The Facility

Seakeeper Opens Dealer Training Site in Italy

Seakeeper, a developer of marine motion control systems, has launched a new training facility in San Salvatore, Italy. This European location will enhance training access for partners outside North America, helping to build a global network of skilled technicians to support Seakeeper’s expanding customer base.“Our dedication to continuous improvement goes beyond our products; it’s also about the people who support them,” said Seakeeper president and CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “Our new training facility in Italy is part of our commitment to ensuring our partners are the best in the industry.

Salvors Send Crane Barge to Refloat Yacht that Grounded in Puerto Rico

Salvors are sending a crane barge to lift a yacht that ran aground on a coral reef just off Puerto Rico's Flamenco Beach.The 72-foot sailing catamaran Obsession was reportedly traveling with four people on board from Puerto Rico to the British Virgin Islands when it struck a reef during a stop in Culebra on July 21. No injuries were reported.To remove the vessel, salvage and marine services contractor Resolve Marine has deployed its 400-ton shear-leg barge. The 164-foot-long, 54-foot-wide barge is being towed by tugboat from Baltimore and is expected to arrive to Culebra…

HamiltonJet Breaks Ground on New Production Facility

Works began today on a new state-of-the-art production facility for capacity expansion for HamiltonJet, the New Zealand manufacturer of marine propulsion technology. This morning’s groundbreaking ceremony was held on site in Lunns Road, Christchurch.HamiltonJet has over 70 years of experience designing and manufacturing waterjet propulsion systems. It was founded in the 1950s by Sir William Hamilton - who pioneered the first commercial waterjet - and the company remains a market leader of waterjets and vessel controls.The new plant…

Telemar Opens New Office in Spain

Smart maintenance and remote access technologies provider Telemar is opening an office in Algeciras to better support digital solutions for Telemar and Marlink customers.The Algeciras office will enable Telemar to directly serve customers in the region for the first time, increasing the scope and range of services available with a dedicated team in place to handle client requests in the fifth busiest port in Europe by annual TEU volume. The new facility will also provide solutions such as Smart Maintenance and Smart Data, Telemar's maritime Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution.

Navico Invests to Boost Manufacturing Capabilities

Navico Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation, announced a multimillion-dollar investment in its Lowell, Mich. facility to create two Centers of Excellence in metal fabrication and electrification. The investment is intended to increase quality, capacity and efficiency, as well as improve product manufacturing capabilities, the company said.“Navico Group is committed to being a leader in metal fabrication and electrification for the industries we serve, and this investment is a testament to that” said Brett Dibkey, Navico Group President.

Bradford Marine Acquires Roscioli Yachting Center

South Florida full-service marina and yacht repair facility Bradford Marine announced the acquisition of Roscioli Yachting Center from OneWater Marine Inc. Bradford acquired all the real estate and service operations at Roscioli on October 1, 2023. As part of the transaction, Bradford and OneWater have entered a lease arrangement for OneWater’s sales organization to remain on the property, and for Bradford to provide support for the OneWater Yacht Group and Sunseeker brands.“This marks an incredibly important milestone for our growth as we bring together two esteemed full-service marinas…

New Zealand: A Leader in Boat Design and Production

With its diverse marine environments, from protected harbors to rugged ocean waters, New Zealand has made an exceptional impact on the global market. By focusing on the design and build of recreational products, New Zealand marine companies emphasize the use of materials that can withstand a diverse range of conditions, have a long lifespan, and can be used year-round. The kiwi boatbuilding expertise and equipment hardware capabilities have grown out of a thriving and ever-expanding recreational marine culture.

Volvo Penta Unveils New IPS Professional Platform

Volvo Penta has unveiled its new Inboard Performance System (IPS) professional platform, the next evolution in its fully integrated helm-to-propeller offering. Building upon the existing Volvo Penta IPS range, the new, larger and versatile platform is designed as a powerful and flexible solution for professional vessels and superyachts from 25 to 55+ meters with top speed from 12-40 knots, the manufacturer said.“Our passion, experience and history of proven results with Volvo…

Ferretti Opts to Pursue Dual Primary Listing in Milan

Italian yacht maker Ferretti said on March 20 it decided to proceed with a potential dual primary listing on Euronext Milan a year after it joined the market in Hong Kong.The luxury yacht group said in a statement the deal is subject to a number of conditions, including getting the green light from regulatory authorities and stock exchanges both in Hong Kong and Italy.The company added it planned to amend its by-laws to effect the changes to allow its shares to be traded in European Union venues.

