APSA Chairman’s Message 31 May 2023

Dear APSA Members and Friends

Spring has been a busy time for APSA. With over 9,200 visitors at the Singapore Yachting Festival, it was good to see Asia back in action and reconnected.The Southeast Asia Yachting Conference (26 April) brought together over 150 industry professionals, and the conference presentations can now be found on the SG Marine Guide channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@singapore-marine-guide

This month APSA welcomes two new members. The Ferretti Group Asia Pacific, the regional branch of the world leading Ferretti Group, whose exclusive portfolio consists of some of the most prestigious yachting brands: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Riva, CRN, Custom Line and Wally. The Asia-Pacific headquarters is located in Hong Kong, providing regional sales and service facilities from Japan to New Zealand and India, and boasts representative offices and sales centres in Shanghai and other locations in China, along with dealership presences in no less than 14 Asia-Pacific countries.

Hong Seh, a returning member of APSA, re-joined as a member during the Singapore Yachting Festival, showing the importance of face-to-face networking. This well-known Singaporean company was founded in 1936 and represents the luxury motor industry as well as celebrating 10 years in the marine sector. Agents for Ferretti brand yacht brands, Hong Seh continues to grow its yachting business regionally in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Simpson Marine are pleased to announce the official launch of the Simpson Superyachts website, which has been designed to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for clients looking for bigger yachts, and Australia’s world-renowned Rivergate Marina and Shipyard is looking for a new owner to take the facility into the next phase of its continuing development.

Superyacht Australia recently held its Annual Conference, where keynote speaker Mohammed Hussein Alshaali, Chairman of Gulf Craft, shared with delegates his personal story about the development and global expansion of Gulf Craft over the last four decades.

Other news stories included HFW Comprehensively Yachts Industry Briefing. The May edition covers a range of topics including the latest developments in yacht sanctions, crew working conditions, class regulations, and yachting’s role in the development of future sustainable technology. A bumper summer read.

Last weekend, I was back in Monaco for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, and it was completely full of superyachts lining up to watch the racing, with the only availability being at anchor in the bay. I was told that over 100 yachts were on the waiting list for a berth, so no shortage of superyachts as the industry continues to grow and prosper. The Asia-Pacific is part of that story, and we promoted the association at the Monaco Grand Prix with our member companies in Monaco. We look forward to growing the APSA Yacht Membership for superyacht owners and captains by our presence at these events where superyachts play a prominent part.

I look forward to seeing members and friends in Monaco in September, and don’t forget to save the date for the Asia Superyacht Night - 26 September 2023. Enjoy your summer sailing, and I hope to see you out on the water.

Regards

Nigel Beatty

APSA Chairman