Another day another show - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 8 Jun 2023 15:00 PDT
Melbourne Boat Show 2022 © Boating Industry Association of Victoria
As we hear from the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) exhibitors, as to their results and experiences, we head toward the next major shows: Sydney and then Melbourne.
The Boating Industry Association of Victoria has announced that the 61st Melbourne Boat Show, Victoria's premier waterfront marine event, is open for exhibitor applications! Taking place from 26-29 October, on the waterfront at Docklands in Melbourne's CBD, this will be a great celebration of boats, boating and boating lifestyle; as well as your chance to display your latest products, technologies, and services to a large, targeted and highly engaged audience of boating, fishing and marine enthusiasts.
Results from Queensland have mostly been positive with exhibitors reporting excellent sales.
SCIBS 2023 marked the world's largest boat show display of Horizon yachts, with 13 Horizon builds ranging from 73 to 125 feet comprising the Horizon Yachts' showcase. Three sales were announced during the show, with a number of promising prospects coming as a result of the four-day event, held 23-26 May.
Demonstrating record sales over the last two years, the Australian market has fully embraced the variety of Horizon yacht models targeted to the region's diverse boating audience. Bookended by the debuting V74 and RP125 motor yachts, this year's display featured 150 million dollars' worth of yachts, including an RP100, two FD90s, two FD80s and an FD75 Skyline on location. Accompanied by Horizon Yachts' CEO John Lu, members of Horizon's headquarters joined the Horizon Yacht Australia staff to meet with current and potential clients during the show.
Success of activity at this year's show has resulted in Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM) owners, the Gay Family, announcing a long-term management commitment negotiated with Andrew Chapman and his company Marina Solutions. GCCM brought Chapman in last year to reset the operations of the iconic business.
Chapman says his focus has been, "to build and empower the great team that provide the exceptional Customer Service at GCCM. With 23 years of experience the GCCM operations set the benchmark in the Coomera Marine Precinct, and we are focussing on those core values and deliverables that our customers require when they engage GCCM and our Business Partners around the shipyard to refit and maintain their vessels."
Following our promise to bring industry members details of developing energy alternatives, we received this news from Europe. Azimut/Benetti Group and Eni Sustainable Mobility have signed an agreement for the supply and use of HVOlution, the biofuel produced from 100% renewable raw materials. This is the first yachting industry agreement that targets decarbonisation.
HVOlution, a biofuel made of 100% HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), is produced in Eni Sustainable Mobility's Venice and Gela biorefineries from waste raw materials and vegetable residues, or from oils generated from crops that do not compete with the food chain, in a circular economy model applied to mobility.
Factoring in the entire logistics and production chain, HVOlution can deliver emissions reductions of up to 90% compared to the benchmark fossil blend, depending on the raw materials used for its production.
Back in Australia, world-renowned Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is going on the market to advance the next phase of its continuing development. The multi award-winning facility, located on the Brisbane River, has been recognised as a top three global superyacht refit destination and is one of the busiest shipyards in the southern hemisphere.
Established in 2006, Rivergate has previously announced plans for a major expansion to support the fast-growing global superyacht industry and drive more superyacht visitation to the under-utilised South Pacific region. Rivergate Director Tom Hill said JLL had been appointed to commence an international marketing campaign for Rivergate.
Also in Queensland, this year marks the twentieth year of Maritimo, the luxury long range motor yacht manufacturer that has firmly etched itself within the very fabric of Australian business success stories. Twenty years is indeed a milestone and will be widely celebrated, but it will be done so without shifting the balance from always looking forward with vision for the future. Maritimo, now with Tom Barry-Cotter at the helm of a team some 300 strong, will see the global launch of the most grand and spectacular yachts produced by the company to date - the glorious M75 Flybridge Motor Yacht and S75 Sedan Motor Yacht.
These magnificent vessels are the culmination of three years of design and development and many hundreds of thousands of hours, committing a considerable investment by the company and its people in these vessels' creation. Twenty-year anniversaries are signified with the colours of emerald or white, quite fitting when one can imagine these vessels' imposing, yet sublime white forms, at rest on a glittering ocean of green.
From New Zealand a statement that, with its diverse marine environments from protected harbors to rugged ocean waters, the country has made an exceptional impact on the global market. By focusing on the design and build of recreational products, New Zealand marine companies emphasize the use of materials that can withstand a diverse range of conditions, have a long lifespan, and can be used year-round.
The Kiwi boatbuilding expertise and equipment hardware capabilities have grown out of a thriving and ever-expanding recreational marine culture. From high-quality boat design to composite construction, interior fittings, woodwork and marine electronics, the country has emerged as a leader of the marine industry.
And not forgetting the sailing scene. Nominations are now open for the 2023 Australian Sailing Awards, with the annual state events set to recognise clubs and members in all States and Territories for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the sailing community over the past year. The Awards are the peak awards for the sport of sailing in Australia and will act as a national celebration of sailing and its significance at a local, state, and national level.
This year's Awards will have a new look, with the Club of the Year Award being split into two separate categories relating to the size of the club. This will give smaller clubs the opportunity to be recognised for their work growing the sport in their local community.
Stay safe,
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@marinebusinessworld.com