74 JUNE–JULY 2018 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com
TECHNICAL
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT | SUPERYACHTS - WORLD REVIEW
SOUTH AFRICA
The Southern Wind Shipyard in Cape
Town, which ranks as Africa’s largest and
most successful superyacht builder, has
recently had a significant change following
the passing of its founder and CEO, Willy
Persico. Before his death he plotted a
course for the existing management team
to take the builder of high-quality sailing
superyachts forward, adding new partners
and shareholders.
Southern Wind, founded in 1991, is now
run by the tightly knit team of his trusted
SWS managers, who are also shareholders,
with the backing and support of three SWS
owners. “The shipyard, during its 25 years of
activity, has invested significant resources
in the selection and growth of management
to create a strong, skilled and harmonious
team which is now bearing fruit,” said
Persico in a recent interview outlining
plans for the yard’s future. “Companies are
made by people; at the shipyard in Cape
Town as well as at the oices of Pegaso in
Genoa, I have my ‘pillars’ and I can count on
their experience and advice from design to
building and from marketing to customer
care. In the future my team of managers
will become the leaders of the company to
continue my way to build boats, or, maybe,
their way to build boats.”
In terms of builds, SWS delivered at
the end of January its first SWS105 named
Satisfaction and two more of this size are
set for delivery in June and December 2018.
In March this year the second of the SWS96
mini-series, named Seatius, was launched.
Both the SWS96 and 105s are performance
cruising sail superyachts designed by Farr
Yacht Design and Nauta.
South Africa offers a good range of
marinas throughout the country and
shipyards than can handle repairs.
EGYPT
With the political troubles experienced
over recent years now easing, tourism
is making a comeback in Egypt and this
may lead to more superyachts calling. The
country’s Red Sea coast has a number of
quality marinas, such as El Gouna, which
offer a range of superyacht berths. There are
also marinas on the Mediterranean coast.
In the past Egypt has had superyacht
builders such as Shama Yachts and De Birs.
While Shama is understood to still
be operating, De Birs was closed some
years ago.
The key issue for superyachts in Egypt
is transiting the Suez Canal, which raises
security issues once they reach the Gulf of
Aden and Indian Ocean. While the piracy
activities off Somalia have decreased and
very few yachts have been attacked, it
remains to be a transit handled with caution
and appropriate steps implemented.MOROCCO
Morocco attracts a number of visiting
superyachts and its marina infrastructure
is being enhanced with the 1,400-berth
Tanja Marina Bay International in
Tangiers, which is able to accommodate
yachts between 7m-90m (23ft-296ft).
This huge facility has been developed in
a two-phase operation, with a completely
new basin having been added to the city’s
original port complex.
Tanja Marina will, in addition, include
a shipyard with a 450-tonne travel lift to
handle yachts up to 41m (135ft) as well as a
yacht club, sailing school and navigation
training centre. The marina project has
been developed by the Tangier City Port
Management Company, which is a state-
owned enterprise. They hope to attract
yachts to winter at Tanja and are planning
special facilities to help with this. Tanja
Marina is also home to the Royal Yacht Club
of Tangier which started in 1925.
For superyacht builds, ATB Maroc, based
in Agadir, has constructed a number of
vessels and is currently working on a 50m
(164ft) sailing craft.TUNISIA
Tunisia has a number of marinas which
can berth superyachts located in Bizerte,
Hammam Sousse and Monastir. These
offer berths up to 100m.
Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles,
and Madagascar – these East African and
Indian Ocean locations attract superyacht
visits in varying numbers, but the available
facilities range in abilities. Kenya is limited
and the English Point Marina project
planned for Mombasa is now uncertain.
Mauritius offers marina and shipyard
facilities in its capital Port Louis.
The Seychelles capital of Mahe is
particularly well-served by marina facilities,
with berths up to over 100m. This is a
popular chartering location and a number
of yachts were relocated here following the
hurricanes in the Caribbean.CANARY ISLANDS
The Spanish territory of the Canary Islandsserves as a popular location for visiting
superyachts as well as chartering. There
are marina facilities on Gran Canaria and
Lanzarote islands that offer marina facilities
up to around 70m (229ft). The Palumbo
Group also offers shipyard services through
facilities in Tenerife which can be used by
yachts. There are other shipyard and marine
service suppliers available.
The Canary Islands are also used as a
departure and arrival point by superyachts
crossing the Atlantic.CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND SENEGAL
Like the Canary Islands, the Cape Verde
Islands and the port of Dakar in Senegal
serve as leaving or arriving locations for
yachts crossing the Atlantic. As such, they
are able to provide visiting superyachts
with a number of support services.ANTARCTICA
With the growth in the explorer
and expedition yacht fleet and with
owners wanting more extreme cruising
experiences, more yachts are likely to be
visiting Antarctica. Since January 1, 2017
the new Polar Code was adopted by the
IMO and this may restrict the number of
yachts visiting the polar regions if they are
unable to secure appropriate accreditation
under the code.
The Polar Code is intended to cover
the full range of shipping-related matters
(including yachts) relevant to navigation in
waters surrounding the two poles – ship
design, construction and equipment;
operational and training concerns; search
and rescue; and, equally important, the
protection of the unique environment and
eco-systems of the polar regions.
The Code is mandatory under both
the SOLAS and Marpol conventions but it
only applies to vessels over 500 GT. IMO
describes the Code as an historic milestone
in the organisation’s work to protect ships
and people aboard them, both seafarers and
passengers, in the harsh environment of the
waters surrounding the two poles.
According to the member vessel
directory of the International Association
of Antarctic Travel Operators (IAATO), in
2018-19 there are expected to be 14 yachts
with around 120 guests visiting Antarctica.
The IAATO is a member organisation
founded in 1991 to advocate and promote
the practice of safe and environmentally-
responsible private-sector travel to the
Antarctic.