June

The AZURE team that provide health, disability and accident insurance for yacht crews around the world, have signed up a slew of large yachts through the APAC region in the last six months.

Affinity Group are delighted to announce our expansion into the Cayman Islands after successfully obtaining a Companies Management Licence from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Headed up by Garry Crossan, operations will now commence via our local subsidiary Affinity (Cayman) Limited. Garry has a longstanding relationship with Affinity having worked closely with our Malta and Isle of Man offices for many years. Resident in Cayman, Garry has enjoyed a career within the Offshore Financial Services Industry for over 30 years, holding executive positions within major International Banks and Trust Companies across multiple jurisdictions.

Travel Cue Charter in collaboration with Norstar Ship Management continue to work closely with our key customers and anchor charterers in order to bring solutions to the market place.

Many vessels continue to arrive in order to utilise the world class refit and maintenance facilities with outstanding skilled trades. Australia has minimal cases of COVID-19 and is a safe place for yachts and crew. Compulsory 14 days isolation commences for arriving yachts from the last port of departure. Crew flying in will require to be isolated for 14 days upon arrival.

The Maldives has announced an ease in lockdown restrictions starting from 29th June 2020. “International airports will open in phases from 1st July 2020 for flights and tourist and yacht arrivals. Per the current plan the first phase allows for the arrival of private jets and visiting tourists and yachts from June 1, 2020,” reports Mohamed Hameed, director of Asia Pacific Superyachts Maldives. “There are health guidelines to follow until a vaccine is available and it is important to note these releases may change at any time, depending on the situation and the virus spread in the community”.

Over recent weeks, Monaco Yacht Show has been in constant discussions with stakeholders and partners within the international Super Yacht Industry to better understand the challenges facing yacht owners, shipyards, brokers and other key participants in the face of the disruption due to COVID-19.

Discovery Bay’s high-end resort-style residential community is soon to open the first of its kind superyacht marina in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has long been substantially short of marina berths for yachts of all shapes and sizes. The Lantau Yacht Club (LYC) is a welcome addition for the superyacht community in Asia, and members from the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA) recently toured the LYC Resort-Marina facility. APSA members from AON (HK), Brookes Bell, Camper & Nicholsons First Eastern, Expat Marine Services, M Yachts, Marsh JLT, Rosemont and Simpson Marine visited the marina, golf club and hotel facilities, and were suitably impressed and excited to see a new marina coming online.

The sudden wave of the Covid19 pandemic has caused major worldwide travel disruptions, heavily affecting business operations of many companies around the world. As a result, massive reduction in commercial flight availability and capacity presented a major challenge in executing crew changes, with high number of personnel stranded on board vessels or sites for many months.

Hainan is set to become the biggest Free Trade Zone in China, with the new masterplan that was released in June, and boats, boaters, and the boating industry are on the agenda.