BOATPro Monthly Digest - May Edition

Welcome to the May edition of the BOATPro Monthly Digest, offering all the latest news and insights from the world of superyachting in a convenient bite-sized package.??

Found exclusively on LinkedIn, this monthly news recap is based on insight from BOAT International‘s award-winning superyacht market intelligence platform, BOATPro.

Interested in learning more about BOATPro? Book a demo here.?

What you need to know this month:

• The winners of the World Superyacht Awards 2024, in association with Acquera Club and The Glenrothes, were announced in a lavish ceremony in Venice! Discover all of the newly crowned winners for the year, including who won the Neptune for the highly coveted Motor Yacht of the Year Award…
• Sanlorenzo experienced a significant shakeup to its leadership structure last month, when it was announced the Ferruccio Rossi had stepped down as executive director and general manager. This may not spell the end of the pair’s relationship, however, with Sanlorenzo currently exploring the possibility of a "collaboration agreement" for one-off projects in the future.
• Brokerage yacht sales (24m and above) took a hit last month, with the cumulative value of sales tumbling 45.1% between March and April. The declining appetite among buyers also seems to be affecting replenishing levels of inventory, which fell from 50 new listings in March to 28 in April.
• An online petition to turn the 85.6-metre sanctioned superyacht Amore Vero into a "free reception hotel" for Ukranian refugees has surfaced online. The petition comes after 69,000 Ukrainians sought refuge in France as of January 2024, with more than 29,149 signatories so far.

Long-read?

Will the Houthis attacks in the Red Sea affect the superyacht sector?

By Gabrielle Lazaridis

BOATPro data found a 70% decline in superyacht traffic in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden between 2023 and 2024, but how will the situation affect the region as a superyacht destination in the short to medium-term and what measures have yachts been taking to cross over safely since the attacks began?

Find out here.

Interview

CEO Series: John Lu tells of new flagship, new facilities and new markets for Horizon Yachts

By Cecile Gauert

The creator of one of Taiwan’s preeminent shipyards discusses his plans for new yacht models at either end of the size spectrum and where Horizon Yachts will expand to next. Lu also sheds light on the reality of doing business in Taiwan, and his unconventional road to success.??? ??

Read the full interview here.

Sustainability

How Vitters’ Project Zero shaped CEO Louis Hamming’s view of zero-emission yachting

By Gabrielle Lazaridis

The CEO of Vitters Shipyard offers insight into the feasibility of zero-emission yachting, informed by his direct experience with Project Zero, the yard’s upcoming zero-fossil-fuel sailing yacht. According to Hamming, the sailing yacht industry can expect to benefit from the drive towards environmental sustainability – even if a fully-fledged sailing renaissance has yet to materialise.

Read more here.

NEWS BRIEFS

• ?Oyster Yachts announces a return to profit after a record 2022/2023 fiscal year
• Silent-Yachts sold to new owner after being placed in administration earlier this year
• Mexican Navy takes over Cabo San Lucas marina amid concession dispute
• Founder of Van der Valk Shipyard retires and sells shares to management
• Auction house selected as sale of seized superyacht Royal Romance moves ahead
• “Softness in the market” causes drop in gross profit for MarineMax in Q1 2024

Brokerage Spotlight: Results for April 2024

Industry insight: Acquera Club founder on finding a niche for real-time superyacht concierge services

Described as the first of its kind, Acquera Club offers dedicated personal advisors to offer bespoke assistance to superyacht owners and charterers around the clock.

"We actually spent two years studying the luxury and concierge markets to explore whether there was a niche we could position ourselves in […] It quickly became evident that this new project would require a different business model than the one used by Acquera Yachting and the rest of the industry.” – Acquera Group CEO Stefano Tositti

Read the full interview here.