international

AMELS SHIPYARD IN PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Dutch superyacht builder increases capacity and efficiency Vlissingen, The Netherlands: AMELS, a global leader in the art of yacht building and member of the Damen Shipyards Group, has ten 10 newbuild projects in various stages of design, engineering, and construction. Inspired by this activity AMELS is undergoing a phased improvement of its extensive Vlissingen facilities on the North Sea—increasing production efficiency, advancing construction quality, and enhancing on-time delivery of Custom and Limited Editions yachts and major refits. The program, representing a substantial investment of more than eight million euros, will be completed in 2008. Since 2000 AMELS has shared the vast covered drydocks—and expert naval architects, designers, and engineers—of Damen’s Royal Schelde Shipyard, builders of more than 400 advanced naval and commercial ships. Within that facility, AMELS will soon complete the second of two new state-of-the-art covered finishing bays for hulls brought inside ...

48 nations registered at the 39th Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE
At less than two weeks from its beginning, the 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE confirms itself as one of the most international editions in the history of this Majorcan Olympic classes regatta. Up to 48 nations will be represented in the bay of Palma from 15 to 21 March with all the attention of the sailing world on the event in this Olympic year. The 39th Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia MAPFRE will welcome the best world teams of each class, a fact that consolidates this event as the most important and international Olympic classes regatta in Spain. Up to 586 boats and 900 competitors will meet in Palma as shown by the pre-entry lists of the Consortium Regatta Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia, formed by the Govern de les Illes Balears, Palma and Llucmajor city councils, the Consell de Mallorca, MAPFRE, Real Federación Española de Vela, Federación Balear de Vela, Real Club Náutico de Palma, Club Marítimo San Antonio de la Playa, Club Nàutic S’Arenal and Escuela Nacional de Vela ...

New Lifestyle Magazine for Sealine
Sealine International is delighted to announce the appointment of Seascape Media as the official publishers of its biannual customer magazine. Designed to capture the personality of the Sealine brand and to reflect the lifestyle associated with owning a luxury motorboat, the new ‘Sealine Magazine’, which replaces the former ‘Instinct’ publication, will be a glossy lifestyle title. It will include features on a wide range of subjects from inspirational real life adventures, on board living to beautiful cruising destinations. It will be published in March and September and has exclusive distribution rights via the company’s dealer network and at international boat shows. It will also be distributed direct to Sealine owners in the UK. Commenting on their appointment Claire Read Managing Director of Seascape Media said we are thrilled to be handling this exciting new project and look forward to working with Sealine as their exclusive magazine publishers. Our objective is to produce a ...

Greenpeace heads off whale ship
Greenpeace conservation activists say they have disrupted the Japanese whale hunt near Antarcticas coast by chasing a factory ship out of the whaling zone. Crew from protest ship Esperanza said they were maintaining the chase as the whalers cannot hunt at the same time. A spokesman for Japans whale hunt said Greenpeaces actions were illegal and people should not treat them as heroes. Japans whaling fleet plans to kill about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales by mid-April. The hunt is part of what it calls a scientific research programme, permitted under a clause in International Whaling Commission rules. But Australia and other nations say the same research goals could be achieved using non-lethal methods, and call the research programme a front for commercial whaling. The hunt has suspended plans to kill 50 humpback whales, amid a storm of international criticism. Hunting the hunters A number of ships are in southern waters on the trail of the hunters, including an ...

Vripack goes Solar
Whilst the daily activities of Vripack® consist of designing and engineering interiors and exteriors of luxury yachts, Vripack® has decided to take a dive into the innovative waters of alternative propulsion by use of Solar Panels. The pinnacle of this state-of-the-art research and development project is the 2008 Frisian Solar Challenge. This project is focussed on designing and constructing an ultra light and fast boat which is strong enough to endure the torments of the long distance race. The solar boat built by the Vripack Solar Team will prove its excellence during the international Frisian Solar Challenge 2008. A 220km race over water passing the famous 11 cities of Friesland. This Solar powered experiment is based on the use of durable energy for powering use. Vripack attaches great value to the preservation of a healthy environment and is proud that an enthusiastic in-company team is performing this development. The boat is driven only by electric power from five solar ...

