Dockwise Yacht launches super ship

Dockwise Yacht Transport (DYT), the world’s only float-on/float-off yacht transport service and a subsidiary of Dutch company Dockwise Transport, has launched its newest ship which will provide yacht owners with faster and more frequent delivery of their luxury power and sailing yachts across the Atlantic Ocean. The 209 metre ?Yacht Express?, built at the Yantai Raffles Shipyard in China, has an official delivery date of May, 2007. the $54 million ship will be the largest of its kind, purpose-built with a semi-submersible dock bay that allows yachts of any size to be safely floated on and off as cargo. ?Yacht Express? will join four other dedicated yacht carriers, all semi-submersible, in the existing liner service of DYT.

“Most amazing is that this ship is designed to have a service speed of 18 knots”, said DYT President Clemens van der Werf. “This means that a transatlantic voyage with this ultra modern yacht carrier can be reduced by nearly 50%, from 15 to 8 days.” Van der Werf added that newbuilding will feature amenities not found on the other DYT ships such as complimentary cabins for ride-aboard crews, an atrium with swimming pool, conference, media and fitness facilities, allowing for added comfort and entertainment during transit.

The launch of the ?Yacht Express? is a major milestone in the development of the yacht transport industry. With a beam of 32 metres and deck space of 5,115 square m, the vessel has a carrying capacity of 5,000 tonnes, which allows ?Yacht Express? to accommodate more yachts on regularly scheduled trips to and from Florida and the Mediterranean.

“The addition of this new yacht carrier to our fleet is an important step forward by DYT to improve the quality of services to our clients — services that are based on safety, regularity and reliability,” said Van der Werf. In comments at the vessel’s launch, Dockwise chief financial officer Stefan Malfliet said “This is the landmark for the development of the yacht transport business. The market for luxury yachts is steadily growing, including new areas like Australia and New Zealand. As these continue to develop, we will require additional yacht carriers.”

Following sea trials in mid-May, ?Yacht Express? will mobilize through Australia and New Zealand and to Florida before making a special appearance at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, 2007.

Since its founding in 1987, DYT has transported over 8,000 motor and sailing yachts to various destinations around the globe, offering owners and charterers safe and easy access to many of the world?s premier cruising grounds. DYT is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and with a fleet of four dedicated yacht carriers is the world’s leading provider of yacht transportation on a regular liner service.

Yacht Express is the 45th vessel skidded off Yantai’s yards. Yantai typically builds its vessels on land and skids them onto launching barges, allowing it to build a wide variety of vessels. The company is increasingly becoming a leading builder of offshore vessels and now has orders worth more than $1.5 billion for jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, floating storage supply and offloading (FPSO) units and other offshore vessels.