish their market presence as an example to follow in terms of quality, aesthetic research and performance elements that distinguish each of their boats. But the most important and encouraging prize come from the clients. The numbers speak clearly: one year after presentation and six months of sales, Invictus Yacht has already sold more than 50 boats in Italy, France, Spain, Serbia, Montenegro. Exceptional results, especially when you consider market conditions and fierce national and international competition.


Moonen Back on Course

Moonen Shipyards in the Netherlands is making a strong recovery from the financial turbulence it faced earlier this year due to problems entirely beyond the yard’s control. Construction of one of the yard’s ongoing projects – a 30-metre motoryacht in Moonen’s new Caribbean range – has now recommenced in full cooperation with the owner, shareholder, subcontractors and suppliers. In addition, a number of other clients have submitted their yachts for refits as a sign of their support for Moonen. Moonen Shipyards has built many award-winning motoryachts over the decades but Saturday 14 November 2015 may well go down as one of the most pivotal moments in the yard’s distinguished history. As the hull and superstructure of the 30-metre motoryacht Matica were joined together, it symbolised the unity and determination to see the yard come out of its recent financial turmoil and regain its place as a leading exponent of premium quality yachts. The announcement of a ‘suspension of payment’ at Moonen in July 2015 shocked everyone in the superyacht industry. It came as a complete surprise as the yard had found a major new shareholder two years ago with significant financial clout in the form of Mexico’s largest steel manufacturer. AMHSA’s commitment to the future of Moonen was such that it had commissioned the first in a new and very well received range of semicustom motoryachts called the Caribbean series. The innovative nature of the Caribbean series is one of the many reasons why people were saddened to hear of the troubles at Moonen. The yard has a reputation for combining forward thinking design and technology with the traditional values of Dutch craftsmanship that are appreciated around the globe. The management and craftsmen at Moonen are also well-known for their hospitality and commitment to owner satisfaction, so the enforced suspension of payment had a personal impact on many. This warm heart towards Moonen has also been its saving grace at this vital moment in the yard’s history, as Bilterijst explains. The Matica yacht is slated for launching in July 2016. And the confidence shown by the owner that Moonen will complete the build has been mirrored by very practical support from several other clients who have submitted their Moonen superyachts for refits at the yard. These include the Moonen 97 Etoile d’Azur and the Moonen 97 Nimbus, both of which are being given a new exterior paint livery, having modifications made to their interiors, and enjoying a range of technical upgrades and maintenance. Delivery of both yachts is planned for the spring of 2016. The management team are now working towards solutions that will enable the suspension of payment to be lifted. 


Sea Ray New Owners Club

Sea Ray announced the launch of a newly revamped Sea Ray Owners Club during a successful VIP Event held on opening night of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. At the party on Thursday evening—during which Sea Ray also debuted two new yacht models, the 400 Sundancer and 400 Fly. President Tim Schiek addressed the large group of Sea Ray customers, dealers and executives in attendance. The mission of the new Sea Ray Owners Club is to Celebrate, Connect and Empower owners in a whole new way. In addition to these engaging local events, Sea Ray is also launching a new online community. Benefits available through the Sea Ray Owners Club include free on-water and on-road towing coverage from NBOA; discounts on concierge services, dockage and fuel from MarinaLife; exclusive savings from grilling and cooktops manufacturer Kenyon International; fuel credits from The Out Islands of The Bahamas; hotel discounts from the InterContinental Hotels Group; and many more. From now through January, the Sea Ray Owners Club Online Community will be in beta testing phase. Owners are encouraged to register and log their feedback in the “ideas” section of the site. 


Tankoa Sets FCP Buisness Unit

FLIBS was the occasion to follow up top brokerage houses and discuss the potential opportunities to position Tankoa Yachts as a contender to bid on new construction for their clients. Considering the extremely high interest for Tankoa as a builder, it has been decided to create a “FCP business unit”, FCP standing for Fully Custom Projects. This new unit will benefit from the yard’s now impressive hull platform collections of 50, 53, 55, 58, 60, 65, 71, 80 and 88 meter to adapt them to clients’ own projects created by a designer of their choice. This new unit will also be handled by a cohesive collaboration between Yacht-Ology together with Tankoa’s expertise Euro Contenti (CEO), Edoardo Ratto (G.M) and Renzo Chelazzi (S.M.), whose technical knowledge is limitless. Yacht-Ology has already received massive interests from brokers on this end.


Viking Veteran Days

Viking have been a day early with its acknowledgment of Veteran's Day. But Viking are taking that liberty because in truth every day lived is owe to the amazing men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you for your service in making America the greatest country in the world


Vitruvius Takes ISS Awards

M/YGrace E by Vitruvius Yachts has been awarded the Best Power Yacht in the 65m+ category at the International Superyacht Society Design Awards 2015, which took place on the eve of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The category featured a number of high- profile superyachts alongside Grace E, each from prestigious yards and designers; but she continued her winning streak of 2015 with another victory. The peer-reviewed ISS Design Awards are judged by leading naval architects and designers in the industry, and this year celebrated was the competition’s 25th anniversary. The judges commented that some of Grace E’s winning factors include her efficient hull form and timeless exterior and interior styling as well as the planning and emphasis on world cruising that went into her design, keeping the environment in mind. The third motor-yacht built from Philippe Briand’s designs for Vitruvius Yachts, in 2014 the 73m Grace E was delivered to her owners at the Picchiotti shipyard in La Spezia. The flagship vessel has since received widespread acclaim from the yachting community, and has been bestowed with numerous industry awards. Earlier this year, she won Best Motor Yacht Under 75m and Motor Yacht of the Year categories at the World Superyacht Awards, as well as a trio of Showboats Design Awards for exterior design and styling, naval architecture and environmental protection. Grace E was designed with innovation in mind across her five decks, not least below the water’s surface in her patented Briand Optimized Hull shape. This advanced naval architecture, combined with her diesel-electric propulsion, maximizes efficiency to provide an enviable cruising range of 7,500nm. Her interior includes a dedicated wellness deck and cleverly configured guest suites that can be conjoined via moving walls. Vitruvius Yachts has recently announced a number of new projects, including an 80m yacht to be built at Turquoise Yachts, a 60m yacht to be built in Northern Europe and 105m collaborative project with Oceanco. Although all designs for Vitruvius Yachts are unique, they follow a familiar theme and defined signature ‘look’, with specific attention to balance, efficiency and robustness in their design.


Wider Sea Trials Underway

The first sea trial on board the Wider 150, project “Genesi”, was undertaken on the 12th of November; weather conditions were good and sea state calm. The Wider technical team were joined on board by specialists from Veth, who were on hand to analyse the performance of the azimuthal pods that provide thrust, along with technicians from Emerson Industrial Automation who were eager to see the power management system working under the actual conditions it was designed for.

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