68 JUNE–JULY 2018 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com
TECHNICAL
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT | SUPERYACHTS - WORLD REVIEW
a long-established company which builds
craft for a number of international brands. It
mainly builds yachts between 30m-40m.
Over recent years the Taiwanese market
has begun to open up to develop a wider
involvement in the yacht market and
expand it domestically. This has included
new marina projects and the launch of a
successful international boat show held
every other year. At the 2018 edition of the
Taiwan show, 13 yachts were sold. All this
is helping to expand the domestic market
which has included superyacht purchases.SINGAPORE
Like Hong Kong, Singapore also serves
as a hub for the superyacht market. Its
main association with superyachts is the
annual Singapore Yacht Show, which is
now seen as the leading such event in Asia.
In 2018 SYS attracted around 100 yachts,
including several superyachts, and around
200 exhibitors. The show programme
also includes the Asia Pacific Superyacht
Conference, which gives an update on theprogress of the superyacht sector across
the region as well as an opportunity to
build awareness – especially with countries
such as Thailand and Indonesia looking to
expand their marine tourism sectors.
A key development within the last few
weeks has been the coming together of the
organisers of the SYS/Thailand Yacht Show
and the Singapore and Phuket Rendezvous.
This will consolidate the boat show calendar
in South East Asia to the benefit of the
whole industry.
As a business centre, Singapore is able
to meet the needs of visiting superyachts.
The island state has four main marinas,
all of which include superyacht berths and
three of them are currently expanding
their capacity. With the downturn in the
offshore market, a number of local shipyards
are looking to take on work from the
yacht market.mature market in Asia and serves as a
natural hub for the whole region. Many
superyacht builders, brokers and others
have their APAC headquaters or regional
oices located there. The territory is a
natural draw for superyachts because of
the business environment of the city, plus
it offers visiting yachts all that is needed in
terms of support and servicing.
The main problem might be finding a
berth. Despite the considerable economic
benefits that superyachts bring, the Hong
Kong government appears to have little
or no interest in the marine leisure sector
and there is a desperate shortage of marina
berths, especially for larger yachts. It is
unlikely any further marina projects will be
developed.
One recent hope of this being addressed
is the formation of the HK Boating Industry
Association, which currently has over 35
members and aims to push the yachting
agenda including superyachts.
Hong Kong is the base of two annual
boat shows, both of which have superyacht
elements to them. The one usually held in
May has not bene held for the past two years
because of marina construction works and
the other would be deemed a local show.
There are unconfirmed plans for a new
show, but details are awaited.
Hong Kong is also the headquarters of
the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association,
which has over 80 members covering all
parts of the superyacht sector across Asia
Pacific and other regions.
MACAO
The former Portuguese territory is now a
special administrative region of China and
in terms of superyachts the main attraction
is the casinos. There are a number of
superyacht berths available in two marinas,
one of which is being expanded.
TAIWAN
Taiwan is another long-standing mature
market in the region – mainly for yacht-
building, with many of the craft going to
the US for sale under a number of leading
brands. This output has included smaller-
sized superyachts.
The leading superyacht builder is
Horizon, which counts as one of the top
20 superyacht builders in the world. Its
superyacht builds range between 30m-40m
and under 500 GT. It sells across the world
through a well-developed dealer network.
Another leading builder is Kha Shing,
MALAYSIA
For superyachts, Malaysia offers a number
of cruising grounds and a selection of
marinas across the country including a
number with marina berths. Singapore-
listed marina development company SUTL,
for example, is developing a facility at
Puteri which is just across from Singapore.
One of the main yachting centres is
Langkawi, an island in north-west Malaysia
that includes four marinas and a shipyard
where yacht repair work can be carried out.THAILAND
The Thai government has declared its
firm intention to expand marine tourism.
Superyachts are a key element of this, with
the introduction of a superyacht charter
licence for visiting foreign-flagged yachts.
After much lobbying, this is near but still
not completed. It is hoped 2018 will at least
see its introducing.
With Phuket being a key yachting hub, it
is already home to a number of superyachts
based there, plus it is visited by others.
Phuket boasts four high-standard marinas
that provide berthing for superyachts up
to 100m or more, with a further project
announced earlier this year being developed
by SUTL from Singapore.
Phuket also offers shipyards able to
undertake repair and refit work with
a new project under development in
northern Phuket which is reported will be
able to handle yachts up to 1,000 tonnes.
Krabi, close to Phuket, is the location of
two marinas including one still under
development. A new yacht repair facility is
also planned with a 700-tonne travel lift.
As part of its hub status, Phuket is also
home to the annual boat shows held in
Thailand. This is the Thai Yacht Show and
the Phuket Rendezvous, formerly the Phuket
International Boat Show. These two events
have now merged to present one event.
Pattaya in eastern Thailand is also a key
location within the country’s leisure marine
industry. The Ocean marina is a world-
standard facility currently being expanded.
It is also home to the annual Pattaya show,
which has grown in size over recent years.
As part of its plan to develop Thailand’s
marine tourism sector, seven potential
sites have been identified for new marinas
throughout the country.INDONESIA
With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is a
natural cruising area for superyachtsPhuket boasts four
high-standard marinas
that provide berthing for
superyachts up to 100m or more,
with a further project announced
earlier this year by SUTL
from Singapore