Gulf Coast

The Benefits of Sustainable Marine Lumber

Today’s marinas are held to a higher standard of environmental stewardship than in the past. No longer are they just responsible for the environmental impacts of their day-to-day operations, but also of their infrastructure and how it affects both the oceans, waterways and their delicate marine ecosystems. For these reasons, many marinas are being far more selective as to construction materials being specified for their expansion and/or restoration projects.One material that is rising to the top for its eco-friendly and performance attributes is sustainable marine lumber.

Galati Yacht Sales Upgrades Lifting Capacity

Galati Yacht Sales, in Anna Maria, Florida, recently increased their yard’s lifting capacity to 187,000 lbs. with the installation of a new 85 BFMII mobile boat hoist from Marine Travelift. Their new unit is the fourth Marine Travelift machine this location has had and replaces an older 75 BFM Marine Travelift machine onsite that had a lifting capacity of 165,000 lbs. The additional lift capacity is necessary as customers’ demands for larger boats continue to increase and Galati…

Whirlwind of change: Where’s Trinity Yachts' crew today?

Four key players of the disbanded Trinity Yachts, once the world’s sixth largest custom yacht builder, are working in new roles in yachting since the company’s break-up about four years ago.Billy Smith, Geoffrey van Aller, Jim Berulis and Phil Nuss rolled with the punches, just as they did when this author interviewed them at Trinity’s Cinco de Mayo crayfish boil celebrating their new Gulfport facility in Mississippi in May, 2006. In a region suffering after Hurricane Katrina toppled the Gulf Coast and sank New Orleans on August 29…

Gulfstream Wins DHS Ferry Contract

Gulfstream Shipbuilding won a contract through the United States Department of Homeland Security for a passenger/vehicle ferry to service the New York and Connecticut waters. This 118 x 27 x 10.75 ft. crew boat-style vessel will be capable of transporting passengers, freight and vehicles in and around the waters of the Eastern Long Island Sound and Gardiner’s Bay. The vessel has an expected delivery date of April 2017. “Gulfstream Shipbuilding is not only familiar with the Eastern Long Island Sound waters…

Pettit Hires Trimble as Technical Sales Rep

Marine coatings manufacturer Pettit Marine Paint has added Scott Trimble to its staff as Technical Sales Representative, responsible for bolstering customer retention efforts and developing new relationships in the vital Gulf Coast and Caribbean markets. A NACE International Institute-certified level 2 Coating Inspector, Trimble has received comprehensive training and has demonstrated significant experience in topside paints and antifouling coatings.

Gulf Coast Shipyard Delivers MY Imagine

Gulf Coast Shipyard Group (GCSG) has delivered the Motor Yacht Imagine. The M.Y. Imagine, a Trinity built yacht, is a 193’x 32’x 14’6” custom designed semi-displacement aluminum hull and superstructure vessel that was constructed in GCSG’s yard located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The vessel meets the highest quality yacht standards in the world. It was designed by GCSG and is ABS classed for commercial yachting service. M.Y. Imagine is designed to accommodate 12 guests and a crew of 14 including a captain.

Watson Joins Hatteras Yachts as COO

Hatteras/Cabo Yachts, LLC has welcomed Wade Watson to the company. He has joined the company as chief operating officer, reporting directly to Hatteras President and CEO, John Ward. Wade will oversee daily operations at Hatteras’ manufacturing plant in New Bern, NC, with a focus on improving manufacturing operations. With more than 20 years of manufacturing, after market, quality control and management experience, Wade has a proven track record in achieving significant improvements in manufacturing efficiencies and product quality.

OceanLED Names Ambrose Account Manager

OceanLED U.S. OceanLED, a manufacturer of LED marine lighting technology, announced that Katelyn Ambrose has joined the U.S. Superyacht Division in the role of Account Manager for projects in the Southeast, Alabama and Gulf Coast. Based in Deerfield Beach, Fla., Ambrose will have core responsibility for strengthening sales as well as supporting existing customers in her regions. In Katelyn’s new role she will work alongside William Banning, U.S. Superyacht Division Manager. A business management graduate, Katelyn joins OceanLED with 10 years of project management and customer service experience in the hospitality industry.

Galati Joins Boat Village Collaborative

Florida Brokerage and Service Company Joins Regional Group to Promote Online Service Coordination and Boat Management. Galati Yacht Sales has joined The Boat Village’s regional collaborative in southeast Florida, uniting with other marine businesses in the region to promote online service coordination and boat management. Galati Yacht Sales, which has more than 450 boats in brokerage and specializes in Viking, Princess, Tiara, Cruisers, Grand Banks, Maritimo, Rampage and Prestige brands…

U.S. Superyacht Association Announces 2013-14 Directors

The U.S. Superyacht Association (USSA) announced the 2013-2014 Board of Directors elected in October 2013. John J. Mann, III (Bluewater Books and Charts) will continue his role as Chairman. Ami Ira, Crew Unlimited / C.U. “The USSA has been very fortunate to have strong board members dedicated to helping grow the organization,” said John Mann, USSA Chairman. “By continually bringing in new representatives at the board level, we are able to draw on their energy, ideas and skills.

Pelican Marina Reconstruction Nears Completion

In 2008, Hurricane Ike tore through the Gulf Coast of the U.S., hitting hard the towns along Texas’ coast and leaving a number of the area’s marinas in disrepair. Over the past several years, many of the marinas affected by Ike have been rebuilt – Pelican Rest Marina located in Galveston, Texas, is the latest to complete new construction. From the beginning, the vision of the owner for Pelican Rest Marina was clear; build a high-end marina catering to 60 foot and larger class sport fishing yachts as part of a mixed-use upscale complex.

AdvanTec Rebranding Showcases Marine Closures Portfolio

The marine division of AdvanTec Global Innovations, AdvanTec Marine recently embarked on a rebranding initiative. The division, formerly called Advanced Marine Technologies (AMT), rebranded to better showcase the company's marine products portfolio and to unify its immense capabilities. "As a unified group of marine companies, each with decades of experience, we bring together under our AdvanTec Marine brand comprehensive solutions and innovative ideas all delivered through a single source," said Darren Loken, AdvanTec's Marine Division President.

Florida Boat Show Rubs Shoulders with Salvador Dali Museum

The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show will once again transform the Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park into the largest in-water boat show on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Now entering its 36th year, the show takes place from Dec. 5 – 8, 2013. Distinguished from other boat shows by its unique, picturesque location adjacent to the Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the largest collection outside Europe of the works of the renowned artist…

TY and Trinity Form Gulf Coast Shipyard Group

TY Offshore, Llc. and Trinity Yachts, Llc. announced the formation of the Gulf Coast Shipyard Group along with its new investment partner, Littlejohn & Co., a multi-billion dollar private equity firm based in Greenwich, Conn. Gulf Coast Shipyard Group will own and operate two major Gulf Coast based shipyards engaged in the new construction of commercial, military and luxury yachts. The Company will also operate International Yacht Collection (IYC), a wholly owned yacht brokerage unit. Management is enthusiastic about its partnership with Littlejohn…

John Dane III Leaves His Mark

“The 2008 financial crash slowed  the luxury business, and the new class warfare coming out of Washington has made owning a large yacht out of favor. In the more than two years since its founding, Mississippi-based TY Offshore, the former Trinity Offshore, has invested in a new yard in Gulfport and repaired its storm-damaged New Orleans holdings. The company has doubled its capacity and racked up new orders, president and CEO John Dane III said. TY Offshore designs and builds offshore barges, tugs, oilfield-support vessels and spill-response and patrol vessels. The company's new name, adopted in late June, should make business simpler.