13 minute read
Industry Insider
Madrid and its Power over the Port of Palma
Ft. Lauderdale International Boatshow (FLIBS) ‘22 Review
The Guardian Angels of the Waters around St. Maarten – St Martin
Palma Yards and Marinas thinking about the Future
Raise The Roof Party for Marine Aspirations
Paper Charts out
Madrid and its Power over the Port of Palma
STP and its conflicts with the Harbour Authority (APB) is a subject I have followed up on since it started. I have previously written about this in Spanish publications. The Islander’s new editor, Jens Oomes asked me to clarify the structures and politics behind this important outfit in Palma. Palma harbour, all of it, is ruled by the Palma Harbour Authority (APB), and the 28 harbour authorities in Spain ruling on 46 harbours depend on “State Harbours” in Madrid. This is a department of the Spanish Maritime Ministry. So, Palma harbour follows the rules of Madrid, not the Mallorca government rules! So Madrid -despite being landlocked and far away with no affinity with the Yachting Industry- rules the port: almighty and autonomously.
APB grants the concessions to the marinas, shipyards and every building or surface (this is why your Palma parking app doesn’t work in Sector G Tarifada) within Palma Harbour. This is also the case with four other important
Oscar Siches CMP oscar@siches.com +34 667 494 858 www.siches.com Oscar Siches is a marina designer and consultant for marina projects in various countries, including the marinas of Pantalan del Mediterraneo and Moll Vell in Palma. He has shared his experience through more than 30 conferences in 12 countries and has written numerous articles for Marina World and other international nautical magazines. He explains the historical powerplay of Madrid over the Port of Palma. Days after submitting this article to The Islander, the long awaited breakthrough regarding the expansion of the yard-area was announced.
Balearic harbours: Alcudia, Ibiza, Mahon and La Sabina (Formentera).
For the last 15 years, there have been corruption cases involving the APB’s director and president, granting marina concessions and extensions and applying dodgy law interpretations. Like the best Sicilian practices, the Omertá prevails and nobody speaks up fearing retaliation.
Lifting 1000 Tons and nowhere to go.
STP Servicios Tecnicos Portuarios, since it started in 2006, did a very good job. They increased their clientele year after year. So they needed more space. On several occasions they requested to increase their concession surface, the size of the yard. A few requests were granted, and when the concession renewal time arrived they asked again for more surface. You may know that STP sports the largest Travel Lift in Europe. Investing in the 1000 Ton Travelift was one of the many improvements STP made, much to the benefit of the Madrilenian APB. They also increased the annual lease to APB. A totally legal and above-board affair.
Once the Travel lift was up and running, STP put in a request to extend the shipyard surface once again. They expected to add more than 56.000 m2 reaching towards the end of the long pier which ends at the old lighthouse. And then BOOM! The Ports administration from Madrid instructs the APB in the Balearics to deny the permit. Why?
My educated guess is that, after all the corruption and administrative mess which generated very bad press, Madrid prefers to block everything that is not 100% strictly by the book or that can be seen as benefitting a concessionaire. One must realise that none of the public officials of the “Ports of the State”, no matter whether they are directors or technicians, have a clue about yachting. This doesn’t help the case of course. My views on this issue stem from my experience running two concessions in Palma Harbour between 2001 and 2016 -Pantalan del Mediterraneo and Moll Vell- having suffered APB’s unfair behaviour consistently during those 15 years.
And now, on the 27th of October, days before a demonstration demanding the expansion to be granted, the APB has given the green light! This is a big breakthrough for STP, Astilleros and the yachting industry as a whole!
By Jens Oomes
There is much uncertainty in the world; financial markets are shaky and gas prices are skyrocketing and inflation is very much happening. You don’t have to be an economist to know that things aren’t all moonlight and roses.
