Industry Review - New Zealand Superyacht industry

by John Julian on 20 Sep 2007 Powerboat-World publishes on line Ocean Magazine latest review of the New Zealand Superyacht industry. Ocean Magazine is the Australiasian luxury marine journal.

The author of this review is John Julian, the author of two books: Super Yachts (Hodder Moa Beckett / MBI 2000) and From Salvage Tug to Super Yacht, the Lone Ranger Story (David Bateman / Seafarer Books 2006).

'Seven years ago, in the autumn of 2000, topics of conversation in Auckland’s harbourside bars typically ranged from the successful defence of the America’s Cup the previous summer to the wintry rate of exchange overseas travelers could expect when trading their New Zealand dollars.

Exporters, according to the Government, were favoured given the weakness of what some had begun to call the Pacific Peso, but successful Superyacht builders must offer quality as well as value and the rising cost of imported raw materials was a source of some concern.

Most of those enjoying a beer after work agreed that the Government didn’t understand much about the Superyacht business anyway; having realised during the course of the America’s Cup that big boats were a source of income and prestige, the politicians ignored the existing players and decided to back a couple of newcomers to the industry whose talent for self-promotion outstripped their ability to build and market yachts at the time.

This initiative was, naturally enough, rather unpopular in those days, not least because the start-ups were hiring skilled personnel from established yards.

Seven years on, much has changed and whilst New Zealand’s excellent reputation for Superyacht build, refit and related services has been further enhanced internationally, the good work started by MAREX (Marine Export Group) and BIA (Boating Industries Association) in terms of exhibitions, promotions and event management has been continued and amalgamated into MIA (Marine Industry Association) which, in partnership with BITO (Boating Industry Training Organisation), is headquartered at 85 Westhaven Drive in Auckland’s maritime business district.

In addition to looking after its burgeoning membership and running boat shows and seminars, MIA sponsors major events, such as the New Zealand Millennium Cup Superyacht race which was held on the 19th June 2007 in Palma de Mallorca and organises symposia such as Yacht Vision, which will again take place in Auckland from 5-9th March 2008.

In her recent introduction to the current, biennial New Zealand Marine trade directory, Prime Minister Helen Clark (who originally assumed office in December 1999, a few weeks before Team New Zealand’s successful 2000 America’s Cup defence) noted that the industry has an annual turnover of NZ$1.5 billion with NZ$525 million in export sales and a 4.6 per cent share of the global market for marine industry products.

Furthermore, New Zealand presently ranks sixth in the world as a Superyacht producer and the industry presently employs nearly 10,000 people across 1300 companies with an estimated 500 fulltime apprentices honing their skills with the support of the government.

All this, she continued, in a country that was originally settled around 1000 years ago by Maori, who had traveled vast distances in large canoes and who were later joined by waves of migrants arriving in sailing ships.

Those gathered at the bar in 2007 might agree: the politicians have seen the light and are helping the industry as a whole, rather than trying to pick winners. And the government got behind Team New Zealand as well, providing the means to carry on through the dark days following the loss of the America’s Cup in Auckland during 2003 towards Valencia in 2007. Good on them: it’s nice to see our tax dollars well spent!

When it comes to earning recognition for the New Zealand Superyacht industry however, Alloy Yachts still sets the gold standard. Tony Hambrook’s team celebrated the company’s 21st birthday at the Monaco Yacht Show last year and by early 2007 had built 33 yachts and won 16 international awards.

Following the recent launch of a 34 metre expedition-style motor yacht named VvS1, designed by Gregory C Marshall of Canada for a New Zealander, work continues on two Ed Dubois-designed sailing yachts presently in build. The first, Red Dragon, a 52 metre sloop with an interior from the Paris studio of Wilmotte & Associés will be launched later this year while the second, Mondango, a 52 metre ketch with accommodation by Pascale Reymond and Andrew Langton in London will leave the yard towards the end of 2008.

Just down the road in Henderson, West Auckland, Sensation Yachts’ management has reportedly acquired another overseas site in Singapore to go with the yard they leased in Newcastle, NSW.

Their latest motor yacht, the 50 metre Sensation has been seen in Sentosa en route to Dubai and the next vessel to be launched is a 23 metre composite cruising cutter, which should take to the waters of Henderson Creek on 30th June 2007.

Elsewhere in Henderson, Vaudrey Miller, builders of the attractive, Philippe Briand-designed, 24 metre blue water cruiser Whimsy, are busy with a number of custom Superyacht tenders. Having built a 10.5 metre sport boat, a 12.3 metre Riva Aquarama-type runabout, and a 12.4 metre catamaran-hulled vehicle landing craft (all for Larry Ellison’s 138 metre KAWAU

'In New Zealand, the Superyacht industry has grown, improved and adapted, and is training the next generation in larger numbers
than ever before.'

April Vaudrey reports that there are several more tenders under construction as well as a 28 metre sports fisherman for delivery at the end of this year.

Also in the neighbourhood, Bill Howlett of McDell Marine confirms that the yard has started Oyster 525, Hull Number One, drawn by Rob Humphreys, which will make its debut at the London Boat Show in January 2008. Design and construction quality of this, and subsequent new builds, will be further improved by the recently-announced joint venture between McDell Marine and the Australian MouldCAM CNC / CAD / CAM concern, based in Queensland.

Further round the harbour at Hobsonville, Bill Lloyd’s team at Sovereign Yachts, having just dispatched the 36.6 metre motor yacht Bacchus toward the Mediterranean, are busy finishing a 31.5 metre, Alan Warwick designed sports fisherman for launching in October 2007, with another similar craft due for completion in 2008.

NZ Yachting Developments are neighbours, having recently relocated to the Westpark site, and Ian Cook’s composite specialists are presently working on a 25.5 metre, Bill Langan designed sloop for a December 2007 launch as well as a 37 metre, high-performance sloop from the studio of Philippe Briand, which will be ready in January 2008.

This whole area, which also incorporates other boatbuilding businesses, was part of a larger military complex and itself an old flying boat base. After years of deliberation, it will soon be the subject of substantial local and national government funding for improvements, which should eventually enable the yards to build and launch yachts up to 75 metres LOA.

Across the water in Westhaven the multi-faceted Orams Marine, acquired and expanded by Craig Park in November 2005 is enjoying another busy year on the big boat maintenance front. Following a major refit to the 34 metre Dubois ketch Beagle Star V and a second visit from the 25 metre Swan Ipixuna, Craig is looking forward to the arrival of the 30 metre Ron Holland yacht Constance, the historic 40 metre J-Class cutter Endeavour and the 41 metre Dubois-designed and Alloy-built sloop Destination.

Painting facilities at the yard have been considerably improved to accommodate still larger yachts and the shed is already fully booked until July 2008. Just up the road at 15 Halsey Street, the long-established Superyacht agents Thirty Seven South report expansion in