France

Marine Electrification Companies Vita and Evoy Merge

Electric marine technology companies Vita and Evoy announced they are merging to consolidate their positions in high-power electric marine propulsion in both commercial and recreational markets.In coming together, the companies said they plan to leverage scale to drive down prices for the end user, fast tracking development, and providing immediate access to territories across Europe and North America with active operations in the U.K., Norway, France, Italy, Monaco and California.Evoy’s high-output inboard and outboard systems are currently in operation in 19 countries…

UK Navy Rescues Four From Sinking Yacht

A U.K. Royal Navy warship assisted in the rescue of four people from a yacht that was taking on water and at risk of sinking in the English Channel near the Isle of Wight.Last week, the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond answered a Mayday call from a civilian yacht that was taking on a significant amount of water while sailing from Beaulieu River in the New Forest toward Honfleur in France.Diamond was in the area after leaving its home port and coordinated and conducted the rescue operation…

Insights from the 50th International Congress of Maritime Museums

For many, the ocean is life. It provides transportation, work, commerce, food, recreation—tales as old as time and shared by people across the globe. These stories are lived day to day, passed down between generations, and shared with the public through various media. Maritime museums assume responsibility to share these histories while honoring the communities shaped ocean exploration and commerce. In a decade where ocean health and climatic events have become a primary focus…

Spain Moves Yacht Linked to Russian Oligarch After Payments Stop

Spanish authorities moved a luxury yacht linked to the sanctioned head of Russian defence group Rostec after the shipyard where it was berthed stopped receiving payments for its repairs, a transport ministry source said.The multi-million-dollar Valerie was transferred to a marina last month, the source and other officials said, highlighting the logistical challenges authorities have faced managing vessels being held across Europe because of sanctions imposed over Russia's military actions in Ukraine.Spain ordered the ship "frozen" - meaning the vessel can not be used or sold - in March, saying it was acting on European Union sanctions.

Russian Billionaire Sues French Customs for Seizing His Yachts

A Russian billionaire is suing French authorities in an effort to win back access to two of his yachts, arguing customs officials did not have the right to immobilize them despite him being on an EU sanctions list, his lawyer said on Thursday.Alexey Kuzmichev, one of the main shareholders of Russia's Alfa-Bank, who was sanctioned by the EU in March for his ties to President Vladimir Putin, appealed the seizure of his ships "La Petite Ourse" and "La Petite Ourse II", held in the Cote D'Azur towns of Antibes and Cannes, respectively."If you own an asset for your personal use…

World’s Most Famous Superyacht Gets New BWTS

The world’s most famous luxury yacht is operating an advanced BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system from France’s BIO-UV Group.Christina O, the 1943-built motor yacht named after the only daughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, was fitted with a low-flow BIO-SEA system last year as part of a major refurbishment at the D.K Fotinakis yard, in Greece.To fit the limited space available in the 325ft long vessel’s machinery room, the 87m3/h capacity BIO-SEA L03-0087 system was supplied on two separate skids – one housing all mechanical components…

France Seizes Yacht Reportedly Belonging to Rosneft Boss Sechin

French customs have seized a yacht belonging to Rosneft boss Igor Sechin as it tried to leave the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat in a breach of EU sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.The move came as western states are implementing massive sanctions, including asset freezes, against Russia for invading its neighbor Ukraine. A separate nearly $600 million luxury yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has also been seized, by German authorities, Forbes reported. The 88-meter "Amore Vero" arrived in La Ciotat on Jan.3 and was due to stay there until April 1st for repairs…

SP80: 80-knot Sailboat Demands High-Performance Sensing

Fischer Connectors’ solutions support the transmission of sensor data for the wind-powered SP80 boat setting out to reach the phenomenal speed of 80 knots, which if achieved will break the long-standing world sailing speed record of 65.45 knots.During the development of its boat that is now close to its final design phase, the SP80 team has chosen Fischer Connectors for the data-transmission solutions interconnecting the various sensors that will equip the boat and its pilot to break the world sailing speed record.

