17 minute read

TECHNOCRAFT

With four decades fully immersed in the maritime industry in naval-military, super-yacht operation, refit-and-repair, yacht-management, charter, yacht-technology, and yacht brokerage, Just & Co of Palma de Mallorca brings to the maritime industry a mature and acute vision and focus.

Initially trading under the Just World Leisure banner in the early ‘20s – providing yachtcharter, hospitality, and brokerage services – Just & Co has recently concentrated more specifically on technological innovations in both yacht communications and internet-atsea requirements, and on the research-and-development and promotion of new naval architecture hull-form applications.

Recognising the limited evolution of hull-design concepts over the decades – and resulting lack of ‘sea-comfort’ in smaller boats - a collaboration and partnership was formed during the past 20 years with the Icelandic-based team behind the invention of the revolutionary ‘ÖK Hull Technology’ – the company RAFNAR ehf. This has in recent years lead to the expansion of the global RAFNAR Maritime Partners group, which Just & Co represents from Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The revolutionary RAFNAR boats and their unusual ‘ÖK Hull’ provide the ability to travel long distances at sea in unique comfort in ‘displacement mode’, at high speed; with little fatigue and stress encountered for guests, crew, or the actual boat. Prime importance is placed upon ‘Keeping Comfort at Sea’, durability, reliability, and safety – allowing a softer and more efficient ride and experience at sea, and a very significant decrease in uncomfortable ‘bounce-and-slam’.

“PALMA-BASED YACHTING COMPANY EXPANDS PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN”

In 2020, Just & Co of Palma de Mallorca was very proud to welcome their trusted Mediterranean partners Aquamarine Ltd of Turkey into the global RAFNAR Maritime Partners group, with Aquamarine Ltd operating since then as ‘RAFNAR Turkey’. They jointly announced the construction and official launch of the first ‘RAFNAR 1100 Cabin Explorer’ yacht-tender, constructed by Aquamarine Ltd in Turkey, in late 2021.

Technology Consulting and Promotion

– International Maritime and Leisure Projects -

Aquamarine Ltd is a highly respected Marmaris-based superyachting services and yachting company, now a member and partner within the global RAFNAR Maritime boat production group, and working closely with Just & Co of Palma de Mallorca.

The current RAFNAR Maritime design-portfolio covers serviceand-support craft from 8,5m to 12m, with a 15m and a 17m Rafnar support boat soon to be introduced to the range. These craft vary in design, from purpose built super-yacht Explorer/Transporter RIBs and Open support-tenders, to Search-and-Rescue and Coast-guard Patrol-RIBs. Ruggedness and functionality can be balanced with customized luxury features and styling.

As RAFNAR Maritime Licensor, Distributor, and build-consultant in Palma de Mallorca, Just & Co, is providing a Mediterranean base for consultation and construction of the RAFNAR/ÖK Hull craft. Says Anthony Just, founder and CEO of Just & Co: ‘We are immensely proud to be a partner and salesagent consultant for this new series of boats that are being constructed by Aquamarine Ltd / RAFNAR Turkey under Melis Giraud’s keen-eyed supervision and direction - for both the local Turkish and Mediterranean markets, and for broader international markets.’

For inquiries and sales, contact ‘Just & Co / RAFNAR Spain’, Palma de Mallorca. (Construction and Sales Promotion for RAFNAR Maritime and the ÖK Hull Technology)

E-mail : rafnar-maritime@justandco.com Telephone: + (34) 659 011 071 Website: https://justandco.com Rafnar 2020

Search and Rescue

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Rafnar 1700

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Rafnar 1400

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Rafnar 1100

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Rafnar 850

General Information

- Length Over All: - Waterline Length - Beam: - Draught: - Loaded Displacement: - Fueltanks: - Freshwater: - Graywater: - Blackwater 16.9 m 16.4 m 5.4 m 0.9 m (23 T) 23 T 2x 1000 L 500 L 300 L 2x 25 L

General Information

- Length Over All: - Waterline Length - Beam: - Draught: - Loaded Displacement: - Fueltanks: - Freshwater: - Graywater: 14.3 m 13.3 m 4.9 m 0.9 m 18 T 2x 1000 L 300 L 300 L