MGBW Workers Complete In-house Welding Program

Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a family-owned boat repair and construction facility, is pleased to announce that 30 of its boatbuilders recently graduated from MGBW’s in-house Welding Certification Program. The Welding Program was launched in 2021 with support from a Small Shipyards Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD). In total, $859,250 was spent to develop the curriculum, secure an instructor, equip the welding classroom and…

Composite Superyacht Nilaya Exits Royal Huisman’s Construction Hall

Panamax sloop Nilaya reached another milestone with her departure from her construction hall at the builder’s Vollenhove facility in preparation for the installation of her towering rig in Amsterdam.This highly anticipated superyacht is the first to utilize Royal Huisman’s new Featherlight design and production method. Continuous weight monitoring throughout the build of Project 405 aka Reichel / Pugh – Nauta 154, confirms the Dutch builder has achieved its goal of slicing 11% of the weight of its typical advanced aluminum cruising yachts.

Torqeedo Opens New HQ and Production Facilities

Marine electric drives manufacturer Torqeedo GmbH celebrated the grand opening of a brand-new 8,300 m2 building near Munich where all company activities, including research, development, and production, will now take place.Fabian Bez, Torqeedo's chief executive officer, said, Whether by road, rail, air or water, sustainable forms of propulsion are needed to achieve the climate targets. In the transport sector, in particular, there is still a lot to be done. As Torqeedo, we recognized this trend early on and developed battery-electric drives for watercraft.

Boateka Opens Sales and Refurbishment Center in Florida

Boateka, Brunswick Corporation’s certified pre-owned boat business, has opened a fully-integrated refurbishment and sales center in Merritt Island, Fla. The new 22,000-square-foot location is designed to enhance the boat-buying experience and provide continued synergies between Freedom Boat Club, Brunswick Boat Group, Mercury Marine, and Brunswick’s global parts and accessories businesses, the company said.Since its launch in 2021, Boateka has operated from the Brunswick Integrated Manufacturing Center in Central Florida…

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…

Cox Marine Adds Four to Its Leadership Team

British manufacturer Cox Marine announced four new appointments to its Leadership Team as the company ramps up production to meet global demand for the high-performance CXO300 diesel outboard engine.David Gilbert has been appointed as Cox Marine’s new Chief Commercial Officer and Marcus Randall as its Head of Marketing and Communications, while Paul Cavander joins as Head of Industrial Strategy and Heinz Stalhammar as Chief Engineer.Regarding the new appointments, Gavin Wesson…

Donald L Blount: 1935 - 2022

Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87.Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin, the Navy's premier hydrodynamic research facility.Donald’s research contributions…

Oregon Working to Remove Abandoned Vessels

The Oregon State Marine Board, through its Certified Clean Marina Program, is working to increase the number of abandoned and derelict vessels they can remove over the course of a year.With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Oregon State Marine Board, through its Certified Clean Marina Program, will remove unwanted abandoned vessels from marinas while they are still securely moored and afloat in an effort to minimize the hazards and high costs associated with responding to future abandoned and derelict vessel situations.

Mercury Marine Opens New Global Distribution Center in Indiana

Mercury Marine opened its new, purpose-built distribution center to support its parts and accessories business. The new 512,000 square foot facility is located near Indianapolis, Ind., a major thoroughfare connecting Mercury’s global customers that will improve delivery and service and will add much needed capacity for scale, stability, and reduced logistics costs, the company said.Mercury’s current distribution facility at its global headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wis., will be repurposed to support its propulsion systems…

Derecktor Sets World Record for Largest Yacht Haul-out

As yachts continue to increase in size, so does Derecktor Shipyards’ commitment to servicing them, the company said.It was in 2021 when Derecktor again unveiled the world’s largest mobile boat hoist, but this time at its brand-new shipyard at the Port of Fort Pierce. With a 1,500-ton capacity, the massive lift can safely haul boats up to 75 meters in length out of the water for service or refit.Most recently, the 1,500-ton machine at Derecktor Ft. Pierce hauled Coral Ocean, a 73-meter superyacht launched in 1994 by Lürssen.