Trimaran Aims to Break Westabout Around-the-world Sailing Record

Two award-winning skippers are attempting to circumnavigate the globe westabout against the prevailing winds and currents in 122 days to break the current world record.The Use It Again! duo, Romain Pilliard and Alex Pella, commenced their voyage from Lorient, France on January 4, setting sail aboard an 18-year-old refurbished trimaran, in an attempt to help promote and develop the circular economy. The skippers are sailing aboard Ellen McArthur's legendary B&Q Castomara, which…

Feadship Refit & Services Welcomes Home 'the Fleet'

Eight Feadship originals 'return home' to their launch yard for refitThe vessels, in and of themselves, are spectacular visuals. But the vision of them floating into town to Feadship in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands -- or one of the builder's other three Feadship yards -- is other-wordly with the juxtaposition of stylish and mammoth modern yachts set against the quaint European countryside. In a huge milestone for the Refit & Services program that Feadship officially began offering in 2018…

Torqeedo Sets Up Direct Distribution in Norway

Electric propulsion and hybrid drives manufacturer Torqeedo said it ha established direct distribution in Norway to address the growing market for its systems in the region.Norway has a long tradition of seafaring and is a world maritime center for shipping, shipyards and maritime infrastructure, commercial fishing, offshore oil/gas, ferries, pleasure boats and a rapidly growing offshore wind industry.“Norway is a world leader in the movement toward electrification of land and water transportation…

French Vessel Hauls Luxury Cargoes Across Atlantic with Sail Power

In a return to the age of the clipper, a French company is using a sailing boat to ply the trade routes that pre-dated steam power—and delivering wine and chocolate to environmentally conscious customers on either side of the Atlantic.Sleek and light like its larger predecessors, the aluminum-hulled “Grain de Sail” was custom built in a French shipyard and combines the technology used in modern yachts with a hold that can accommodate up to 50 tonnes of cargo.It docked at Saint-Nazaire, in France’s northwestern Brittany region, on Monday with 33 tonnes of cacao - the raw ingredient for chocolat

Does Your Yacht Need a BWT System? You Better Check

France-based  BIO-UV Group is advising yacht owners and crews to ensure their vessels are compliant with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention and USCG regulation.Yachts less than 50m in length are often considered recreational craft and exempt from the regulations. However, despite their size, some smaller vessels are over 400gt and have a ballast water capacity greater than 8m3. This means they must comply with the requirements set out in the BWM Convention.Maxime Dedeurwaerder…

A Look Inside A North German Showroom for Superyachts

The Bremen district of Vegesack enjoys an excellent reputation as the North German Superyacht Valley on the banks of the River Weser. A reputation that extends far beyond the world-famous shipyards of Lürssen and Abeking & Rasmussen. In fact, many other well-known companies in the industry are also contributing to the high-profile international standing of the area, including the renowned design studio beiderbeck designs, which has its head office here. This is now undergoing expansion with a new and exclusive showroom for megayacht equipment.

Sichterman Adds Two Aluminum Yachts

Sichterman has launched the first Libertas 15M and Felicitatem 20M at their shipyard in Workum, The Netherlands.With these aluminum yachts, the Dutch boutique yacht builder adds two vessels to its fleet, after the launch of the Inveni 18m in May 2019.Just like the Inveni 18M, the Libertas and the Felicitatem are the result of a collaboration between designer Cor D. Rover, naval architect Van Oossanen and yacht builder Workumer Yachtservice.Due to a smart building process and a disruptive interior program…

Spain Sets Sights on SailGP after China Jumps Ship

China has dropped out of the 2020 series of SailGP, its organizers said on Tuesday, with Spain stepping aboard their vacant F50 foiling catamaran to race for a $1 million prize."We were unfortunately not granted the permissions necessary to continue operating the team within our existing structure," SailGP CEO Russell Coutts said in a statement detailing the change in line-up for the 2020 circuit.SailGP said last week that Denmark would compete in its second series, bringing the total number of entries to seven.

KVH Named Official Supplier of American Magic

KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI) has been named an Official Supplier of New York Yacht Club American Magic, a Challenger for the 36th America’s Cup. KVH has installed advanced satellite-based and cellular-based communications equipment for the team’s chase boats in order to facilitate high-speed data transmissions. In addition, KVH is providing high-performance fiber optic gyro (FOG)-based sensors to aid in performance metrics for the team’s race boats.The connectivity equipment KVH installed on American Magic’s chase boats includes: the TracPhone LTE-1…

Recreational Boats Market to Reach $33.6B

The global recreational boats market is estimated to grow from $26.7 billion in 2019 and projected to reach $33.6B in 2027, at a CAGR of 3.02%.According to Research And Markets report, Asia Oceania is the largest market for recreational boats, followed by North America.Chinese economic growth is stable and transition to the service led economy is supporting the rising income of the people and hence the Chinese boating segment has promising growth in the future.Other Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and India are showcasing promising growth for the years 2017-2018 and will continue till 2027.

Interview: Douglas Prothero, CEO, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

As privately owned, luxury yachts near the size of the average cruise ship, behold a new option, which is anything but commonplace: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. At 624 feet and 11 decks, her exterior profile resembles a sleek superyacht design, not a cruise ship on the horizon. Launched in October 2018 at Hijos de J. Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, the flagship of the new brand is now in outfitting and interior finishing. The project was co-managed by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Marriott and Tillberg Design of Sweden.