Singapore for Superyacht Association

by www.IBINews.com on 20 Apr 2007 It's not a new story that yachts are getting bigger - more and more superyachts need more and more facilities and that's an opportunity that the yachting industry round the world is not ignoring. IBI reports that now a new, non-profit, superyacht industry association has been set up in Singapore to promote the country as a superyacht destination and hub.

The Superyacht Singapore Association (SSA) will also aim to further the country's economic interests in the industry. It will launch strategic initiatives and form strategic alliances to increase Singapore's share of the global superyacht servicing, maintenance, repair, refit and supply market - estimated to be worth more than US $10.5 billion annually - by increasing the number of superyacht visits, average stay-days and average daily spending.

Nearby Phuket, the Andaman Sea, and Koh Samui are fast becoming playgrounds for several superyachts. But Singapore itself is little known by superyacht charterers, brokers, owners and captains as a destination. As a result the country is eagerly reinventing itself to entice superyacht owners from Europe and the Middle East.

Currently the country has three marinas that offer superyacht berths - Raffles Marina, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC) and ONE15 Marina Club - but it lacks the servicing, maintenance, repair and refit, and supply facilities needed by the industry. Instead it relies on the commercial infrastructure offered by existing industrial shipyards. The SSA will aim to cluster these suppliers, helping fill the gaps in the industry and market the capabilities of the Singapore industry as a major servicing hub for superyachts.

Furthermore, the SSA will explore strategic alliances with specialised maritime security companies to address the issue of safe passage to and from the country. Piracy and security measures are also being addressed at a governmental level as well as at the grassroots. In this way the association hopes to create a superyacht 'third destination' of Australia and south-east Asia, in addition to the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Its strategic partner in this objective is SuperYacht Base Australia (SYBA).

Some of the association's founding members include: Raffles Marina; Republic of Singapore Yacht; Club ONEº15 Marina Club; AusMarine International Trust (AMIT); Seal Superyachts Asia (Singapore); Drum Cussac Asia; Spinnaker International; APTIC; MTU Singapore; and Simpson Marine.


(19 April 2007)