As we enter the 4th quarter of the year, I have spoken with several brokers from different segments of the market. And once again, it seems we are blessed with an industry that is -dare we say it - unshakable. As one broker put it: “Most of our clients are not affected by rising interest rates as they don’t need to borrow. In some markets that will be an issue – and perhaps for some boat dealers who have to stock yachts and borrow to do so. The clients that buy expensive motor yachts are generally not people who are personally worried about the electric / gas bill. But increased fuel costs may cause some to wonder about how much use they put their motor yacht through.”
Lukas Stratmann of Ocean Independence is brief, he’s too busy selling boats I guess: “Our market of superyachts between 30 and 40 metres is still very strong!”
Jens-Petter Flesvig from Heitmann Marin in Oslo says: “Lagoon sold 45 boats in Cannes! But where people used to buy more at the show, the deals happen in a less impulsive way, mostly after the boat shows.”
At the Oslo Boat Show, Heitmann displayed mostly production boats (Jeanneau, Beneteau) for the domestic market. Sales of yachts under 1,5 million has slowed down. However, it has only slowed down in relation to the epic post-lockdown spike in sales. Motorboat sales in the same market segment however, are K.O. due to fuel prices. In Norway they were close to 3 Euro per litre in the summer and early fall.
Boatbuilder’s production halls are full and working flat-out because of the post covid peak in combination with the backlog in production and availability of parts. This has changed the privileges of the good clients. Jens-Petter explains: We used to be good clients because we would order a stock of 10 boats. Now we are given the possibility to order as few as 3 boats because we are good clients!”
The Brokerage market has had its expected cool-down after the post lockdown peak and brokers are happy to have some listings again whereas a few months ago they couldn’t make money because they had no boats to sell.
Simon Turner from Berthon Palma shares similar observations: “I would say that yes – there are now more listings coming on the market than say six months ago.” As an example: 30 Swans are listed globally, the majority are quite new – later than 2017. That is an area where there was sparse availability. Older boats are still stuck in the market to a degree over the last 2 years of buoyant sales. 76 Oysters are listed, again most fairly new. In the last 2 months, about 50 motor yachts over 30m and over 1 million euros have been listed. “We have found that the sales market is still pretty good.”
Contrary to the input from Norway, and perhaps due to Palma attracting a more international clientele, Simon mentions: “The recent modern yachts we have listed (sail or power) –and in particular sub 50’- have been sold.” He adds: “Larger (more costly) yachts naturally
have a smaller client base but again sales continue and again particularly the modern yachts. The strong USD has meant some boats sold more quickly from Europe / UK to the US. I do not see any alarming situation in the market. I would say it has slowed – but that was expected – even before the recent oil / gas situation and lower EU currency, increased interest rates.”
Boats that have stayed on sale through, say the last 12 months (in the good times), certainly need to rethink something – either price, place, broker, or condition of vessel … why have they not sold and what will help? The political world is also changing – recently in France, in Italy, Sweden and of course the UK! Whether this will affect our yachting industry we shall have to wait and see.
Meanwhile Princess Yachts emailed us to report record order books.
Paper Charts out
Source PYA
The UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO) plans for the phased exit of paper charts to be compliant for digital navigation by 2026, and the MCA’s shift toward digital and the modernisation of training, including immersive training tools. The MCA is looking to overhaul its suite of student training and assessment criteria by the end of 2023.
Fort Lauderdale International Boatshow (FLIBS) ‘22 Review
Roger Horner
Roger Horner founded e3 Systems in 1996 of which he is still the CEO. He is also the most senior contributor of The Islander Magazine.
The e3 team visited FLIBS late October for the first time in a few years. Albeit the show has taken place each year over the pandemic, it was not possible for the EU side of e3 to visit due to the pandemic travel restrictions, so it was good to be back.
This year the superyacht area of the show returned to the pre pandemic level of activities, and all of us from across the pond were welcomed back.
Not much has changed at the show since my last visit. It is still huge, hot and humid but this time the sky was blue every day, filled with the noise of circling planes towing advertising hoardings but with not a drop of rain.
