08 | telegraph | nautilusint.org | May 2016
LARGE YACHT NEWS
Ex-Soviet ice-breaker now an expedition yacht returned to service as an expedition yacht A following a major year-long refit at a Dutch yard. A former Soviet Navy icebreaking tug has
Originally built by IHC in 1973, the 77m vessel — now named Legend — served with the Soviet Navy for more than 20 years before conversion into a superyacht in 2003.
Last month Legend was re-launched at the Icon Yacht yard in Harlingen, the Netherlands, following a project which has resulted in extensive interior and exterior redesign, and included lengthening the stern by 3.6m, transforming the aft deck into a commercially certified helicopter deck, and creating more deck space.
Industry alarmed at spate of fires on superyachts by Michael Howorth
fires in less than 18 months has H caused concern in the industry and A spate of seven superyacht
has even attracted attention from the mainstream media. The incidents include Notorious, a Feadship dating from 1953 – previously owned by US president Gerald Ford, and famous for being used by Charlton Heston during the filming of Planet of the Apes – which caught fire while hauled for major repairs in the United States. The 25m Ocean 5 burst into flames and sank in July last year following an onboard explosion off Piraeus. Not long after that, the 31m superyacht Angra, owned by Italian film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, caught fire while anchored off Posillipo, near Naples, Italy. This was followed by the loss of the iconic superyacht The One, designed by the late Jon Bannenberg. The 71m yacht was declared a total loss after catching fire in Marmaris, Turkey. No one was injured during the incident, but the flames spread to the 52m Barbie which was also declared a total loss. The 29m Queen Anna burned out in Fethiye, Turkey, and the 26m Positive Energy was wrecked in a fire in Charlotte Amilie, in the US Virgin Isles. Writing for Bloomberg, Polly Mosendz questioned Al Golden, president of US-based International
Marine Insurance Services, which insures around 14,000 boats, who said: ‘Almost always, when a boat catches fire and it’s in a marina, and there are numerous boats downwind from it, the fire spreads pretty rapidly.’ But is it cash-strapped owners seeking insurance bail-outs in a weak economy or just a run of bad luck? Nancy Sprigg, manager of the yacht department of insurance group Gowrie, thinks it is unlikely to be insurance fraud but does concede that her firm has dealt with around 25 fire claims over the past 40 years and points out ‘When it comes to fire, arson is an exclusion. If there is a fire on a large yacht, we have to do due diligence and find out the cause of origin, it is always investigated.’ It is far more likely that fires are being caused by owners cutting back on crewing costs and maintenance schedules. Older and smaller boats are typically more at risk, says Joe Foggia, a yacht sales broker at Northrop & Johnson. ‘As wires get older and they chafe on the metal structure, any of that kind of stuff can create a fire,’ he adds. Electrical fires are most commonly to blame on yachts — from faulty connections to docks, wiring damage from salt water, and poorly trained ill-equipped crew. Issues in the fuel system and galley fires are also concerns.
Yacht crew join now! email recruitment@nautilusint.org or call +44 (0)151 639 8454
As part of our growing support for seafarers serving in the large yacht sector, all members are entitled to a free copy of the Nautilus service record book, which has been produced to assist in the recording and calculation of qualifying sea service for the purpose of certification. Nautilus International works closely with the MCA and regulatory authorities in Europe and around the world, and this SRB is one of only two that the MCA recognises worldwide as evidence of acceptable service. p Once your yacht service is verified O in our office in Antibes, then the MCA accepts the Nautilus SRB as M ssufficient proof of onboard and sea sservice and no further supporting ddocumentation is required. zContact the membership ddepartment either via email or telephone to receive your free SRB. te
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Now a Class 1B icebreaking passengership, Legend can accommodate up to 26 guests and 19 crew, and up to 10 specialist expedition crew. The vessel will operate in the charter market for Verkerk Yachting Projects and after attending this year’s Monaco Yacht Show she will spend her first winter cruising South America and Antarctica.
