Chairman’s message 31 July 24
APSA is gearing up for the second half of 2024, and there is a lot happening in the region, with boat shows, rendezvous, partnerships, new launches, and new members, all making for exciting times in the Asia-Pacific.
First, I would like to welcome two new members. Cowie & Co are a newly established boutique law firm specialising in maritime work. Founded by Antony Cowie and incorporated in Hong Kong, the firm’s practice focuses on the legal advisory aspects of yacht financing, second-hand sale and purchase, newbuilds, construction, chartering, third-party technical yacht management, and marina infrastructure projects. I am also very pleased welcome Antony onboard as APSA’s new Honorary Secretary.
Another new member to be welcomed is Setouchi DMO. This corporation is a collection of seven prefectures around the Setouchi (Inland Sea) region (Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa and Ehime prefectures) and consists of the Setouchi Tourism Bureau, which plans and implements tourism marketing and promotion of this amazing cruising area, which is 300nm long with over 3,000 islands, and fully protected from weather from the Pacific Ocean. I am pleased to see more Japanese entities joining APSA.
Other local news includes the announcement of the strategic partnership between two APSA members, Simpson Marine and 02H20 Vietnam (represented by Alexandre Heng). Under the ownership of Sanlorenzo, Simpson Marine continues to expand in new emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific. Vietnam boasts a stunning coastline of 3,260 km and 2,800 islands, with nearly 400 in the famous Ha Long Bay area alone and presents immense cruising potential for the region. APSA member Clearvac Engineering Asia is pleased to announce the appointment of their new General Manager, Scott Duncanson. After another year of growth, Scott will lead the team to implement further expansion of the company’s superyacht services in the Southeast Asia region.
On the international front, Horizon Yachts launched the sixth build in the FD110 series for the US market, and Benetti Yachts launched the first model in the B.Now 67M collection. HFW’s latest edition of Comprehensively Yachting (July 24) provides some thought-provoking topics and analysis of current trends, making it a great summer long-read. The first article looks at the growing adoption of sustainable technology in yachting, and also takes a look at what may be the next frontier in yacht propulsion: nuclear power.
In this newsletter you will also find an updated calendar of superyacht events happening locally and internationally for the second half of 2024, and some news updates on the two major Asian boat shows. APSA is a Supporting Partner for both events: the Thailand International Boat (TIBS) will be held at the Phuket Yacht Haven, 9-12 January, 2025 and the Singapore Yachting Festival (SYF) is being held at One˚ 15 Marina, Singapore, 13-15 April 2025.
Lastly, a final reminder to all members to ‘Save the Date’ for the Asia Superyacht Night Monaco being held on Tuesday 24 September 2024. APSA is pleased to announce that Asia Pacific Superyachts have signed up as the headline sponsors, and Asia will be showcased during this popular networking event held on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show. This is a limited invitation-only event is of course open to all APSA members who apply and get on the list – first come first serve! - and there are still some sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact us directly if you are interested.
Summer is upon us in the northern hemisphere so enjoy your time on the water!