2026 started very positively for APSA and we are pleased to welcome 9 new members on board. The Asia-Pacific region offers unique opportunities to the superyacht community, with it fantastic cruising grounds and top quality professional services and facilities; APSA is proud to be able play a key role in supporting and connecting Asian-based business to the global superyacht business, and international companies to the new markets in Asia.
This month APSA introduces**Damen Yachting| Amels**on board as a platinum member. Damen Yachting is part of the Damen Shipyards Group which has been building ships since 1927: this thoroughly international shipyards group now operates in 120 countries, but is at heart still a family owned company. Rose Damen, who delivered a keynote speech at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit (Hong Kong), spoke about the company’s long connection with Asia, and said that Raja Ampat in Indonesia was her favourite superyacht cruising ground. Damen Shipyards Group has the ambition to become the most sustainable maritime solution provider in the world, with products and services that leave a positive impact on the environment and society. Damen Yachting and Amels are the superyacht division of the Damen Shipyards Group. Amels has a history of yacht building that stretches back over a century.
Our two new Premium members are **Skytopia**, the ambitious Airport City development at Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA), that integrates commerce, art, culture, leisure, dining, and entertainment around the airport and includes a marina that will create a world-class destination. **ASIAMARINE | Fraser Asia**, a leading yacht brokerage, dealership, charter, and management firm which has expanded across Southeast Asia, and provides Fraser Yachts with a solid partner in the region.
Other new members include **Asiatique Yacht Supplies** (Singapore), **Memetti Superyacht Agency** (Turkey), **Ocean Marina** (Thailand), **Superyacht Base Kobe** (Japan), **Konpira Yacht Services** (Japan), and **Walcon Marina Australia**. These companies provide a wide range of services in the Asia-Pacific Region, and APSA looks forward to promoting them in 2026.
In January, several APSA members presented at the Thailand Yachting Conference. The message was strong and clear: that Asia has made great strides in recent years with new superyacht charter licence arrangements in Thailand, and new marinas and superyacht service facilities coming on stream. A big plus has been the support of local governments. Key regulation changes have been achieved, but of course there is always more to do to make it easier for superyachts to visit the region. With more infrastructure coming online, that includes new marinas in Bali, Hong Kong, and Japan, along with service and refit facilities in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and China. There really is a lot to be excited about!
In February APSA will be attending the Hainan FTP Yachting & Coastal Holiday Forum that is part of the month-long celebration ‘Clear Water Bay Get Away Season’ being held in Sanya. Hainan. After that APSA will be heading down to Australia for the inaugural Sydney Charter Show (22-23 February) followed by the Australia Superyacht Conference (24 February). If you or your any of your colleagues are planning to attend these events, please let Suzy Rayment (APSA Executive Director) know so that she can follow up.
Another great event coming to Asia in 2026 is the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit (APSS) in Kobe, Japan (7-8 May). I am extremely excited about the summit coming to Japan, especially after the two successful iterations in Hong Kong. Organiser Superyacht Times (SYT), with APSA as a Supporting Partner, is keen to work alongside key stake holders in supporting this remarkable country’s growth as a thriving superyacht destination. It is reassuring to see the early support for this Summit and thanks go to APSA members **Fema Marina** (Patron Sponsor), **Damen Yachting** (Event Sponsor), **Superyacht Base Kobe** (Platinum Sponsor), **SYL Japan** (Platinum Sponsor), **Creation** (Gold Sponsor), **YACHTZOO**(Gold Sponsor), **Gulf Craft**(Gold Sponsor) and **Pantaenius** (Silver Sponsor) for coming onboard. **Setouchi DMO** along with **APSA** are supporting partners of the event. Information on the Summit and how to participate is featured in this newsletter
Finally, APSA is an official partner of World Boating Day, and we invite all our members to take part in this collective celebration on 23 May 2026. For more information go to www.worldboatingday.com The new APSA website is under construction, and is planned to go live in the next few months, so please make sure APSA has your company’s latest information and logos.
Chinese New Year is coming up (16-19 February), and we wish you all the best for the Year of the Horse!
Best Regards
Nigel Beatty (Chairman, APSA)