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AMELS announces contract for first Amels 199

Yachting Intelligence — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 23:56:35 +0000

Dutch superyacht builder AMELS has sold the first LIMITED EDITIONS AMELS 199, a distinctive and beautiful design by Tim Heywood.

With construction of the hull already well underway, the AMELS 199 is being customised for a repeat LIMITED EDITIONS client and will be delivered for spring 2013.

Tim Heywood was delighted that the first AMELS 199 had been sold. “I designed the AMELS 199 to look powerful and beautiful, a modern classic to reflect a new era in superyachting. I love the power of the vertical bow profile, although I wanted to soften this with the subtle curvature of the scimitar bow shape and the tumblehome in the forward sections. Even in concept form the design has proved to be a real headturner, and I can’t wait to see the reaction now that the concept is becoming a 199-foot reality.”

The owner of the first AMELS 199 has specified a number of areas for extensive customisation, including an enclosed lounge on the sun deck, a Touch & Go helicopter platform on the foredeck, and a central staircase that connects all levels from the lower deck up to the sun deck. The owner has commissioned Laura Sessa from Rome to style the interior of his AMELS 199 to his personal tastes. The project is being managed in cooperation with Imperial Yachts who are also working with AMELS on a LIMITED EDITIONS AMELS 177 currently under construction.

Another example of customisation on this AMELS 199 are the two folding balconies, situated port and starboard side of main deck, opening up the boat on both sides near to the main dining room. Standard features on the AMELS 199 design include two large VIP cabins on bridge deck, an enclosed garage situated forwards, capable of stowing two 8.00m tenders, and a very large Beach Club situated at the stern, with direct access to this generously-sized leisure area from the guest suites on lower deck.

As with all LIMITED EDITIONS yachts, the AMELS 199 offers high service levels with a crew of 14 plus the captain serving a maximum 12 guests. AMELS managing director Rob Luijendijk said this latest sale provided further evidence of the success of the LIMITED EDITIONS concept, which in less than six years has established AMELS as the market leader in the premium semi-custom segment.

“The LIMITED EDITIONS philosophy is about building superior yachts that offer excellent value and good delivery times,” said Luijendijk. “Our clients know that when they order a Tim Heywood-designed AMELS yacht, it will be beautiful, it will be delivered on time, function perfectly, while still offering ample opportunity for customisation. They know they are buying a yacht that will bring them great pleasure and satisfaction, and a safe investment for the future. It’s remarkable how LIMITED EDITIONS have continued to sell, even through recent times – one of the toughest economic periods the industry has ever seen. With the sale of two AMELS 177s, two AMELS 180s and now the AMELS 199, that’s five yachts sold in five months.”

Since the LIMITED EDITIONS concept was introduced in 2005, seven yachts have been delivered and 12 more projects are under construction, featuring hulls from the AMELS 177, AMELS 180, AMELS 199 and AMELS 212 ranges. Currently being finalised are design details for what will be the largest in the fleet, the 73.5 metre-long AMELS 242. At this point the LIMITED EDITIONS will range from 650GT to 1725 GT in gross tonnage.

The AMELS yard in Vlissingen is operating at 100% capacity. The next delivery will be the first LIMITED EDITIONS AMELS 212, a design collaboration between Tim Heywood and Andrew Winch.

AMELS is the exclusive yacht-building member of the Dutch DAMEN Shipyards Group, the largest shipyard in the Netherlands, consisting of more than 34 shipyards and marine-related companies throughout the world. DAMEN, a family owned company, employs over 6,000 people, delivered 150 vessels in 2010 and has an annual turnover of approximately €1.3 billion.

The Yacht Report changes Name

Yachting Intelligence — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:04:14 +0000

The Yacht Report Group announces a change to its portfolio as The Yacht Report magazine changes its name to The Superyacht Report.

Effective immediately, the March issue (121) focuses on the Refit, Finish and Deck, and subscribers are due to receive their copies this week.

The evolution of The Superyacht Report is the latest event in its 18-year history as the leading publication for news, commentary and information on the superyacht industry. Read by owners, builders, designers, brokers and suppliers who want the best news, information and in-depth features on the state of the world’s superyacht fleet, it has become the seminal publication for anyone who wants to keep abreast of this ever changing industry. The name change is a natural progression for the Group’s flagship title, which now clearly reflects the superyachts it exclusively covers and is a comfortable fit with the current stable of superyacht focused products and publications.

The Yacht Report Group Chairman, Martin Redmayne, commented:

“We already use ‘superyacht’ across the spectrum of products and services that we offer, including Superyacht Events, Superyacht Intelligence, Superyacht Art, SuperyachtDesign and SuperyachtJobs.com.”