Sharon Philips, e3’s US director, always takes the most advantage of being able to dock walk and was able to make contact with many yachts which these days are getting more and more difficult to access without appointments.
The largest yacht at the show was Coral Ocean which has recently been refitted in Mallorca.
The third largest yacht was the striking DB9 from the Palmer Johnson stable. Palmer Johnson designs such fantastic yachts with real power profiles.
Over the years FLIBS and Miami have always been the place to see boating excesses. One of the measures I always look for is to see how many outboards can be mounted on the transom of a small dayboat! This year I was not disappointed with 6 found!
It was great to be back and to catch up with a lot of old friends and business colleagues.
Sharon Philips
The Guardian Angels of the Waters around St. Maarten – St Martin
The SNSM (Société Nationale de Sauveteurs en Mer) de Saint Martin is a Sea Rescue Service operated entirely by volunteers; whom head out at the request of the MRCC to assist Mariners in distress in Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin and its neighboring islands on one of their 2 Rescue Vessels. They have a 30ft inflatable RIB as well as the 39 ft “Vedette Classe I” vessel “SNS 129” on which they head to sea whenever someone is in need of help; they are on standby and available 24/7, 365 days of the year. The SNSM consists of over 60 volunteers from all walks of life, half of whom are active as crew or captains on the vessels; whilst the remainder are land based. Most of the volunteers are employed full time at a paying day job elsewhere but will drop whatever they are doing at a moments’ notice to assist with a Rescue Operation if called upon by the SNSM Call Coordinator. The station in SXM St Martin was classed as one of France’s busiest SNSM stations with between 50-60 rescue operations per year prior to Hurricane Gonzalo in 2013; when the SNS 129 was severely damaged during a Rescue mission in the storm. Since Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Covid19, consequently things have been a bit slower; but the station is still very active and volunteers hold weekly trainings at the pool as well as onboard the vessels. The SNSM is not funded by the local government and relies entirely on private donations to remain operational.
For more information:
S.N.S.M. B.P. 723 - 18, Bd du Dr Hubert Petit, Front de mer de Marigot, 97150 SAINT-MARTIN (Antilles françaises). Tel. 05 90 777 056
Weekly volunteers meeting from 7 to 8 PM every THURSDAY evening, all year long.
Information & Souvenir Shop open at the station every Tuesday & Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM .
Secretary present at station every Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM for inquiries & donations.
Emergencies 24/7: SNSM St. Martin: (590) 690 767 500 - CROSS AG : Direct call: 196 from French based operator or (596) 596 70 92 92 for international calls VHF Ch. 16
Palma Yards and Marinas thinking about the Future
60 students in the final year of the Higher School of Naval Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid were welcomed to the STP Shipyard Palma as part of their training program on the 31st of October. They learned about the operation of the outfit and its interesting ‘open shipyard’ model in the process they learned a lot about all the professional facets related to repairs and maintenance of different yachts.
Meanwhile in RCNP a project has started that allows underprivileged youngsters to work alongside the Marina staff. This allows them to become acquainted with the marine industry, broadening their horizons and increasing their chances in life.
STP Shipyard Palma_Visita ingenieros navales
Raise The Roof Party for Marine Aspirations
The Marine Aspirations party at Astilleros Shipyard on the night of Friday 14 October, raised about 6000 euros. Phil and Anne Wade, Theo Jack and Colin Squire mobilised the 119 people from the Yachting community to join and donate. On the night, a nice, spontaneous cash donation was made by Roger Horner of E3 which in turn inspired Master Yachts to do the same!
On Saturday morning, with the help of Nick Entwisle of “Yachting Gives Back”, a significant donation of leftover quality asado meat was made to the soup kitchen just off the Avenidas, which provides meals for homeless people. The Mallorcan wine donated by Can Feliu and served from the famous big 18 litre bottle was also popularNone of that was left over...
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