Dockwise opens superyacht gateway Downunder

by Jeni Bone on 18 Jul 2008 Dockwise Yacht Transport’s (DYT) newest ship, the 687.5-foot (209 metre) Yacht Express, will arrive in Brisbane next week, marking its official debut Downunder.

The largest vessel of its kind in the world, Yacht Express was purpose-built with a semi-submersible dock bay that allows yachts of any size to be safely floated on and off as cargo. The ship made its maiden voyage from Ft Lauderdale, Florida, to Genoa, Italy, in April with a mostly-megayacht load worth $154 million.

“Having Yacht Express calling on the South Pacific, now on a regular basis, greatly increases our ability to carry more yachts. This in turn will boost the superyacht industry within both Australia and New Zealand,” said Jason Roberts of Aurora Global Logistics, the exclusive agent for DYT in Australia.

Twenty-five of the vessels will unload in Brisbane while eight will remain in transit. Sixteen vessels will then load in Brisbane for the return voyage where their final destination will be either Auckland, Papeete (Tahiti) or Ensenada before Yacht Express returns to Ft. Lauderdale for its next transatlantic expedition.

According to Roberts, while the safe and efficient float-on/float-off process is unique to DYT, it is also personal professional service that sets DYT apart as a leader in shipping private luxury yachts around the world.

“We work directly with the boat captains, owners and DYT loading masters for a seamless program to ensure that the service provided by Aurora Global Logistics and DYT stays at the forefront of marine logistics within the South Pacific.”

The size and power of the Yacht Express (it has a service speed of 18 knots) typically pares down transport times.

For example, a trans-Atlantic crossing can take as few as 10 days where before it took 15. In addition, Yacht Express provides yacht owners with a state-of-the-art transport facility with extra accommodations for crew who are riding along.

Yacht Express is more than 130 feet longer than DYT's other three semi-submersible carriers and features such added amenities as complimentary cabins, an atrium with lounge bar and swimming pool, restaurant and cinema, as well as conference, media and fitness facilities.

Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT), headquartered in Fort Lauderdale specializes in the maritime transport of private luxury yachts and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dockwise Ltd, the global leader in maritime transports and installation.

Since its maiden voyage in 1987, the company has transported over 9,000 motor and sailing yachts to various destinations around the globe, offering owners and charterers safe and easy access to many of the world’s premier cruising grounds.

Along with area representatives around the globe, DYT has additional operating offices in Italy, France, Martinique and Newport (RI).

A partnership with BBC Chartering and Logistics also allows DYT to manage safe lift-on/lift-off service aboard BBC's fleet of 140 vessels transporting cargo around the globe.

The service is for clients who need additional scheduling flexibility or the ability to get to a destination not normally serviced by DYT's semi-submersible ships.

DYT has partnered with the International SeaKeepers Society to outfit Yacht Express with the modular SeaKeeper 1000™ ocean and meteorological monitoring system.

The SeaKeeper 1000™ is a fully automated unit that samples, measures, records and transmits critical measures of ocean health--salinity, temperature, oxygen and pollution, among others--to various scientific and public communities across the globe.

DYT also has entered into a corporate conservation partnership with The Billfish Foundation (TBF). TBF is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world. Its constituency is a comprehensive network of anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs and sport-fishing businesses.

More at www.yacht-transport.com or contact Jason Roberts, Aurora Global Logistics, (07) 3295 0100, jason@dockwise-yt.com