Peters & May celebrates 50 years of transporting yachts by sea

As global shipping and logistics expert, Peters & May, sees in the year celebrating its 50th anniversary, it can look back and reflect on all the industry has overcome and how it has successfully adapted to larger yachts and higher client expectations.

Unsurprisingly, yacht transportation requires a lot of preparation and organisation. These yachts manage to combine high value and fragility in one, often rather large, package. So how has Peters & May come to dominate in this challenging field? Leveraging five decades of experience, knowledge and expertise certainly helps, and Peters & May has built up a valuable knowledge base on all aspects of yacht transportation from international customs protocols to deck lashings and are recognised as one of today’s leading worldwide specialists in the market. It’s a broad remit, managing transports across racing, leisure, commercial marine, general freight forwarding and its courier service

(CEC), with every shipment tailored to meet the needs of the individual customer.

Upon confirming a shipment, each customer is required to provide extensive information on their yacht, including type, propulsion system, keel type, hull shape, as well as disclosing any appendages, drafts or masts. Each characteristic of a yacht has its own demands and can carry complications. As an example, superyachts of larger size and heavier weight are more likely to be transported on heavy-lift vessels, while smaller and lighter leisure craft, like cruising and racing yachts, are more likely to be transported by feeder ships, general cargo vessels and container ships, allowing for greater global exploration.

Devil in the detail

The Devil is always in the detail and disclosing as much as possible prior to a shipment ensures a faultless and professional lift, every time. While the standard shipping methods and options remain the same ie, breakbulk, on and under deck, Out of Gauge (OOG), roll-on/ roll-off or float-on/float-off, etc, yachts have evolved and so the requirements for shipping today have changed.

Commenting on the evolution of yacht designs and transportation,

Paul Elsom, Global Technical Director, said: “Over the years, we have seen a substantial difference in the type of boats we have been shipping, with the last 10-15 years seeing a noticeable increase in the bookings for yachts measuring in at 75 ft plus.

“With manufacturers now designing all types of yachts, honing their designs to suit the purpose of the yacht, hull designs differ markedly. There are many appendages and features that need to be considered, and they can create challenges to then lift, cradle and secure on a vessel. It is so important, now more than ever, that our clients provide us with precise measurements to ensure that accurate, safe, and professional transportations can be fulfilled.”

‘They don’t make them like they used to’ is a catchphrase that would come to mind for many when referencing the boats being built today. However, this statement should not be considered entirely negative, as these technological developments continued on page 12 4