Fit for a QING

by Jeni Bone on 21 Jun 2017 The 46m (149.93ft) ruby-hulled MY QING has been at Rivergate Marina & Shipyard in Brisbane since March, undergoing scheduled maintenance for her five-year Lloyds survey, plus wide-ranging precision refit works to equip her for global expedition cruising.

MY QING has explored most of the world’s cruising grounds and remote locations, including the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean during her three-year world voyage.

The yacht’s Florida-based management company has advised that based on the quality of work and value for money, the owner is keen to extend QING’S stay so the yacht is shipshape ahead of an extensive long-range cruising itinerary.

Her US-based owner changed his world itinerary to include a second visit to the Great Barrier Reef and subsequent tour of Indonesia and Asia.

The Owner of MY QING embraces the ethos “Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy”. To keep QING’S environmental footprint to a minimum, she has been fitted with an innovative Schottel variable pitch drive system which provides the yacht with a massive range while requiring the minimum amount of fuel.

Like her dark green-hulled sister ship, Dorothea III, QING is a Marco Polo Series expedition motor yacht designed by Ron Holland and built by Cheoy Lee, specifically for long-range cruising.

A key part of QING’S global odyssey involved delivering supplies and water to various remote communities as a part of YachtAid Global, the yacht-based charity established nearly a decade ago by Captain Mark Drewelow.

QING’s Captain and Chief Engineer chose Rivergate as a result of a referral from a fellow Captain, familiar with Rivergate’s array of on-site marine trades and “can do” approach to every challenge.

“Rivergate is extremely proud to welcome MY QING,” said RMS General Manager, Andrew Cannon. “She is a superb example of an expedition superyacht and demands highly skilled experts in her maintenance and servicing. We have enjoyed having her here, and her crew have been generous in their praise for Rivergate and the hospitality they have experienced while in Brisbane.”

Since 2006, Rivergate has welcomed more than 200 major superyachts and many more private and commercial vessels from all over the region.

Asia-Pacific’s premiere marine facility, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard is a family-owned and run, multi-award-winning, deep water vessel berthing and maintenance facility. Equipped with 12,000m² hardstand, 75 and 300 tonne travelifts and all-weather enclosed refit facilities, Rivergate is a Customs and Quarantine Port and provides deepwater marina berths and state-of-the-art facilities for luxury yachts, pleasure craft and commercial vessels up to 90m. This includes hardstand and enclosed sheds, comprehensive project management services, and all major trades onsite, plus access to a 600 tonne travelift and 2500 tonne rail slip.

A close-knit, highly skilled community, the tenants on-site comprise marine electricians, shipwrights and cabinet makers, marine engineers, propulsion experts, composite material repairers, a range of service agents for all marine engines, marine carpeting and fabrics and painters and superyacht quality paint applicators.