Boatbuilding News 29.04.22 Feat. MST, Vita, Hodgdon Yachts, Princess Yachts & Aqua Superpower

?? This week’s boatbuilding news! ???

???? Liverpool-based Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST) has undertaken a major expansion programme with the acquisition of a local River Mersey shipyard.

The company, which manufactures and maintains high-speed boats for global defence and security markets, secured Carmet Shipyard for an undisclosed sum during the second half of 2021. It has already embarked on a ￡1 million refurbishment programme covering the entire 6.5-acre site, with total refurbishment of the existing 80m main and 50m secondary boatbuilding halls, new offices, new car parking facilities, and the erection of additional composite and fabrication facilities. MST has a long-term plan for further investment, which will see the facilities expanded and enhanced further to create a centre of excellence in the north west of the UK for small craft design, manufacture and service.

The new site’s direct water access is also a huge boost to the group’s service and maintenance division. MST Fleet Services can now offer its services to much larger craft arriving by water, and substantial contracts have already been secured with local operators which, combined with the planned expansion of the company’s new build division, will lead to a significant recruitment drive over the remainder of 2022.

“We secured these new premises at just the right time, as we embark on several major contracts for our flagship HPB (high-speed patrol boat) range which have been, up until now, limited to a maximum 19m in length due to launching and logistical restrictions. The new larger facilities with its direct access to water now enables us to not only manufacture more craft at any one time but also to manufacture significantly larger vessels and we already have a 23m design being worked on as I speak.”

says Philip Hilbert, MST’s sales director,?

???? Vita has partnered with Hodgdon Yachts, the renowned superyacht tender builder and oldest shipyard in America, to build its highest performance all electric flagship, the 10.5 metre LION.

Engineered and powered by Vita in the UK, designed by BorromeodeSilva in Milan, and now built by Hodgdon Yachts in Maine, the LION represents high-quality boat building with the latest in electrical marine propulsion.

The first and only premium electric powerboat compatible with fast DC charging, the LION combines high performance and style with a one hour charge EME, a cruising speed of 24 knots and a top speed of over 35 knots.

“Our vision was to create a boat with no compromise in terms of user experience, performance and functionality while also ensuring the least impact possible on the marine environment in which it operates. This collaboration with Hodgdon combines our technical innovation and their centuries of craftsmanship at the highest levels to produce the most advanced electric powerboat built to date,”?

says Rory Trahair, CEO Vita Yachts Division

?? The UK’s first ‘e-marine hub’ of shoreside charging facilities for electric vessels have been unveiled in Plymouth.?

The series of high-power DC electric charging stations have been switched on in prominent locations along the perimeter of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

Further installations are now being developed along the city’s waterfront, with additional sites also being identified in Devon and Cornwall with a view to providing electric charging facilities every 10 miles along the counties’ southern coastline. Similar electric boat charging networks are being planned and installed across Europe including in Catalonia, waterways in Venice, and Portofino and the South of France.

The charging network has been created through the Marine e-Charging Living Lab (MeLL) initiative, a consortium led by the University of Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Princess Yachts Limited and Aqua superPower.

“This is the realisation of an important project that started at the end of last year to further Plymouth’s reputation as a centre of excellence in clean maritime innovation. In deploying our dedicated marine fast charge network as part of the project, we are creating the right landscape towards decarbonisation of the marine environment, responding to the Maritime 2050 route map for maritime net-zero. We are proud to have delivered our installations on time to challenging deadlines and greatly appreciate the support of our project partners, the University of Plymouth, Plymouth City Council and Princess Yachts.”

says Alex Bamberg, CEO of Aqua Superpower

"Princess Yachts cannot exist without the draw of our oceans and waterways, therefore we must work harmoniously to protect and enhance the marine environment. As a business, we have an ambitious sustainability roadmap and are on our journey to deliver on customer expectations as well as prepare for the future of our industry. While a full battery-electric yacht may not be feasible with existing technology above around 12m, the MeLL project and its legacy has real-world relevance and benefit to the growing interest we see in hotel service batteries and hybridisation. The benefits are marked with charging times nearly 40x faster than many marina shore power connections, and the launch of this project in our brand home of Plymouth is fantastic for the city.”

adds Nick Smith, head of product planning at Princess Yachts