Indian Ocean

Russian Billionaire's Yacht Stuck in Hamburg Shipyard

A luxury yacht linked to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who faces EU sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is sitting in a shipyard in the German port of Hamburg and local authorities said there were no plans to deliver it to its owner.Hamburg authorities denied that they had seized the more-than-500-foot (150 meter) Dilbar superyacht, which boasts a 25-meter swimming pool and is worth nearly $600 million. Forbes had reported on Wednesday that it had been undergoing…

Amels Launches 77m Luxury Expedition Yacht La Datcha

Damen's luxury yacht builder Amels has launched a new 77-meter expedition yacht La Datcha.La Datcha’s emergence from her building hall in the Netherlands this week marks the start of the final stages of her build process before she heads on a global charter itinerary which is set to include heli-skiing in Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and dive adventures off Papua New Guinea. This a yacht built for adventure – custom designed to explore the world’s far-reaching destinations without compromising on luxury.

Rescued Solo Yachtsmen Heading Home

Two yachtsmen who were rescued during a solo round-the-world race are making their way home.Irish national Gregor McGuckin was brought to Australia on board Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat, which returned to port Monday. The naval ship sent a helicopter to recover McGuckin from a French scientific research station on Amsterdam Island after he was transported there by French Fisheries Patrol Vessel Osiris.Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy, who suffered a back injury…

Oliver Design to Showcase Projects at Navalia

Oliver Design will be showcasing some of its latest projects on its stand at the Navalia trade fair, which runs from May 22 to 24 , in Vigo, Spain.Recent projects from the Spanish firm, which specializes in naval design and architecture, include new state-of the-art vessels ranging from working vessels to luxury cruise ships. It has also carried out renovation on several existing vessels.The biannual Navalia is one of the top international fairs for the shipbuilding industry.

Safebridge Launches SafeYacht

SafeYacht opens up a professional dimension to the training of sport skippers. Safebridge, a Hamburg-based company training international commercial shipping navigators since 2009, with SafeYacht extends its portfolio to recreational boating. SafeYacht is a cross-platform application which uses the e-learning methodology as a unique feature and gives the access to the software of the final device. A new online training enables sailors and motor boat drivers to deal with their navigation systems as thoroughly like professionals on large vessels.

Ocean Master Revamps Its 31' Center Console

Ocean Master Marine has significantly upgraded its 31-foot center console sport fishing boat, with design changes to the running bottom for improvements in acceleration, top speed and fuel economy. Additionally, a flat deck becomes an option in the 2017 Tournament Model. Furthermore, two sets of lifting rails were added, a V pad with its own lifting rails and two inset lifting rails aft. These changes have improved the Ocean Master 31's maneuverability, generated greater stability and enhanced performance.

Marsol International Appoints Middle East Distributor for VersaDock

Marsol International has been appointed to expand beyond its current territories as the central Middle East distributor by VersaDock, the UK manufacturer of modular docking systems for commercial, defence and leisure applications. Marsol, which has been the distributor for VersaDock for the last six years, is now expanding its collaboration with VersaDock into the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives and Seychelles. The company will continue to cover the UAE and Gulf States. Based in Dubai, Marsol specializes in commercial and technical marine service solutions for SPM and offshore terminals.

Maverick Yachts: From South Africa to SCIBS

South African yacht builder, Maverick Yachts from Cape Town, has chosen SCIBS to launch down-under. A new exhibitor at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in 2015, and also new to Australia, Maverick Yachts from Cape Town, South Africa will be looking to make an impact with prospective clients and dealers. On show will be the Maverick 440, on its way with its new owners following a circumnavigation of Australia. Co-founder and co-owner with husband Rudi, Deslynn Pretorius explained…

Volvo Ocean Race Crash Raises Questions on Standards

The report on the Team Vestas Wind crash occurred on November 29 in the second leg between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi has recommended an overhaul of navigational charting in offshore racing to prevent a similar incident in the future. The findings of the independent report into the crash of Volvo Ocean Race boat on the Indian Ocean reef were based on interviews including with the crew and the Volvo Ocean Race direction. "The crew was not aware of any navigational hazards in its vicinity. He misjudged the depth indicated 40 meters and believed he could safely navigate through the reef "summarizes the report.

China Launches First Maritime Silk Road Cruise Liner

China has launched its first cruise liner to sail via its ambitious transcontinental initiative Maritime Silk Road (MSR) on its maiden voyage during which it will visit three South-East Asian nations. The liner has scheduled stops in Vietnam, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia before eventually reaches Kuantan Port in Malaysia. The cruise liner set off from the Beihai port in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The 135-m-long 20-m-wide modern cruise ship can accommodate about 400 people and is equipped with wireless Internet access.