General Information

- Length Over All: - Beam: - Draught: - Light Ship - Fueltanks: 11.0 m 3.2 m 0.55 m 3.8 T 2x 300 L

General Information

- Length Over All: - Beam: - Draught: - Light Ship - Fueltanks: 8.5 m 5.4 m 0.6 m 3.2 T 2x 150 L

HILL ROBINSON

TAKING CARE OF THE OWNERSHIP JOURNEY

Providing unparalleled services to assist in the safe, efficient and successful running of superyachts, Hill Robinson’s strength lies in its ability to advise clients on every element of the ownership journey. With an extensive range of in-house expertise spanning pre-purchase surveys to crew employment and yacht management, Hill Robinson provides an insight into the inner workings of three of its core departments.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Hill Robinson’s team of highly qualified project managers work to ensure the timely and costeffective completion of each build or refit project. Having been involved with some of the industry’s most iconic and significant vessels, the project management team provide owners with exceptional value, enhanced quality control and a smoother new build or refit experience.

“Our service is, quite frankly, a dream for any client,” says Karl Hartmann, Partner at Hill Robinson. “We deliver peace of mind and structure. We offer, and continuously prove, that we are the trusted partner they need by taking the hassle away and supporting them. To do this, we set up a dedicated team with one senior point of contact and we take clients through the whole process, giving them just as much involvement as they wish to have.”

As well as resolving conflicts between the various trades and vendors – who will invariably be trying to work in the same space at the same time – a project manager will help to drive a project forward by managing expectations and focusing on the bigger picture. As Chris Wright, Senior Technical Manager at Hill Robinson, explains, “While crew might see minor aesthetic imperfections, the project manager must focus on what the client wants. If the parameters are met per the contract, it’s important to keep the project progressing forward.”

While any yacht can enlist Hill Robinson’s project management services, regardless of whether the yacht is managed by Hill Robinson or not, all projects under its management will still benefit from Hill Robinson’s extensive technical team and market share. “We have a lot of buying power because of the amount of business we do fleet wide,” adds Chris. “As such, we have developed strong relationships with shipyards and vendors, which means our clients benefit from the

company’s market sway and our ability to negotiate contracts and secure more competitive pricing.”

In addition, Hill Robinson has a well-developed project management office that supports the project teams with additional capacity such as reporting, administration, accounting, contract support, procurement and logistics. This means that every project is supported by a host of additional professionals behind the scenes, who ensure that the process runs smoothly, on-time and within budget.

Whether it’s a five-year survey, interior refit or paint job, any refit project on a sizeable superyacht is a significant undertaking and will often incorporate multiple works to maximise the time spent in the shipyard. For a captain already occupied with managing their crew and other day-to-day responsibilities, coordination and overseeing such works can be excessive. Enlisting a full-time project manager takes this burden away from the captain while saving the owner time and money.

PRE-PURCHASE AND CONDITION SURVEYS

There are many reasons why carrying out a full condition survey of a superyacht might be a good idea. Whether a potential buyer wants an impartial assessment of a pre-owned yacht, or an existing owner wants to understand the performance and value of their own yacht, an independent survey is advisable when dealing with assets of this scale. Even a charter client might be inclined to enlist a surveyor to verify the true condition of a yacht prior to chartering it for an extended period.

Whatever the reason, a survey is a step in the right direction to avoiding any unpleasant surprises and giving peace of mind. As Marco Rossi, Principal Surveyor at Hill Robinson, describes, “Surveys are a staple of the maritime industry, with regular surveys required to maintain vessels to a certain standard and keep them in Class or compliant with Flag. However, these surveys are normally only a verification of minimum requirements and beholden to whomever owns the yacht.”

An independent, third-party survey can instead reveal a wider range of issues that might go unnoticed by a regular periodical inspection, giving clients peace of mind that a yacht is fit for purpose prior to buying, selling or chartering (the price of that peace of mind is incredibly small and can be quantified as less than 0.005% of the value of the yacht).

