News

William Griffiths has been named managing director while James Bursey takes role of executive vice chairman.

The French company expects boat sales to be down 10.7 per cent to €620m.

Latest business performance research shows a drop in total revenue of 2.1 per cent compared to 2009/10.

Superyachts up to 85m welcome.

The system was developed by eight companies in cooperation with the Swedish Marine Technology Forum.

Viking Sport Cruisers has renewed its partnership with CGI Finance

UK boatbuilder Sealine has named Jason Hudson as general manager of its office in Mallorca. Hudson is to be based in Alcudia.

Marstrand Yachts on Sweden’s west coast has been made an exclusive importer of the J/Boats series of sailing yachts in Norway and Sweden.

A fire last night at the Sunreef facility in Gdansk Shipyard destroyed one yacht under construction and damaged others in the facility. A Sunreef spokesperson said the fire was under investigation, but there were no injuries.

The UK’s Marina Developments Limited (MDL Marinas) has joined the ICOMIA Marinas Group (IMG) with immediate effect.

Mandalina Marina is expanding its berthing facility to accomodate superyachts of up to 140m (459ft) in length. Berths will be provided with electricity power of up to 600 Amps on safe berthing conditions.

Paul Madeley has joined the Global Services team in Palma de Mallorca to support both operational yachts and refit projects in the area.

ICOMIA, supported by IMCI, is offering a free scantlings calculator to boatbuilders to help comply with the ISO (Small Craft) Scantling standard.

Ocean Signal has appointed A Bordo Group as its dedicated distributor in Italy. A Bordo will be responsible for distributing Ocean Signal’s entire SafeSea range across the country.

Organisers have announced that exhibitor and sponsorship slots for the annual Hainan Rendez-Vous 2012 have entirely sold out.

Marine distress signal manufacturer Chemring Marine has named DLV Corporation as its distributor in Vietnam. The company is to look after the Comet range of products.

The Taiwan Yacht Industry Association (TYIA) has been approved as a full member of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA).

Rhode Island-based Hunt Yachts has appointed Barry Bailey as its Asia-Pacific representative. Bailey is based in Queensland, Australia.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) says it plans to hold a new in-water boat show at the new 31st Street Harbor from June 7-12, 2012.

Turkey’s METYX Composites has announced that a new, state-of-the-art MAX 5 carbon reinforcement production line is soon to be operating at the company’s headquarters in Istanbul and at its new facility in Manisa.

The UK’s Discovery Yachts has announced the sale of its first three Discovery 57 blue-water cruising yachts.

Superyacht Australia (SYBA), the peak body for the Australian superyacht sector, has merged with the Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX).

E-navigation company Navtor has appointed Tor A. Svanes as its managing director.

Italy’s Sessa Marine has appointed Lysmarine AB as its new distributor in Sweden. The company is based in Lysekil on the Swedish west coast, just north of Gothenburg.

French yacht builder Arcoa has plans to expands its shipyard and re-launch the ACM brand alongside new models in the next couple of years, following a capital injection of over $2.5m (€2m) made by financial company DLJ,

Yacht glass manufacturer Trend Marine and boatbuilder Sealine are working together in a joint engineering project to block harmful rays from the sun.

Johnson Outdoors says it has reached an out-of-court settlement with Navico Inc regarding a patent infringement case. A statement says the two companies have resolved their dispute relating to Johnson Outdoors’ patented Humminbird Side Imaging sonar

Communications and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal has appointed Belship BV as its distributor in Holland.

Bavaria Yachts says it intends to open three “factory-direct” retail locations in the US by the end of 2012. The company opened its first factory store in Annapolis, Maryland last year.

Isle of Man-based yachting brokerage firm Moore Stephens has appointed Kathy Kennedy as its executive vice president. She will be based in the firm’s US offices.

The winners of the UK’s 2012 Motor Boat of the Year awards were announced at a gala ceremony at London’s Savoy Hotel last night.

A majority stake in the Ferretti Group has been acquired by the Shandong Heavy Industry Group-Weichai Group, according to a statement and press conference today in Jinan, China. Shandong Heavy's total investment will be €374m.

UK manufacturer Offshore Systems has reported a 45 per cent gain in sales during the last 12 months. The company has also announced a net profit rise of 51 per cent compared to 2010.

Linssen Yachts has started manufacturing from its new 1.2 hectare interior construction facility. The Dutch boatbuilder bought the facility from Westrom last year.

The UK’s Fairline Boats is expanding its Eastern Mediterranean dealer network with the opening of an authorised Fairline dealer office in Beirut, Lebanon this month.

US marine hardware manufacturer Schaefer Marine has appointed Southampton based Sea-Sure Limited as its sole distributor for all their product ranges in the United Kingdom.

Finland’s Bella-Veneet Oy has acquired MV-Marin’s six-model range of boats, including all moulds and manufacturing rights.

Finnish motorboat builder TerhiTec Oy has announced that its sister company, Oy Brandt Ab, is to handle the sales and marketing of its Terhi, Silver and Sea Star boat brands.

Dave Mallach replaces Dirk Boehmer as director of sales. Vicem Yachts has named Dave Mallach as its new head of sales in the US. Mallach, who is now Vicem Yachts USA director of sales, replaces Dirk Boehmer.

Aura S.J. is based in Szczecin. The UK’s Oceanair Marine has named Aura S.J. as its new distributor in Poland.

Oliver Winbolt takes on the role in March. The UK’s Fairline Boats has appointed Oliver Winbolt as the group’s new head of marketing, effective March 1, 2012.

Spring Brook Marina to represent French boatbuilder in the Great Lakes region. French boatbuilder Prestige Yachts has appointed Spring Brook Marina as it exclusive dealer in the United States.

This year's event in Cannes, France has been postponed until April 2013. Reed Exhibitions has announced that its first-ever Yacht Brokerage Festival has been postponed until the spring of 2013.

The Palma-based yachtwear supplier has appointed a new agent representative in Holland. Deckers Uniforms has appointed Superyacht Spares in the Netherlands as its new agent representative.

James Grazebrook honoured for services to the UK marine industry. James Grazebrook, chairman of UK-based exhaust manufacturer Halyard Marine (M&I) Ltd, has been given an OBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List

The Italian equipment maker, which received more than C$3m in provincial aid, pares its workforce back to one. Opacmare Americas has laid off all of its staff except one

The two companies will collaborate on the benefits and privileges offered to berth holders. UAE-based boat distributor and marina operator ART Marine has signed an agreement with Thailand’s Royal Phuket Marina to collaborate and enhance the benefits

WaterMota will represent the company's marine product line. Dutch power and propulsion specialist WhisperPower has chosen WaterMota Ltd to serve as its exclusive marine distributor in the UK.