World's Largest Sailing Yachts Get the GAC Treatment

GAC has smoothed the transit of the world’s largest sailing yacht through the Suez Canal, and was at hand when she called at ports in Oman and Sri Lanka. The integrated package of support services at multiple ports for the 93-m long three-masted Bermuda rigged schooner ‘Eos’ was coordinated by the GAC Bunker Fuels specialized superyacht department based in Southampton, UK. In Egypt, GAC's Suez Canal Transit Services team took care of her passage through the waterway from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean.

Navionics Introduces New Boating App

Cartography Leader Releases Award-Winning App on Windows Store for Tablets and PCs. Navionics, the leader in content and location based services for the recreational boating and outdoor markets, has announced  its award-winning mobile app, Navionics Boating, is now downloadable on Microsoft Tablets and PCs. Available for free from the Windows Store for devices operating Microsoft Windows version 8.1 or higher, Navionics Boating offers the same great cartographic detail found on GPS chartplotters and is packed with functionality including navigation tracking…

Quantum of the Seas to Embark on World Tour in 2015

World Travelers will not need to trek out to New York City to catch Quantum of the Seas, the most anticipated cruise ship to-date. The ship will come to them. Royal Caribbean International has announced the details of the Quantum Global Odyssey, a 53-night epic journey, departing May 2, 2015, from the New York-metropolitan area to its new home in Shanghai (Baoshan), China. Quantum of the Seas will take its never-before-seen-at-sea experience globally to savvy vacationers after the ship’s inaugural winter season in New York from Nov. 2014 through Apr. 2015.

Yachties Keep Out of Pirate Hi-Risk Area Warns EUNAVFOR

If there was ever a good reason to heed naval forces’ warnings about the continuing threat from Somali piracy, then an attack on a super tanker is surely one of them. A fully laden super tanker was attacked by eight armed pirates recently, 230 miles off the Somali coast, with the attack only being thwarted by the armed security team on board. Because of their vulnerability, it is highly recommended that all sailing yachts, under their own passage, should remain out of the High Risk Area (Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean).

'Home is the Sailor,' via Maersk

Troels Kløvedal has sailed the seven seas in his yacht Nordkaperen since 1967, but now returns to his native Denmark with his boat. This summer, Troels will be travelling by sea around his home country, filming for a TV show on the new TV2 FRI channel, launching in Denmark in May. In order to stay clear of the piracy in the Indian Ocean, Troels opted for having the Nordkaperen moved on a container vessel, and of course, Maersk Line were ready to assist and the yacht was loaded on Estelle Maersk in Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia for a final destination in Aarhus, a direct move on the AE10 service.

Seychelles Workboat Delivered by Alnmaritec

Blyth based boat builder Alnmaritec is celebrating after the latest of its newly built aluminium workboats was delivered to the Seychelles, before being promptly blessed in a ceremony organized by owner Eden Island Marina. The third in class of the successful Wave Hauler series, the 6m boat will be employed at the Eden Island Super-yacht marina in the Western Indian Ocean where she will be expected to fulfil a number of duties, as General Manager at Eden Island Christophe Houareau explains, “We have named the boat ‘TI TUG’ and she will be used for line handling, diver support, emergency fire response and of course tug duties.

Vendee Globe Race Yachts in Albatross Seas

The first five in the Vendee Glove single-handed race 2012-13 have passed the Gate of Aiguilles The gap widens between the front and back of the fleet. Only 30 minutes. This is the gap that separated the first boat through the Gate of Aiguilles, François Gabart (MACIF) and the third boat, Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire); a metaphorical photo finish in a race that covers 24,000 miles. It is incredible that the boats are racing so tightly. At 0400 GMT, this morning, there was only a mere 14 miles separating the three leaders in this nail biting edition of the 2012 Vendée Globe.

Leisure Craft Warned to Keep Clear of Piracy Hotspots

European Union Naval Force Commander reminds yacht & leisure craft owners piracy still a danger in Gulf of Aden & Indian Ocean. Rear Admiral Potts who is the operation commander of the European Union’s counter piracy mission (EU NAVFOR) off the coast of Somalia reminds the yachting and leisure craft community that whilst pirate attacks have reduced off the Horn of Africa over the past year, the threat of piracy remains and owners should continue to avoid transiting the High Risk Area – the southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Western part of the Indian Ocean.

Dryad Maritime Cautions Against Pirate Attack

Leading Maritime Intelligence Agency Cautions Against Complacency Following First Attack of the Piracy Season. Pirate operatives have awoken from their hibernation to venture forth from safe havens and launch long-range mothership-enabled pirate operations with the first confirmed attack in the Arabian Sea on Monday this week. Following three months of very limited deployments constrained to the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and sheltered areas along the Omani coast, Dryad Maritime predicted that…