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Megayachts Utopia: Real, Not Imagined The largest Feadship to date has just been completed by the De Vries Shipyard, a 235 ft. (71.6-m) vessel named Utopia, which is currently being offered for sale. Utopia was initially part of a two-Feadship order placed in 2001 by a repeat owner, who passed away before the projects could be completed. His widow decided to finish the other boat for herself and her children, and took delivery of the 126.5 ft. (38.6-m) Katrion in fall 2003. Utopia had been her husband's dream project, however, and so the family reluctantly asked Feadship to complete the yacht on spec and put her up for sale on behalf of the estate. Utopia is arguably the most com- plex Feadship yet built. The two-story engine room, with its separate control and generator rooms, is immaculate in every way. The helicopter deck includes a wealth of safety measures, such as a special device originally developed for French military purposes, which attach- es the helicopter to the deck within a fraction of a second. Two tender bays on the lower deck house a Chriscraft Launch 28 and a custom-built Ribtec Riviera 850, launched by crane through hydraulically operated doors in the hull. Dedicated entirely to watersports equip- ment and toys, the lazarette is gigantic. While being extraordinary in technical terms, Utopia is also very much a fami- ly boat. The middle deck is devoted entirely to the owners, and there are five guest suites: three on the main deck and two on the lower deck. While a yacht of this length could easily have accommo- dated several more cabins in a different layout, the emphasis here is on spaces that are very generous in size. This onboard residence concept is further supported by top-of-the-range living facilities. There is a myriad galley and pantry options spread throughout the yacht, for example, as well as excellent accommodations for up to 18 crew members. Utopia has enormous windows that give a bright and almost al fresco feel to Security Concerns And Superyacht Managment by Erika Carver Running a superyacht in 2004 is just not as easy as it used to be - if it ever was. Classification society regulations, crew qualifications, port and flag state rules, safety and security issues are a few of the newest responsibilities own- ers, or more likely, captains have to manage. These additional procedures have brought about a new trend in the yacht managemenet industry with the creation of more shore-based yacht support teams geared towards facilitating the ease of a superyachts' operational con- cerns. The new regulations in ISPS security and ISM safety, in particular, have sent luxury yachts in search of shore-based support because of the requirement for a "Desiginated Person Ashore" and "Company Security Officer" for com- mercial yachts over 500 Goss Tons. "Non-compliance with ISPS can be very awkward for a commercial yacht because it can restrict the vessels' move- ments or delay her. All U.S. ports and various other countries are becoming increasingly vigilant in respect to ISPS." said Graham Thompson. Senior Project Manager of Superyacht Technologies, a Technical Management company based in Fort Lauderdale, which specializes in technical solutions for superyachts, such as class registration, ISPS and ISM Management, new construction and refit consulting. Yacht management companies aim to provide shore-based support ranging from financial accounting administra- tion to ISM code compliance. Delegating some of the more awkward tasks and tedious paperwork to a spe- cialist company can provide much need- ed assistance to over-burdened captains. "As a Management Company, we view hundreds of documents per month relating to legislation, safety and securi- ty issues, commercial yacht regulations and endless government warnings. We disseminate the relevant information to our fleet Captains, ensuring that they are informed and in compliance. This leaves them the time to get on with the job of running their boats," said Peter Baker, Managing Director of Superyacht Technologies. The trend in management companies seems to be twofold. Large parent com- panies acquire or enter alliances with brokerage houses, builders and manage- ment companies thereby creating a con- glomerate of services like charter mar- keting, brokerage sales, yacht builds, technical management, and crew place- ment. Some examples are CamperNicholson International/Rodrigues Group, which acquired Bob Saxons and Associates, and the latest merger between Benetii, Frasers and VYachts. On the other end are the small, inde- pendent firms with no brokerage ties like Superyacht Technologies and Hill Robinson Yacht Management Consultants in Antibes that focus only on technical assistance like ISM. ISPS, budgeting and account management for a set fee. A tricky area for these companies is the word "management." Most Captains don't like the idea of having a shore side company tell them how to manage their yacht. But according to Baker, the company plays more of a consultant role in the yacht's affairs. "We advise the Captain on how best to achieve the standards of excellence required of him and his team, but of course the final decisions on oper- ational matters rest with him. However, we do review procedures onboard the yacht and advise immediately if there are areas that could be improved," he said. As yacht operation becomes more complex, it's evident that the role of Yacht Management Companies is set to increase. The new MCA Large Yacht Code is likely to have a requirement for a Safety Management System for all commercial yachts under 500 tons. With a majority of luxury yachts registered under a red ensign flag, new regulations could guar- antee continued work for companies providing technical assistance. Circle 15 on Reader Service Card 38 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News