The challenge, however, can be finding a reputable and unbiased surveyor in a fragmented market. As Marco advises, “Most maritime survey companies mainly operate in the commercial shipping industry, for which yachting is just a side business, and so might only have few experienced yacht surveyors on their team. While one surveyor might be sufficient for a 40-metre yacht, any yacht over 50 metres would require more than one skilled surveyor to carry out a thorough survey.”

After 20 years in the business of managing and building superyachts, and with more than 30 experienced technical personnel, comprising marine engineers, naval architects and former captains, Hill Robinson has the technical know-how and resources within its survey department to carry out thorough surveys of yachts of any size.

CHARTER MANAGEMENT

For many owners, the benefits of chartering their yacht go beyond generating income; a busy yacht means motivated crew and fully utilised systems. But a successful charter programme requires meticulous planning, clear processes and careful financial management. Hill Robinson’s charter management team is adept at handling every facet of the charter process and coordinating all aspects of a yacht’s promotion: from management of the yacht’s calendar and liaising with brokers to negotiate and confirm bookings, to the creation of marketing materials and advertising campaigns.

“Owners can rest assured that their charter operations are commercially compliant and that their personal interests are protected,” explains Romina Rastelli, Charter Manager at Hill Robinson. “We deal with every aspect, such as marketing to generate repeat business, assisting with crew training on charter processes and regular inspections to make sure everything is in order and ready to welcome guests. We offer advice on intricately planned itineraries in the most popular cruising locations and help to identify the key features that makes a yacht unique, too.”

This ability to get to grips with a yacht’s most notable features and promote each yacht within its charter fleet in its best light, is what sets Hill Robinson’s charter management service apart from other brokerage houses. “We get to the heart of a yacht’s DNA to create a yacht specific marketing approach,” Kurt Fraser, Chief Commercial Officer at Hill Robinson. “What is the personality defined by its crew? What type of cuisine does the head chef specialise in? We take a close look at the entertainment facilities on board, the lifestyle amenities and the water toys, and learn about the captain’s favourite locations for charter. We spend time on board each yacht to really get into those details.”

One of the issues that owners often experience when listed with a large, traditional brokerage house is that they are one yacht amongst a hundred-plus others, adds Kurt. “It’s near impossible to apply a yacht-specific marketing strategy to promote an individual yacht within a supersized fleet. Our approach is to restrict our fleet to a certain size so that we can maintain a real focus on developing individual marketing campaigns that are yacht specific. Hill Robinson was born out of highly specialized operational technical management and regulatory services, so our charter management technique is an organic extension of these deep levels of expertise.”

Most importantly, Hill Robinson ensures make sure that the boat is safe and ready for a busy season. The entire process is designed to insulate owners from risk and to ensure charter yachts are operated professionally and to the highest service standards.

hillrobinson.com

MORAVIA YACHTING

DISCRETION, EFFICIENCY AND VALUE FOR DISCERNING YACHT OWNERS AND CHARTER GUESTS

Having been a staple in Monaco’s glittering Port Hercule since the early 1960s, Moravia Yachting was acquired by the Hill Robinson Group in 2017 and officially relaunched in November 2020. Specialising in providing brokerage and yacht charter services to the world’s most discerning superyacht clients, the refreshed and revitalised Moravia Yachting is the latest evolution of the Moravia brand. With a totally modernised image and a carefully selected team of experts, Moravia Yachting offers owners the care and attention of a boutique brokerage house with all the expertise, stability and strength of a global group.

“Evolution and change are essential for every brand, so when Hill Robinson acquired Moravia Yachting in 2017 it was a fantastic opportunity for the Moravia brand to enter its next chapter,” explains Kurt Fraser, Hill Robinson’s Chief Commercial Officer. “The Hill Robinson partners recognised a shared ethos when it came to how Moravia has approached business over the past 50-plus years: Moravia has always been renowned for care and attention of individual needs and focuses on adding as much value as possible to the client.”

Hill Robinson was founded on the partners’ understanding that there is a need for highly specialised yacht management services around operational expertise; services that ultimately save yacht owners significant amounts of money and insulate them from risk. It’s always been integral for Hill Robinson to maintain its pure focus on these essential services to owners instead of being influenced by the commission-led services, such as brokerage. The two brands, therefore, are very complimentary and work together hand in glove, but they are two separate businesses.

