Trade-A-Boat — January 2018

US-based Naiad Maritime

Group has registered a

new business in Western

Australia, Naiad Dynamics

Asia Pacific, and appointed

seasoned marine industry

professional Brendon

Westerhout to head

the offi ce as Business

Development Manager,

Asia-Pacific.

“This expansion is

designed to help us better

serve our luxury yacht,

commercial ship and

military ship customers in

the Asia-Pacific region, and

foster continued growth,”

explained Naiad Maritime

Group CEO, JD Venables,

adding “While Naiad has

served the region for

decades from our existing

operations, the distance

can be a challenge for

close working contact and

timely customer support —

our aim is to improve our

responsiveness.”

In addition to projects

throughout Asia, Naiad

currently has two

significant superyacht

construction projects in

Western Australia: an 85m

Silver Yachts featuring a

Naiad Dynamics AtSpeed

& AtRest roll stabilisation

system, and the 84m

Echo Yachts luxury

trimaran featuring a Naiad

Dynamics Total Ride

Control system with four

spanning foils plus an

actively-controlled trim tab.

Opening the regional

offi ce also improves Naiad’s

proximity to shipbuilder

Incat in Tasmania, where

Naiad serves as supplier-

partner for ride control

systems.

Commenting on

the appointment of

Westerhout, Venables

said: “Brendon brings

a wealth of experience

across many of the

marine industry sectors

in which we operate, from

superyachts to commercial

ships. He has both land-

based marine project

management/build captain

experience — including

for Greg Norman Yachts

International—as well

as significant seagoing

experience as a licensed

3000 GT Master for yachts

and a Commissioning

Captain within the high-

speed ferry sector for

Austal Ships.”

NAIAD MARITIME GROUP

OPENS IN THE WEST

The WA State Government
has encouraged local
manufacturers to apply
to build a new ferry for
the Transperth (public
transport) fl eet.
The new ferry, which
is expected to cost some
$2.6 million to acquire, will
become the third in the
fl eet after Shelley Taylor-
Smith and Phillip Pendal
(pictured).

It will replace the ageing

Shelley Taylor-Smith, which

is 20-years-old. It will,

however, be retained and

used as a reserve when

demand is high for special

events.

The ferries will be rotated

through service, with a third

vessel allowing Transperth

greater fl exibility during

regular maintenance

periods.

The new ferry will have

148 seats and a toilet,

mean ing it can potentially

be used for longer journeys

than the current Elizabeth

Quay-South Perth route,

should that be required in

the future.

“Our new ferry will be a

modern and versatile vessel,

built to take on longer

journeys so we can keep our

options open if new routes

are required in the future,”

said Transport Minister Rita

Saffi oti when announcing

release of a request for

tender to supply the new

boat.

The ferry service is highly

regarded by users, with a

recent passenger survey

indicating that 99 per cent of

passengers are satisfi ed with

the service.

Ferry tender goes to market

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