Union aids crew in fatal accident Nautilus supports members after yacht officer is killed by anchor chain
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Nautilus International has provided extensive advice and support to members involved in a horrific incident in which a superyacht crew member was killed while lowering an anchor off the coast of Thailand. The Union has also been pressing for assurances that the results of a flag state investigation into the accident will be published so that vital safety lessons can be learned. The incident involved Bulgarian third officer Toni Hristov Kolev onboard the 140m superyacht Ocean Victory, registered in the Cayman Islands. Initial reports said he had been killed after his legs were struck by the anchor chain when the windlass brake failed and the bitter end broke off while the vessel was anchoring in calm seas, some 0.7 miles east of the island of Koh
Tachi, in the waters of Thailand’s Mu Ko Similan National Park. Fellow crew members tried to desperately save Mr Kolev’s life, providing him with first aid and CPR for several hours. He was taken ashore by a rescue boat and transferred to an ambulance, but was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. Phuket police said they had concluded an investigation into the incident, ruling that it was an accident and that no criminal charges should be filed. Nautilus has given guidance and support to members onboard the vessel, including making initial representations to Thailand’s maritime authority and Ocean Victory’s managers over concerns about safety onboard, as well as seeking to ensure that post-incident counselling and rights to repatriation were provided. ‘Our main interest has been
the ongoing welfare and safety of those seafarers and Union members onboard the vessel, ensuring that they have received the appropriate support from the yacht management company and flag state,’ said senior assistant organiser Danny McGowan. ‘This has involved Nautilus officials in the UK and in Antibes liaising with both of those organisations, along with the local regulatory authorities. ‘All members will also be represented when the appropriate time comes for negotiation surrounding any relevant payments outstanding to them,’ he added. ‘In the coming weeks and months, regulatory authorities are likely to look into the incident more deeply, apportioning responsibility and making relevant recommendations. ‘Our members will continue to receive support throughout these
investigations and inquiries,’ Mr McGowan said. ‘Nautilus has written to the yacht management company to provide them with the opportunity to work in formal partnership with the Union, to reduce the risks of similar incidents occurring in future.’ Nautilus has also been assured by the Cayman Islands authorities that the accident is being investigated in accordance with the IMO Casualty Investigation Code. An initial bulletin issued by the flag state stresses the need for danger areas and snapback zones around anchoring equipment to be clearly marked and for equipment to undergo regular inspection and maintenance. Built by Fincantieri in 2014, Ocean Victory is one of the largest superyachts in the world and is owned by Victor Rashnikov, a billionaire in the Russian steel business.
North Sea last month is Plvs Vltra A — the first in a series of three 74m Pictured undergoing trials in the
Amels 242 superyachts being built at the Dutch company’s Vlissengen facilities. The 1,725gt Project Freefall vessel is the fourth largest to have been built by Amels and will accommodate up to 12 guests and 19 crew. Powered by two diesel engines, Plvs Vltra is capable of a top speed of 16 knots, with a maximum range of 5,000nm at 12.5 knots. Moran Yacht & Ship sold the project and the brokerage firm’s construction team was onboard since the beginning to oversee the build.
Sector predicts a record year sector are suggesting that 2016 F is set to be the best year ever for the Key players in the superyacht
industry. Brokers and shipyards have revealed a positive start to 2016 with strong sales, continued growth and optimism. Burgess Yachts confirmed that greater revenue had been achieved in 2015, compared with 2014. ‘This year is looking very strong out of the blocks,’ said sales director Rupert Nelson. A number of superyacht shipyards
revealed strong starts to 2016, including the Damen-owned Amels, which currently has 10 Limited Editions superyachts and five SeaAxe yacht support vessels in build at its facilities. Fellow Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts currently has 10 superyachts under construction, ranging from 47m to 70m in length. The US sector is a particular target market for 2016 and superyacht shows are also reporting a promising start to the year, with record visitors at Yachts Miami Beach and Boot Dusseldorf.
Data from the industry body British Marine shows that the UK superyacht sector is also doing well, with revenue up 10% on last year to £542m and companies in the sector staging a week-long ‘tour of excellence’ last month in a bid to attract more international business. British Marine chief executive Howard Pridding commented: ‘British captains and crews are highly respected in the industry and the UK is a centre for their training and recruitment.’
20/04/2016 12:37