“We are confident that this new name will firmly align and strengthen our specialist products and services, and further develop our audience-focus on the superyacht market.”

Demand for Yacht Transport Grows in South Pacific

Yachting Intelligence — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 08:36:20 +0000

Dockwise Yacht Transport’s (DYT) trademark bright orange semi-submersible ship, Super Servant 3, will arrive in Brisbane on or around January 25, 2011, and Jason Roberts, President of Aurora Global Logistics and DYT’s exclusive commercial agent for Australia says that’s good news for his business and the economy.

“The Australian yacht market is very buoyant at present due to the strong Australian dollar,” said Roberts. “Being market leaders, DYT and Aurora are working hard to service the South Pacific market for yacht transportation in relation to this large influx of yacht movements.”

Super Servant 3, at 456 feet (139 meters) in length and operating on a regular schedule to deliver yachts around the world, will look something like a giant moving marina when it comes to town. By “sinking” its dock bay, it will safely float off its cargo of yachts. Captains, owners and crew will be aboard the vessels during disembarkment, ready to take them by their own power on to new adventures.

It’s an amazing process,” said Roberts, “and no other shipping company has this ability to deliver boats in such a manner.” Nevertheless, Roberts says DYT often orchestrates lift-on/lift-off arrangements with third-party carriers for clients wanting a more flexible shipping schedule or to explore destinations where the float-on/float-off ships aren’t scheduled to go.

“With both services combined, we have created a very strong DYT yacht logistics product that is being utilized by many yacht owners and manufacturers and continues to be a leader in the market,” said Roberts.

Super Servant 3 departed Port Everglades in early December, 2010, and will have made stops in St. Thomas (USVI), Golfito (Costa Rica) and Papeete (French Polynesia) before arriving in Brisbane. From Brisbane, it will head to Auckland and return to Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) in late February, via Ensenada (Mexico).

DYT’s second “float-on/float-off” voyage to the South Pacific this year will begin in Port Everglades in early July, with stops in Golfito (early/mid July), Brisbane (early August), Auckland (mid August), and head back via Ensenada (mid September) to Port Everglades (early October) in time for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. This particular voyage is ideal for those who want to attend the Rugby World Cup which takes place in Wellington, New Zealand, in August, 2011.

In addition, DYT has scheduled these new voyages via the lift-on, lift-off method:

Loading in March and April, 2011:
Antwerp (Belgium) or Rotterdam (The Netherlands) to Genoa (Italy), then to Brisbane (Australia) and Wellington (New Zealand)

Loading in May and June, 2011:
North Adriatic to Augusta and Brisbane (Australia) and Wellington (New Zealand)

Loading in May, 2011:
Phuket (Thailand) to Genoa (Italy)

Sarment Appoints Director to Spearhead its Yacht Service

Yachting Intelligence — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:54:06 +0000

Sarment, the ultimate fine wine advisory service, has appointed Clément Pelletier as Director of Sarment Yachts, the company’s specialised wine management service tailored to the requirements and challenges of large yacht ownership.

Bringing together some of the industry’s finest award-winning sommeliers from the world’s top Michelin restaurants, Sarment Yachts provides yacht owners with unparalleled fine wine expertise, smart impartial buying advice, access to the world of fine wine and a range of exceptional services, including dedicated yacht cellar planning and management.

Founder and owner of Sarment, Bertrand Faure Beaulieu said: “We are delighted with Clément’s appointment to head up Sarment Yachts. In the short term, his focus will be on developing our offerings from wine cellar designs to offshore management in preparation for next year’s Mediterranean yachting season. With his wealth of knowledge and operational expertise of the Cote D’Azur from Monaco to St Tropez, he is ideally suited to lead Sarment Yachts in the region.”

As Director of Sarment Yachts, Clément is responsible for the services including the sourcing and delivery of the world’s finest and rarest wines in perfect condition; flexible onboard wine storage; and a seamless link between a yacht owner’s home cellar and their wine onboard. All of these meet the personal requirements of a yacht owner for their ultimate enjoyment and that of friends and guests.

Commenting on his appointment, Clément said: “I am excited to be joining Sarment and the opportunity to develop Sarment Yachts is a great challenge. Sarment’s sommeliers and management team are a collection of extraordinary talent, skills and knowledge and I am honoured to be joining the team.”

Prior to Sarment, Clément worked as a consultant offering tailored advisory and management support services to C-level executives and global entrepreneurs. He has led a variety of business development exercises including a number of projects for Bertrand Faure Beaulieu, whom he first met in 2006.