One of the things Kurt found particularly appealing about the Moravia setup was its ability to provide a more personalised and detailed service on a client-by-client basis, with a purposefully focused fleet compared to the much larger fleets of the more traditional brokerage companies. “But what makes it especially interesting now is that this more intimate brokerage firm also has

the backing of a large business that is very well funded, with extremely deep pools of talent and expertise,” he adds “That knowledge and expertise are ready for a retail company to utilise and benefit from, and Moravia is precisely that. That is unique in the market.”

The most important aspect of the rebranding process was ensuring that Moravia Yachting is completely aligned with the philosophy of Hill Robinson, which means super-serving clients, maintaining an acute focus on client needs, and providing a niche approach that differs from the larger brokerage houses. To fundamentally mirror Hill Robinson’s ethos, Moravia needed a handpicked team of individuals that believed in the strength of a highly cooperative team.

“It has to be about the value we are giving clients,” says Kurt. “It can’t be driven by the commission. Otherwise, the original intent or purpose of Hill Robinson disappears. So, we have a growing team of great people from across the sales and charter sides of the business. We’re continuing to build Moravia Yachting around people looking to leverage Hill Robinson’s strength in this empowered, team-led environment.”

Working at a brokerage house like Moravia Yachting – which is designed to be highly flexible and responsive to client needs while having the complete backing of Hill Robinson – is a very empowering proposition for a broker. Since the relaunch, Moravia has built a team of highly qualified brokerage professionals focused on higher levels of client service excellence thanks to the support of Hill Robinson’s team of technical and operational experts willing to jump in and assist.

One such recruit is Adam Papadakis who, having joined Moravia Yachting as Head of Sales in 2021, reflects on the decision as an easy one. “There are moments in life when a ‘bulb’ of excitement lights above our head and that’s exactly what happened when the opportunity to join Moravia came up,” he explains. “It’s a dynamic and enthusiastic, but discreet, team with support from Hill Robinson, a huge network of clients and impressive potential for further growth. The opportunity to work with the company’s founders and each one of the Moravia team was an immensely exciting prospect for me and has been a unique experience ever since!”

Having studied naval architecture and marine engineering at university, Adam began his yachting career in London working within the new-build division of a prominent yacht brokerage house, gaining a solid foundation in owner representation, negotiations and the construction of

Kurt Fraser William Molloy

various yacht types and sizes. Working alongside some of the most eminent yacht brokers in the industry, Adam was eventually drawn to the commercial side of the business and soon transitioned to become a sales broker, enabling many clients to benefit from his technical knowhow, commercial aptitude and client-facing skills.

“It’s been a long road to get to where I am today,” Adam comments. “But working in different sectors within the industry has allowed me to view the entire ownership journey from a client perspective and given me a thorough understanding of the qualities that buyers and sellers need in a yacht broker.”

Head of Charter and Senior Broker William Molloy also joined Moravia Yachting in 2021 and is now able to share his experiences and expertise with the burgeoning charter team. “Moravia Yachting is powered by Hill Robinson and it really is a team environment where everyone is nurtured and supported to achieve the best they can,” he says.

Having started his career working in his family’s fine-dining restaurant, William later completed a degree in maritime studies at Southampton University. His career path eventually led him to work on superyachts for 10 years, running the interior on five different yachts ranging from 44 to 64 metres and cruising all corners of the Mediterranean and around the world. William now enjoys spending time with his family exploring the Mediterranean on sailing yachts, as well as regularly participating in regattas such as Les Voiles d’Antibes and Les Voiles de St-Tropez.

“Everything I have ever done has perfectly qualified me to give good advice to clients about what type of boat to charter and the best locations to visit by boat,” reflects William. Since transitioning to his first shoreside role as retail charter broker in 2007, William has overseen over 200 MYBA charter deals, as well as sold six yachts, a new build project and a berth.

Over the next couple of years, Hill Robinson will be looking to expand the Moravia Yachting team further and grow the business. The synergy between the two companies promises optimal value alongside peerless management on a global scale.

moraviayachting.mc

Adam Papadakis

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