Sealine International at the Barcelona Boat Show
Sealine will unveil their latest sports convertible - the SC35. Space and light are key elements of this brand new model. Characterised by clean crisp lines and a modern spacious and stylish interior, the boat’s design incorporates a range of truly innovative features including translucent convertible roof system and a deep v hull form. The new SC38 convertible is on show with the SC29 also from the sports cruiser range. The F34 and F37 will represent the flybridge ...

MAXWELL joins the VETUS Group of Companies
VETUS N.V. takes great pleasure in announcing that MAXWELL Marine Limited, a leading manufacturer of high quality anchor windlasses and related deck equipment announced today that it has joined the VETUS group of companies. MAXWELL will remain independent within the group and will continue to develop, brand and market its own products, and will now have access to the capital resources of the international Dutch boat equipment company. MAXWELL and VETUS will form a strategic marketing alliance and seek opportunities and synergies to jointly expand their world wide businesses. Beschier Kik, CEO of VETUS comments: ‘I am really pleased to welcome MAXWELL to the VETUS group of companies. Their products and people are a fantastic addition to our business’. Marcel Borsboom, COO of VETUS adds: ‘VETUS and MAXWELL have many opportunities for growth and this alliance brings the group a strong team of dedicated people with excellent market relationships and fine production resources’. MAXWELL ...

Australian ship seeks out whalers
An Australian patrol ship tasked with monitoring Japans whaling fleet has departed from the western city of Perth for waters off Antarctica. The Oceanic Viking, a customs vessel, left Stirling Naval Base on Tuesday night on a 20-day surveillance mission. It will collect photographic and video material for a possible legal challenge against the whalers, Australian officials have said. Japans fleet began its annual whale hunt in mid-November. It plans to kill about 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales by mid-April 2008 as part of what it calls a scientific research programme. But it has suspended plans to kill 50 humpback whales, amid a storm of international criticism. Legal challenge Acting against the whalers was one of the new Labor-led Australian governments election pledges. An Airbus A-319 will also conduct surveillance flights over the fleet. Evidence from the vessels would be used to help Canberra decide if it could take action against the whalers in international ...

The new spacious Hatteras 56 Motor Yacht
Hatteras Yachts is pleased to announce the newest member of its fleet, a 56 Motor Yacht that incorporates original design concepts, a spacious interior and intuitive features that make this an ideal boat for the owner-operator. Priced at under $2 million, the 56 Motor Yacht represents a new entry-level product for the thousands of boat owners who aspire to own a Hatteras. Thanks to its impressive interior, innovative features and solid Hatteras-worthy construction, the 56 Motor Yacht stands ready to introduce a whole new group of boaters to the benefits of becoming a member of the Hatteras family. To learn more about the 56 Motor Yacht, contact an authorized Hatteras dealer today, or visit a Hatteras display at an upcoming boat show. Boaters the world over appreciate the advanced design and robust construction that sets Hatteras apart from the fleet. Like all Hatteras models, the 56 features a solid-fiberglass hull bottom that includes beefy support for key areas such as the ...

Mulder 76 Flybridge Dutchess arrives in New Zealand
In the spring of 2007, Shipyard Mulder in the Netherlands delivered a Mulder 76 Flybridge to a client from New Zeeland. After a successful season cruising the Mediterranean, Dutchess set course for her home berth - the Orakei Marina in Auckland. Mulder 76 Flybridge Dutchess The main part of the Mulder 76 Flybridge’s trip was arranged by Dockwise. She was loaded in Toulon after which the carrier headed for Gibraltar. From Gibraltar Dutchess made the crossing to Martinique. Later the yacht was transported through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. From there she crossed to Brisbane, Australia. Dutchess sailed the final leg of her journey, the 2400-nm trip from Brisbane to Auckland, on her own keel. This March saw the Mulder 76 Flybridge participate in the Auckland International Boat Show, where she was one of the major eye-catchers. One local newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, wrote how: “People are just amazed at her condition.” Shipyard Mulder has great expectations for this ...