58 JUNE–JULY 2019 | International Boat Industry ibinews.com
Markets & Regions
REPORT | SUPERYACHT SECTOR – REFIT
The Rivergate yard in Brisbane can handle
superyachts up to 90mhas recently introduced the largest travel lift
in the world with an 1,120-tonne capacity.
This new piece of equipment replaced the
company’s former 60m drydock. This lift
was funded by a A$8m grant awarded to the
yard as part of a pre-election pledge.
The other yard, Norship Marine, which
also received A$8m, is still to spend its
money but there are major plans to develop
the marine industry capacity in Cairns
following a review of the sector and its
future. What the review recommended was
the instalment of a 3,000-tonne capacity
synchrolift which would allow the port
to handle much larger vessels including
superyachts up to 80m or more. As part
of this, a major dredging programme is
underway to provide greater depth to allow
for larger craft.
Further south in Brisbane, the two major
shipyards – The Yard and Rivergate Marina &
Shipyard – are also contemplating expanding
their facilities. The Yard, which is already
handling a lot of superyacht work and is
well-equipped with a good range of sheds up
to 90m, is looking to invest in a 1,280-tonne
travel lift over the next year or so.
Rivergate, which can already handle
superyachts up to 90m, has applied for
planning permission for a 2,600-tonne
synchrolift which would strengthen its
position in the marketplace. If planning
for the synchrolift is not approved, it may
choose another option which could be a
large travel-lift.
On the Gold Coast, both the Gold Coast
City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) and the
Boat Works are spending around A$100m
on expanding their facilities at Coomera. At
GCCM, a major expansion of the shipyard is
planned with a 1,000-tonne capacity travel
lift being considered to expand the size of
superyachts it will be able to handle.
Adjacent to this, the Boat Works is also
doubling its size with its new 52-acre North
Precinct. This will include a new 300-tonne
travel lift and marina berths allowing it to
handle superyachts up to nearly 60m. Work
on this project is already well advanced
and the first phase is due to be opened in
October. A new set of sheds, with the largest
being 41m long, and a large hardstand area
are also part of the project.
As part of making the Boat Works into
a superyacht destination there will also be
special crew, accommodation and sporting
facilities developed. The full project, which
is moving forward at a rapid pace, is due to
be completed in 2020.As part of the expansion plans at both
GCCM and the Boat Works, the Gold Coast
Waterways Authority is undertaking a major
dredging programme to maintain a suitable
depth for superyachts up to 75m or more.
In the Northern Territory, the port of
Darwin is also assessing its future in respect
of superyacht infrastructure. Refit and repair
wise, this was improved a year ago when
Tasmanian Seafoods opened a new facility
which can handle superyachts up to about
40m with a 150-tonne capacity travel lift.
Darwin is a key port of entry for superyachts
cruising the Kimberley area of northern
Australia.
In New South Wales, the main
superyacht refit facility is Sydney City
Marine, which can handle superyachts
up to about 60m. A new facility is due to
come onstream at Newcastle which will be
operated by Thales and potentially include
superyacht refits among its workload.
In Western Australia, the marine centre
at Henderson, south of Perth, is home to
Echo Yachts which recently completed the
largest superyacht completed in the country- the 84m trimaran White Rabbit. Echo
Yachts and its sister company, Evolution
Commercial, perform refits on superyachts
and commercial craft.
NEW ZEALAND
Yachting Developments Ltd is New
Zealand’s main superyacht builder and aleading refit company. Based in Hobsonville,
near Auckland, it is almost the sole survivor
of the country’s once sizeable superyacht
new-build industry. The company can handle
superyachts up to around 60m for refit
projects.
In Auckland, other leading companies
engaged in the superyacht market and refit
work include Orams Marine Services Ltd
and Titan Marine Engineering Ltd, able to
cope with superyachts up to 95m and 86m
respectively.
In Tauranga, a new marine precinct
known as Vessel Works has opened as
a marine servicing hub for superyachts,
commercial and recreational vessels.
Vessel Works brings an array of marine
companies together on a 6,300m^2 heavy-
duty hardstand. Hikinui, the Vessel Works’
mobile vessel-hoist, can lift vessels of up to
350 tonnes and 50m long, and move them
around the site.
Whangarei is also a major centre for yacht
work and a number of companies based
there contribute to this task. They include
Oceania Marine Ltd, Ship Repair NZ Ltd,
Port Whangarei Marine Centre and Q-West
Boat Builders. Between these companies,
superyachts from 30m-120m can be handled.
In terms of the Pacific Islands, Port
Denarau Marina in Fiji has a boat yard
which can provide a wide range of services
to superyachts, and in Tahiti, Papeete-based
Technimarine has the capacity to work on
superyachts up to 40m. Its facility includes a
300-tonne travel lift.
A major new development representing a
NZ$100m investment will provide Auckland
with a new refit facility located at Site 18
in the city’s Wynyard Quarter. The facility
was subject to a Development Agreement
between the city’s redevelopment agency
Panuku Development Auckland and leading
marine services company Orams.
It is hoped the project’s marine work will
be completed by the end of 2020. Area 18 will
feature a marine haul-out and refit facility
and target vessels up to 800 tonnes, which
accounts for 85% of the world marine market.
The facility should be ready in time for the
36th America’s Cup in 2021.
The range of new investment going into
the refit sector across the world highlights
the major growth that is underway and will
continue into the future. With around a
150 new-builds over 30m joining the global
superyacht fleet annually, the need for this
new investment is readily underpinned with
the expectation that more will follow.